Sustainable development is about improving the quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. Orascom Construction PLC believes that the way we operate and the services we provide are helping to improve the quality of life and build a brighter future for people in the communities where we operate.
We are present in more than 20 countries. We believe strongly in supporting and protecting the local communities in which we live and work.
Through our activities, we contribute to the economic and social well-being of a range of stakeholders including our employees, customers, business partners, governments and the community as a whole. We also seek to minimize the environmental impact of our activities and to promote sustainable development by conserving energy, materials and resources through minimizing consumption, maximizing efficiency and effectively managing waste. We have adopted strict employee health, safety and environmental policies, have formed a charitable foundation to provide educational opportunities for young people, and we promote human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption efforts.
Growing operations means growing responsibilities, which is why we make sure that our social and economic contributions remain active and up to date in surrounding communities and our countries of operation at large. We prioritize the development of sustainable solutions and models with tangible impact in human development that focus on education, health economic growth and infrastructure.
The health and safety of our people and clients is at the forefront of our strategy. We are responsible for the safety of our employees and are fully committed to providing a safe and unpolluted working environment that meets the most stringent international benchmarks. We also continue to evolve our health and safety initiatives to continuously improve and adapt to the changing environment. Such approach is invaluable during COVID-19, where we implemented immediate steps including PPE, distancing, sanitization and more recently a vaccination drive.
We have integrated this goal into our corporate values, and into the programs and policies of each of our businesses, joint ventures and on our construction sites. Safety is considered an integral part of quality control, cost reduction and efficiency, and we are committed to providing resources to enable this.
Our corporate Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) policy is based on the following principles: 1) Identification and evaluation of all HSE hazards or aspects and the management of their risks or impacts to acceptable levels 2) Compliance with all applicable HSE legislation 3) Prevention of accidents, injuries and pollution 4) Intolerance of the conditions and behaviors that contribute to incidents or injuries 5) Reduction of waste and conservation or resources 6) Recording and communicating HSE performance throughout the company 7) Continual improvement of HSE performance
Our management upholds these principles and the management and supervisory personnel at each business unit and location is responsible for implementing and maintaining an HSE management system necessary to ensure compliance with these principles.
We are committed to being an environmental steward by implementing the best technology available where applicable to minimize our environmental footprint and promote sustainable business best practices.
We actively work to ensure our construction activities are conducted in an environmentally conscious manner, and incorporate environmental safety precautions into the HSE processes and protocols at each construction site.
These environmental commitments in addition to our basic obligations are to comply with all environmental regulations and other requirements.
This is integral to the safety training of all employees who are responsible for protecting the environment, their health and the health of others in the community. Environmental preservation entails reducing all kinds of pollution as well as controlling and regulating raw materials, energy and water.
Orascom Construction PLC's management is committed to setting and periodic review of quality and environmental objectives and targets including required resources.
Each of our construction brands has developed stringent rules and regulations that are implemented and enforced on all projects and tailored to meet the unique environments of the locations in which they operate.
Prior to the start of any construction project, a safety and accident prevention plan is prepared stating the health and safety rules to be applied in the project, how to conduct safe work, and preserve personnel, property, and equipment.
Each of our construction brands has developed stringent rules and regulations that are implemented and enforced on all projects and tailored to meet the unique environments of the locations in which they operate.
Prior to the start of any construction project, a safety and accident prevention plan is prepared stating the health and safety rules to be applied in the project, how to conduct safe work, and preserve personnel, property, and equipment.
Employees are also provided with ongoing safety training during projects, beginning with an induction session prior to arriving on site. Weekly tool-box meetings are conducted to keep the workers aware of the safety hazards associated with their specific tasks. Safety personnel are trained and certified by recognized international safety organizations, including OSHA and NEBOSH.
The “Onsi Sawiris Scholarship” is a private merit-based scholarship program established in 2000 by Orascom Construction as part of the company’s commitment to promoting excellence and achievement. Orascom Construction launched the “Onsi Sawiris Program” to invest company resources in educational programs to improve the communities in which it operates. This program is a precedent in Egypt for private sector involvement in educational programs on a sustainable basis. The aim of which is to facilitate the academic development and character building of young Egyptians giving them the tools to develop their careers hence benefiting their communities.
Since 2000, the “Onsi Sawiris Scholarship Program” has financed the educational dreams of 93 extraordinary students. Through the “Onsi Sawiris Scholarship program”, Orascom Construction provides full tuition scholarships for Egyptian students seeking to pursue their Degrees at prestigious universities in the United States with the aim of bolstering Egypt’s economic competitiveness. The “Onsi Sawiris Scholarships” are awarded based on merit, need and character as demonstrated through academic excellence, extracurricular activities, and entrepreneurial initiative. The scholarships include full tuition, living allowance, travel and health insurance.
