Egyptian Crafting Projects
Egypt Invests in a Water Hyacinth Recycling Initiative to Empower Girls
Kanesa D — March 16, 2026
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has partnered with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and UNICEF to launch a water hyacinth initiative to empower girls from vulnerable communities through sustainable craft training.
The programme, titled Ward Al-Kheir, focuses on teaching participants how to transform water hyacinth—an invasive aquatic plant—into handmade products. By turning the plant into marketable goods, the initiative seeks to create income-generating opportunities while addressing environmental challenges linked to the plant’s spread in waterways.
The project is scheduled for an official launch during celebrations surrounding World Water Day in March 2026.
The ministry’s regional training centre has already begun implementing programmes to train women to process water hyacinth into handicrafts. To date, 24 training sessions have been held in multiple regions—including Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta, Damanhour, and Esna—benefiting 643 women affiliated with civil society organizations and water user associations.