For further Information, please visit Onsi Sawiris Scholarship website
As part of Orascom Construction’s drive to support Upper Egypt youth, Orascom Construction partnered with AUC to offer the “The Orascom Construction-AUC Scholarship program” which aims to provide an opportunity for underprivileged brilliant Egyptian high school students to pursue an undergraduate degrees in Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Data analysis and Actuarial Science program at the American University in Cairo. The scholarship provides full-tuition annual scholarships to public or private high school graduates from eight governorates in Upper Egypt: Assiut, Bani Suef, Minya, Sohag, Fayoum, Qena, Luxor and Aswan. The Orascom Construction-AUC Scholarship provides selected students with skills and knowledge and complements the program with specialized training workshops to reinforce their characters, leadership and language skills. By the end of the program, graduates with a bachelor's degree in economics will be in a position to go back and effectively help in the development of their governorates.
The Orascom Construction-AUC Scholarship Program has consistently proven successful, with students achieving high academic and leadership excellence in their journey to join the cadres of private corporations, civil society, and governmental entities. To date, Orascom Construction has provided 27 scholarships.
For more information, please visit: OC-AUC website
In 2018, Orascom Construction and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development launched the third phase of the Schools for Egypt project in Assuit. Assuit was reported as one of the most lagging governorates in Upper Egypt in human development indicators, especially in education and health. Therefore, the project was initiated with the aim of providing students in the poorest and most marginalized communities with quality educational opportunities, through the establishment of 15 community schools, without which these students would not have been able to attend school at all. Community Schools in Egypt were first introduced in 1992 as an alternative form of education to reduce dropout rates, especially amongst girls in Upper Egypt, and have been a major contributor to increasing girls’ access to schools and decreasing gender disparity in student enrollment, as well as achieving Universal Primary Education.
The project currently serves 519 students – of which 52% are girls.
Throughout 2022, the project activities fell under four main pillars: (1) student learning and development; (2) teachers’ professional development; (3) community participation; (4) school environment maintenance and enhancement.
When it comes to student learning and development, other than ensuring the students’ regular attendance, a number of activities took place, included: conducting a sports day for each school as well as delivering summer booster classes. As for teachers’ professional development, teachers received subject-matter technical support from the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, where they underwent exchange visits to schools that demonstrate good case practices, as well as receiving additional trainings on integrating technology within their class plans. Furthermore, our 15 community schools were selected to be part of the Digital School program launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. Teachers are undertaking trainings that aid them in accessing this immensely resourceful platform.
Moreover, teachers at the school undertook regular refresher trainings to maintain effectiveness in the classroom, helping us deliver on our promise to provide quality education to children in the most marginalized communities of Upper Egypt. Community participation was reflected in the meetings that were conducted with parents, in which parents received updates regarding their children’s education, in addition to being informed on their crucial role in the children’s learning journey. This was achieved through the support of the education committees at each school. The community committees were also trained on community resource mobilization, where they managed to install a metal gate to protect one of the schools from traffic on a main road.
Finally, to ensure that students are in a safe learning environment, minor renovations were carried out within the schools, either by community members or professionals dedicated to that task. Furthermore, the project secured uniforms for the children, which helps create a sense of belonging to the schools, in effect aiding the learning process. Orascom Construction has been, and will always remain, an avid supporter of quality educational opportunities for all Egyptians. Our firm commitment to provide schooling to marginalized children, who would otherwise have no access to school, stems from our true belief in the transformative power of quality education.
Orascom Construction is a longstanding supporter of INJAZ Egypt, an organization whose mission is to encourage private sector involvement in the development and delivery of specialized curricula that encourage student empowerment and entrepreneurship. Through various INJAZ programs, Orascom Construction has positively affected the lives of more than 840,000 young people, from 2009 to date.
Orascom Construction sponsored the development and implementation of an Environmental Sustainability Curriculum for schools. The program raised the environmental awareness and induced behavioral changes in thousands of public school students aged 11 to 15 over seven sessions. Students learnt about the scarcity of natural resources, efficient energy consumption, pollution, waste and their impact on health. They were taught to recycle, consume rationally and limit pollution in their communities.
INJAZ promotes employability skills among youth, and partners with businesses and educational institutions across the country to include thousands of students, schools, startups, and volunteers in an experiential learning journey that realizes youth potential across the country.
Under the dual sponsorship of Orascom Construction and ExxonMobil, INJAZ Egypt launched its fifth cycle of the San3ety Graduates Initiative. San3ety Graduates initiative aims to equip participants with the skills they need to excel in the job market. Its partnership with certified training institute, Don Bosco Institute, gives participants a competitive edge.
This initiative has been a great success since the start and together Orascom Construction and INJAZ Egypt have witnessed real impact on our Egyptian youth who were able to secure their dream jobs, whether with top employers or through starting their own businesses. What makes this initiative always successful and unique is the new components and opportunities added each year to make sure the participants are always receiving the best and the latest training in accordance with the job market needs.
This round, San3ety has received 961 applications and was able to filter and select the top 55, to join the initiative. The participants gained critical transferrable and specific skills in several phases: Work Readiness Training, Entrepreneurship Workshop, Technical Training, Assessment visits with certified service providers, English Program – 2 Levels, AutoCAD – 2D & Internships, Job Shadowing and Employment.
The graduation ceremony for this round is to take place on September 2023, to celebrate the achievement of the graduating participants. It will be a proud moment to hear the success stories of the graduates.
We proudly announce that uniforms of the new San3ety Cohort were produced by the graduates of last year’s program who specialized in Sewing and Detailing, which is aligned with our sustainability goals.
Orascom Construction believes in the added value of community engagement and remains dedicated to enhancing education in the communities it serves. Recently Orascom Construction has adopted Al Shaheed Al Moganad Ahmed Ali Abu Kebir, a preparatory school in Gahdam, Assiut and launched an effort to transform the educational experience of more than 2,000 Egyptian students. Students, teachers and school administrators were invited to share their reflections in a Closing Ceremony at Orascom Construction’s Cairo headquarters.
Orascom Construction pioneered an extensive model of school adoption by dedicating not only funding but also the participation of Orascom Construction employees at Assiut Power Plant. These employees took an active role by volunteering to deliver Injaz programs to students, who visited the Orascom Power Plant site and learned and engaged directly with Orascom Construction staff.
A complete renovation of the school’s 22 classrooms, playgrounds, common areas and facilities has been completed. Renovations have improved student safety, with repairs made to plumbing, electricity and classrooms equipped with fans and whiteboards. Recreational spaces were enhanced to promote student health and wellness through the installation of new sports facilities and playgrounds, green spaces and a common space for eating. Most significantly, our renovations included providing fresh water directly at the school, which led to significant improvements in sanitary conditions and a happier student experience.
Orascom Construction has acted as the lead sponsor of the American Middle Eastern Network Dialogue (AMENDS) conference since its inception seven years ago as part of the company’s belief in empowering youth and building sustainable networks for positive social change. AMENDS is a student initiative that enables the most promising youth change agents from across the Middle East, North Africa and US to learn from each other, connect with global leaders and resources, advance their work and share, through TEDstyle talks, their ideas and experiences.
Orascom Construction is not only building all the iconic construction in the country, but it also empowers youth beyond measure. Orascom Construction has partnered and endorsed ENACTUS Egypt since 2007 due to its strong belief in the ENATCUS mission and its vision for the region, as well as the sustainable impact they have made amongst Egypt’s youth and future leaders. Orascom Construction’s ongoing support to Enactus Egypt stems from the company’s solid belief that young entrepreneurs can change the landscape of the community. It is not only an economic investment but a social and emotional one. Orascom Construction believes that pushing forward inspiring people, means that we are pushing for a more enticing and unprecedented future.
2022 saw Orascom Construction extend its partnership with Enactus Egypt, in support of the organization’s aim to invest in students who will fuel positive change and sustainability across their communities and countries. Orascom Construction sponsored Enactus’ General Orientation Training in 2022, where around 756 student leaders from over 63 universities came together for a training module created to provide knowledge and guidance that equally raises the bar for national competitions, for future representation at the Enactus World Championship.
Since 2017, Orascom Construction has co-sponsored General Orientation Training, where Enactus Egypt provide teams with high quality training. Teams are trained on design thinking, business model canvas, supply chain, marketing, entrepreneurship, project management, graphic designing, presentation skills, leadership, and ideation, among other things. Orascom Construction also sponsored ENACTUS’ Thematic Competition on Innovation, where students from 28 universities took notable strides in implementing 38 innovative outreach projects that improved the community’s standard of living in areas where it was most needed.
Orascom Construction’s executives were part of the ENACTUS Egypt National Competition’s judging panel, where the Crevita project presented by Ain Shams University ENACTUS team won. The project made use of the harmful crayfish to produce chitosan, which has great economic value in various industries. The chitosan produced is 46% cheaper than the imported one. They have also utilized the crayfish in producing poultry feed for 3,700 poultry per month with a cost that is 30% less than the traditional feed. Moreover, the team was able to produce bio-pesticides from the crayfish, helping in reclaiming 3,200 acres of agricultural lands. Furthermore, they have exported 15 tons of crayfish to China as it is used in the pharmaceuticals’ industry. The Ain Shams Team was able to produce water treatment tablets which decreases the level of heavy metals in water by 96%. This project has impacted 9,650 beneficiaries directly and 780,000 indirectly, achieving 11 SDGs. The beneficiaries were mainly located in 13 villages across Giza, El-Sharqia, Gharbeya, and Menoufeya. This mega project generated USD 8.3 million.
Orascom Construction continued to sponsor the Egyptian National team to the ENACTUS World Cup, which was held in Puerto Rico, with more than 72,000 students from around the world participating in the event. To our pride, Egypt won the ENACTUS World Cup for the fourth consecutive year. Orascom Construction went on to congratulate ENACTUS Egypt, represented by Ain Shams University on winning the 2022 World Cup Championship with Project Crevita. The winning team turned a potential biodiversity crisis into a remarkable opportunity for the fishery, poultry, and agricultural sectors. The signal crayfish is a North American species of crayfish, which was listed by the European Union as invasive. It appeared as a foreign creature to the inhabitant of the ecological system in Egypt. After extensive research and efforts, they introduced a new product that became a milestone in the new eco-friendly industry.
It is worth mentioning that Egypt was 1st Runner-Up at the 2012 and 2018 Enactus World Cup, and was also the World Cup Champion six times: two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010, and four consecutive years from 2019-2022. In addition to winning the World Cup for four years in a row, Enactus Egypt teams participated in the Action with Africa Competition organized by Enactus Germany, where 4 Egyptian teams projects were qualified, and selected by GIZ judges as the top four best projects.
Orascom Construction continued its partnership with Educate Me foundation, to deliver The Blended Learning Journey Program to 50 public school teachers from eight governorates including Aswan, Luxor, Qena, Sohag, Minya, Beni Suef, and Fayoum. The program aims to raise the capacities of educators on the use of technology in education within their context, in addition to supporting them in utilizing available resources to bridge the gap caused by COVID-19 in the short-term. Moreover, the training program focuses on changing the educator’s mindset towards using technology in education, aligning with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education’s long-term direction, and its plan to move towards digitization and integrating technology in education that was initiated pre-COVID and had accelerated the past year with the crisis.
It is worth mentioning that Orascom Construction was one of the pioneers in the private sector field to adopt this program reflecting its continued effort to make its impact relevant to the beneficiaries needs. This is also stems from Orascom Construction’s belief in the fundamental role of teachers in enhancing the quality of education in Egypt, and an effort towards developing the capacities of public-school teachers. The Blended Learning Journey Program is a contextualized program on the use of simple applications and tools that help teachers apply learning within the limited resources of public schools.
The program’s efficiency was reflected in the high percentage of teachers, 93%, who applied the skills and knowledge that were taught during the program. This year, phase four of the program was also implemented. 18 teachers were selected from the 50 participants to receive advanced training and prepare them in becoming agents of change within their schools, as well as supporting their schools’ development in areas of blended learning and technology in education. The program serves 34 public schools in Upper Egypt, with a total of 1,250 students as indirect beneficiaries.
Orascom Construction remains dedicated to the development and enhancement of education within the communities it serves. It is also a believer in the added value of community engagement and the importance of creating the brighter future that the country and citizens deserve. That being said, as Orascom Construction was working on the Bahr El Baqar Water Treatment Plant, it saw an opportunity to launch an initiative that enhances the educational experience of the Zedan Sanad School, located near the project in Port Said, Egypt.
In June 2022, Orascom Construction lobbied for a full wholistic transformation of the school, allowing its students a real chance at an enhanced education. The Orascom Construction-Arab Contractors JV, started the renovation process of the school, which included repairing classrooms, floors, walls, and lighting systems, in addition to developing playgrounds, landscapes, and internet access points. The school was fully built and restored in a record time of three months and was ready to operate before the new academic year 2022. Additionally, the Orascom Construction-Arab Contractors JV partnered with the Educate Me foundation to fully transform school by implementing the UNESCO-Hamdan award-winning program The School Transformation Journey.
The School Transformation Journey is a three-year learning experience that aims to transform public schools into life-long learning hubs, combining a humanistic approach with private-public partnership and a blended mode of delivery. This approach aligns with the EDU 2.0 reform agenda, which was recently adopted by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education. To enable a path of transition, learning and change occur in three integrated dimensions: knowledge, attitude, and skill-building. This combination is designed to improve educators’ performance in empowering individual and group initiatives, and to motivate educators to continue learning and developing their performance.
The program targets all school staff, including teachers, counselors, and principals. It is delivered in the form of a learning journey, starting from what teachers know and can do, and using a blended learning model. Each of the school staff groups receives a specialized training program, catered to their needs and specialties, including a number of technical interventions for professional development. This is implemented to improve educator performance, support school leadership that enables change, activate professional development, and engage in community of practice The School Transformation Journey project in Zedan Sanad school is targeting to raise the capacity of 37 educators to improve the quality of teaching and thus enhanced learning outcomes for the students.
Orascom Construction sponsored two classes of Embroidery at Threads of Hope, a social enterprise that provides high-end embroidery training programs for women to support them in pursuing self-employment opportunities and enriching their lives, while using that time to empower and enhance the women they train. The target is to train 20 women, who are the wives of Orascom Construction’s administrative staff and construction site workers.
The course lasts two months, with the women attending four days a week, five hours a day from 9 am to 2pm. Graduates of the program are then free to come to the center to pick up and deliver work that is produced from their own homes on any given Thursday. The training premises are more than just a workspace; they can be considered a home away from home, where these women are offered a safe space and a getaway from the negativity they experience in their daily lives.
The women are supported holistically, focusing not only on teaching them a skill that can eventually empower them to become self-employed, but also through attending to their nutrition needs and offering them a daily healthy hot meal during their training days. Lectures on Health and Nutrition are also provided, and literacy programs are offered during training hours. The center also houses a small library where books can be borrowed by trainees and their children. The women felt heard, protected, and loved, in a place where there was no hierarchy, where they were all equal.
In 2018, Orascom Construction partnered with EFG Hermes Foundation, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the Kuwaiti Initiative for the Support of the Egyptian People, to launch an integrated development program that would improve the lives of the inhabitants of Naga’ El Fawal and El Deir Village in Esna, Luxor. The program aims at significantly improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure in the community, in addition to socially and economically empowering the inhabitants – with an intention to serve more than 60,000 residents of Naga’ El Fawal and El Deir Village. The interventions of the program ran for a total of 24 months; however, Orascom Construction has been keen on ensuring the sustainability of the project through regular follow-up.
Education:
A brand-new community center was inaugurated in November 2019, and includes a fully furnished Montessori nursery with a capacity of 100 children, as well as a fully furnished Montessori nursery for children with disabilities, with a capacity of 50 children. On-going training programs for 75 of the current staff and potential new hires to build their capacity and raise the standard of service provided to the children.
After the conclusion of our planned activities, Al-Fawal Comprehensive Development Association, an association created under our project with sustainability in mind, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Funtasia Foundation for a duration of three months. The objective of the MoU was for Funtasia to implement capacity building activities for the children of El Deir Village. In addition to that, 15 facilitators were trained by the foundation to cascade knowledge and information towards the beneficiaries. Additionally, three classes focusing on creativity and capacity building were opened in El Deir Village, and 11 workshops were conducted for children, under the theme Hear and Tell, reaching 110 children in 33 days. We are honored to announce that 17 young scholars graduated from the classes in 2021 and eight in 2020, including four scholars from the Special Needs section in 2021 and one in 2020.
Throughout the years various events and activities gathered the families of Naga’ El Fawal around sports and other community activities in spite of the constraints of COVID-19 situation.
Provision of health services: El Deir health unit medical supplies and equipment
The project undertook the responsibility of renovating and refurbishing the health unit which serves more than 75,000 people. A resident general practitioner has also been fully assigned to the unit and specialists are available on a weekly basis. 4 fully fledged medical convoys were conducted to detect anemia and eye diseases. 875 people have been provided with medicines for their eyes, 463 people were treated with medicines for anemia, and 867 people have received eyeglasses. In addition, 291 people were scheduled for eye surgeries. In addition, it is important to note that the healthcare center in El Deir has begun implementing the national integrated health insurance scheme. It is also obvious that after we have held awareness sessions on healthcare as part of the project. The beneficiaries have become more engaged with national initiatives such as 100 Million Healthy Lives, Eradicating Hepatitis C, Early Screening for Breast Cancer, as well as the importance of getting vaccinated for protection from COVID-19 virus.
Infrastructure:
The beneficiaries’ water network has been replaced with a new fully-operational and sanitary network. All houses in Naga’ El Fawal have been connected to new water pipes, which gave more than 10,000 inhabitants access to clean water. Additionally, a fully operational solar system to generate electricity was established in the newly built community center. The foundation successfully completed and delivered the construction work of the pumping station and the installation of the sewerage networks. Collaboration with local entities was successfully completed to deliver the station to local authorities. The initiative had to go through several stages in order to upgrade the housing conditions. Architectural drawings have been delivered and demolishing and construction licenses have been issued. 94 units/ houses have been successfully delivered.
Economic Empowerment:
6 training courses on launching, managing and marketing a project were delivered to 126 beneficiaries. A comprehensive training on breeding skills for livestock was conducted to 36 beneficiaries, to provide them with the skill set needed to look after the livestock and deal with any issues that arise. 115 in-kind grants with an average of 10,000 EGP each were delivered to beneficiaries in addition to technical trainings, in order to help the recipients, launch and sustain their own projects. Additionally, a fully furnished community center was built, including administrative offices that will create 42 permanent jobs. After the conclusion of the project, follow up visits were conducted to beneficiaries that received services to economically empower them. Results show that there has been close to a 50% increase in income of families that have received these services.
Capacity Building:
Al Fawal Comprehensive Development Association (ACDA) was created as part of the project’s interventions, specifically to ensure the sustainability of the interventions and to continue to serve the people of Naga’ El Fawal. Technical and administrative support has continued to be provided to ACDA, with the purpose of moving expertise, skills, and experiences. After the project was concluded, the number of the association’s members continued to increase and is now at 140 active members. The association also amended its scope of work to tackle the realities and needs on the ground. Moreover, ACDA connected six houses with potable drinking water through a donation that it successfully secured. It also continued to raise awareness on COVID-19 pandemic, and constantly sanitized the public areas where the people of Naga’ El Fawal periodically meet. ACDA has also been selected to be part of the committee that manages the national initiative Haya Kareema, bearing in mind that El Deir village is included in the initiative, but Naga’ El Fawal is not since it has already been upgraded by our project.
The Fight against Covid-19:
Naga’ El Fawal initiative has also swiftly adjusted its activities and reallocated some of its budget in order to aid in the fight against coronavirus:
. Awareness raising for 35,000 individuals on how to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19 through a number of campaigns as well as printed materials.
. Disinfection of 9 train stations and 18 bus stations.
. Direct economic support to 5,000 of the hardest hit families, with a total number of 25,000 beneficiaries, through the distribution of nutritious food baskets.
Since 2010, Orascom Construction has striven to provide adequate housing to marginalized groups. To that end, we have acted swiftly to respond to the needs of disenfranchised people in Beni Suef. In partnership with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, whose core vision is in harmony with ours, we have designed a project to improve the housing conditions of 120 families in 24 different villages in four centers across the governorate. Our interventions include delivering proper sewage systems, providing potable water, connecting houses to the power grid, and installing durable roofs, walls, stairs and tiles, among other services. Orascom Construction has also planted around 500 trees in the targeted villages to allow people to enjoy better living conditions and assist them in realizing their potential.
In 2019, Orascom Construction has had a leading role with Helm, the Ministry of Transportation, and Metro Authorities, amongst other partners and sponsors to create public accessible models for persons with disabilities through the Cairo University Area and Metro Stations project. The project aimed to influence policy makers towards ensuring that no new construction is made in a way that is not accessible, and mainstreaming accessibility with a focus on the construction and transportation sectors. As part of the project, two metro stations were selected: Faisal and Cairo University. Orascom Construction funded the design, manufacturing and installation of the first metal tactile blocks from scratch to become an affordable, replicable, and locally-made product that can be mainstreamed across all metro and train stations. Orascom Construction is proud to see that this partnership has continued to have sustainable impact as currently:
As part of these new measures, railway stations will house dedicated counters that will make it easier for people with disabilities to buy their tickets. Additionally, seats will be allocated inside the trains to people with disabilities, and a golf cart service will transport them in and out of the station. Wheelchairs will also be made available at Cairo Station and several high-density central stations, with ramps to be established at the stations’ entrances and exits.
In 2021, under the sole sponsorship of Orascom Construction, a cooperation protocol was signed between Helm and South Sinai Governorate, to develop the Access Dahab project. The project aims to create a model of a highly accessible city for people with disabilities in Egypt. This goes in line with the UN Social Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, as well as Egypt’s COP-27 initiatives that were put forth in South Sinai in November of 2022.
The project takes on a holistic approach involving all stakeholders to ensure policy level change. This is achieved through raising the awareness of local communities and business owners and educating them to work together to remove all barriers that hinder potential tourists with disabilities from visiting Egypt, which are around one billion. To date, the project’s direct impact includes raising the awareness of different stakeholders through disability equality training, raising the city’s accessibility through installing 20 ramps, creating a guide for business owners to increase aid at their locations, in addition to building a beach entrance to the sea in one of the most distinctive diving spots, allowing independent access for people with disabilities to the sea. It also paved the area for safer access for children and elderly. In addition to this, Helm provided consulting services to the South Sinai Governorate to eliminate obstacles such as elevated manholes and bumpy electricity supplies, and encouraged the governate to build a more inclusive walkway in Dahab, which is on the verge of completion. Finally, the Dahab project included constructing roughed marble flooring which allows for smoother wheelchair movement.
A marketing campaign was launched on social media to announce and advertise for the new campaign. Moreover, Access Dahab Week, the first event of its kind, was held in Dahab, and attended by the Orascom Construction team and hundreds of tourists with disabilities that went to enjoy inclusive scuba diving, rock climbing and more. A great case study showing this is Nomad Divers, a diving community that trained and certified 20+ divers with different disabilities, as well as Insights Seekers, who helped teach rock climbing to the blind and other types of disabilities.
Orascom Construction takes pride in sponsoring sustainable projects and guaranteeing that the project’s impact will not fade upon its completion, and will continue to empower local communities, businesses and governmental entities.
Orascom Construction continues to support the mission of the Littlest Lamb in growing confident men and women who will shatter the stigma of being an orphan in Egypt. As such, in order to endorse this vision and because of our conviction that sports can be a source of personality development and an avenue whereby the children can vent their energies whilst learning how to collaborate and work in teams in fun ways, Orascom Construction built a multipurpose sports court for the Littlest Lamb – Birdrock Home for 77 orphaned children.
Orascom Construction has provided the supplies for the court’s complete construction by leveling out a 406 meters squared space for a concrete pouring foundation. Orascom Construction installed an innovative tile design and unique six-point locking system called VersaCourt that creates a seamless playing surface that allows for consistent ball bounce and response and unmatched playability. The court is constructed from shock absorbing tiles that reduce fatigue, which means that players can play for a longer time.
Orascom Construction has graciously also sponsored the foundation, seating, and lighting of the children’s basketball court. This multipurpose court will be an incredible addition to the amenities at Birdrock home, where Littlest Lamb’s children will be able to play Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Badminton, and more.
Orascom Construction remains committed to supporting initiatives that empower youth by providing them with all the love, support, resources, education and guidance they need to thrive.
In response to a tragic train accident that took place on March 2021, Orascom Construction has responded immediately to this natural catastrophe offering its support through the Ministry of Transportation to all the victims killed and injured in the train accident. This stems from Orascom Construction’s responsibility and commitment towards Egypt and its citizens.
In 2022, Orascom Construction completed the renovation of the White Monastery in Suhag, Egypt. As a construction company, Orascom Construction is proud to give back and support our country’s heritage through such projects.
Through Orascom Construction’s work on this project, we were able to preserve and showcase our country’s heritage. The White Monastery was built in 445 AD in the west of Suhag governorate, on a total land area of approximately 13,000 acres. It was known as the White Monastery due to its significant white color, as it was built of white lime bricks and white stones.
At first glance, the White Monastery is seen as a solid rectangular block of stone. The monastery represents a great spiritual value for Coptic Christians and for visitors from all over the world. The White Monastery holds an important archaeological position on the Egyptian tourism map, where tourists and visitors from all over the world travel to Egypt and specifically to Suhag to see this impeccable site year-round.
As part of our ongoing efforts to contribute to Egypt’s development and as we recognize the importance of tourism, Orascom Construction’s work aimed to restore the monastery to its archaeological and religious important while maintaining the beauty of its origin. We are proud to have worked on one of the most prominent Coptic monuments in Upper Egypt, and immeasurably the most prominent in the Suhag Governorate.
Orascom Construction responded promptly to a request by the Professors of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine of Ain-Shams University, through offering a generous donation and purchasing a new Pulsed Dye Laser machine for the department. This laser machine allows the treatment of patients suffering from vascular birth marks and vascular tumors of the face that lead to severe disfigurement and functional distress. In the past, treating these cases with the traditional surgical excision led to residual scarring and surgical trauma that was not tolerated by the patients.
However, in recent years, the introduction of a special laser (Pulsed Dye Laser) revolutionized the treatment of these cases and became the standard world-wide. This technology was used in their laser unit since 1998 and the Unit became a national referral center, helping all social standards through offering this treatment with reduced fees to all patients.
Delivering Pulsed Dye Laser machine The old Pulsed Dye Laser was functioning from 2002-2021 and was used to treat thousands of patients. Unfortunately, after 2021, the machine was non-operational and beyond repair. The waiting list of patients that needed to continue their initial treatment, as well as newer cases was mounting. The financial burden of buying a new machine was beyond the capacity of the university. When Orascom Construction was approached, it swiftly acted to purchase the needed laser unit to ensure the continuity of serving these poor cases and to support Ain-Shams University in keeping their national legacy as a referral center for the treatment of these vascular lesions.
Orascom Construction believes that the presence of up-to-date functional devices in hospitals is crucial, and was eager to facilitate the journey of hope for every patient. This intervention by Orascom Construction has given a boost to all the doctors and staff working to serve these cases as they observed their patients’ relief of pain upon receiving treatments again.
Orascom Construction established a new 170-square meter (excluding the ramp) Emergency Reception Unit for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Kasr el Eini Hospital, in response to the department’s urgent request. It was designed, constructed and furnished according to their functional needs and with international standards in a record time.
Our engineers worked tirelessly and swiftly to deliver this project with the aim of benefitting Egyptian women in need. The ER unit donated by Orascom Construction was named the best functional and most elegant ER unit in Kasr Al Aini Hospital. It currently receives 100-120 patients per day and about 90% are admitted.
Orascom Construction continued supporting the Friends of Children with Cancer organization in its efforts of putting a smile on a child’s face at the Health and Hope Oasis, Egypt’s first supportive care center for children with cancer and their families. Orascom Construction has provided another prefab unit to the Health and Hope Oasis, which will be used to store the bikes that are used by the children while staying at the oasis.
The Health and Hope Oasis, situated on a farm, provides an environmentally safe place for pediatric cancer patients to recuperate away from the city and the hospital. It also provides a recreational outlet for all children while learning about hygiene for infection control, proper nutrition, and emotional well-being. The educational kitchen introduces children and families to simple, low-cost, natural Egyptian foods, free from preservatives.
With the support of friends of the project, the Health and Hope Oasis was able to continue providing much-needed support to the children and their families through the difficult year of 2020, while educating them about measures to stay safe during the pandemic.
Orascom Construction swiftly responded to the request of Abu El-Rish Children’s Hospital for the refurbishment of their kitchen in order to raise it at a level matching the required international standards. A kitchen is an integral aspect of any hospital’s operation and Abu El-Rish Hospital’s kitchen was in dire need of restoration, refurbishment, and new equipment and utensils. Proper nutrition and hygiene go hand in hand with medical attention. Not only did Abu El-Rish Hospital’s kitchen lack basic utensils and equipment, but it also lacked a Fire Extinguishing System and proper ventilation, which can result in foodborne illnesses and fatalities. Health and hygiene are at the forefront of Orascom Construction’s values, and we believe that hospitals’ meals and nutrition are a vital component of the health and wellbeing of patients, their families, and the medical staff. Abu El-Rish Hospital can now comfortably continue to save lives.
Orascom Construction has made a significant donation whilst being the main contractor for building Ahl Masr Hospital, a specialized burn hospital that serves the unnoticed massive numbers of burn injuries. The accidents result in hundreds of thousands of burn victims with mortality rates that are heart wrecking, reaching to 60% as a result of the insufficient numbers of intensive care beds-75% more beds needed. As part of its effort to aid burnt victims, Orascom Construction stepped in to collaborate with Ahl Masr Hospital to improve the availability of intensive care beds. The hospital encompasses 60 ICUs with an agile infrastructure capable of converting the inpatient rooms to ICU’s when necessary, especially in light of the critical patient infection control requirements.
Established in 2011 in memory of OCI’s late Board Member Karim Camel-Toueg, the program provides Egyptian hepatologists with the opportunity to become fellows at the Cleveland Clinic’s Hepatology Center for six months. The program works towards increasing the number of top-tier specialists in Egypt who possess best-in-class real-time experiences in patient-handling, cultivated in an environment supported with top quality medical and research facilities. Ultimately, the goal is to increase excellence in the treatment of prevalent liver diseases in Egypt.
Youssef Ibrahim
Orascom Construction is proud to announce the sponsorship of one of the most promising Egyptian professional squash athletes, Youssef Ibrahim, the highest ever ranked ACTIVE Ivy league student player. Ibrahim meets the educational pillar that Orascom promotes, while excelling in sports. He is also set to be Orascom Construction’s ambassador for scholarship programs, being a top athlete and the graduate of a prestigious university.
Growing up, he was the top junior in the world in every age division. His junior career highlights were winning the British Junior Open and the US Junior Open twice and finishing third in the world junior championships twice. At 18, his career took a significant turn when he was recruited by renowned Ivy League universities such as Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and Penn. Ibrahim ultimately chose Princeton, and spent four years not just learning and playing for them, but also maturing as a person throughout his challenging journey. During his senior year, he made history as the first ever active student athlete to break into the top 20 and then reach highest world ranking, number 11 in the world while still being a student. The monthly ranking that the professional squash association released put Ibrahim at world number 11. He has set a record for being the highest ranked ACTIVE Ivy League student player ever. He graduated from Princeton May 24th. Unfortunately, he acquired a knee injury that may require surgery and keep him out next season.
Chris Baddour
Orascom Construction continues to sponsor Chris Baddour. He has finished the season as targeted seeded #2 U 15 and has been chosen by the Egyptian Squash Federation to represent Egypt at the biggest junior tournament in the world, the British Junior Squash Open 2023. His coach, Islam Hany, mentioned that Orascom has been supporting Chris with any needs expected to arise for a professional senior player. He also spoke of the young athletes’ designated plan, which has been written and set by his team of coaches.
Yasmina Eissa
Orascom Construction is proud to announce the sponsorship of a promising Egyptian Para-badminton athlete short stature category (SH6), Yasmina Eissa. Yasmina is not only a badminton athlete, but a studious Economics major who chose to continue her preparation for the Paris 2024 Paralympics at Loughborough University for its sporting excellence and educational rigor. Since 2017, she has competed in national, continental, and international tournaments representing Egypt. She got 1st place at the African championships and takes pride in representing Egypt Orascom Construction will continue to support young athletes in their athletic journey, while ensuring they do not compromise their education. Their success stories continue to inspire and show the value of passion, persistence, hard work, and dedication.
