The Foundation, which has awarded more than 200 scholarships since its inception, announced the names of the 2022/2023 scholarship winners.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

• 2022/2023 scholarship recipients announced • Over 200 scholarships awarded since inception

Cairo, 16 June 2022 - Qalaa Holdings (CCAP. CA on the Egyptian Exchange), an African leader in energy and infrastructure, held a ceremony celebrating the Qalaa Holdings Scholarship Foundation’s (QHSF) 16th anniversary. The event was attended by the Minster of Planning and Economic Development her excellency Dr. Hala Elsaid, as well as numerous government officials, businessmen, diplomats, NGO members, and academics. During the ceremony, the Foundation announced and awarded this year’s six scholarship recipients, bringing the total number of promising Egyptian students who were able to continue studying abroad at some of the most prestigious universities supported by the Foundation since its inception to 200.

Her Excellency Dr. Hala Elsaid, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development commented: “The active role that QHSF plays has a tangible effect on developing the education system and building on the significant potential of Egyptian students across various fields, playing a major role in supporting comprehensive and sustainable development. QHSF was founded with the purpose of supporting promising Egyptian youths and increasing their contribution to social and economic development. The Foundation provides scholarships to Egyptians looking to continue the academic journey and pursue a Master’s degree or PhD from the world’s most reputable universities.”

“The government is paying great attention to the social role played by private companies, and is looking to support them in reinforcing their impact on social development, maximizing their gains to society as a whole. The government seeks to create harmony between the current development projects and private sector civil society efforts across the same fields,” Elsaid added.

Dr. Ahmed Heikal, Founder and Chairman of Qalaa Holdings stated: “Education is the main driver for social and economic development due to its role in preparing upcoming generations and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills. QHSF is a representation of our belief in supporting the education system as well as the significant potential possessed by Egyptian youths, who hold the ability to benefit their country. As such, one of the main terms of the Foundation’s scholarships is returning to work in Egypt, serving the country with the skills they gained through studying at the highest level and contributing towards its economic and social development.”

“I am proud of the support that Qalaa provides to the scholarship recipients, and we remain committed to supporting promising students, allowing them to benefit the country after concluding their studies. Our company, through QHSF, is playing an active role in supporting economic social development in Egypt through higher education. Qalaa is looking to increase the number of

beneficiaries and provide this opportunity to a greater number of students in the coming year,” Dr. Heikal continued.

During the ceremony, Dr. Heikal honored Dr. Nabil El Araby, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, as well as Mrs. Laila Badawy Moussa, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, as this year marked an end to their reign heading the Board of Trustees. Dr. Heikal praised Dr. El Araby’s role in supporting the Foundation since its inception, and his pioneering vision that spearheaded the Foundation to numerous successes throughout its 16-year history.

Hisham El-Khazindar, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Qalaa, said: “Education is one of the main pillars of Egypt’s Vision 2030 developmental strategy, helping prepare a new generation of innovators who can actively contribute towards achieving sustainable development. As such, QHSF ensured the continuity of its operations despite the onset of COVID-19, as well as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Currently, the total number of scholarships awarded has reached over 200 grants throughout a 16-year period and across 72 universities worldwide, with beneficiaries from 15 governorates studying 34 different academic majors.”

“Egypt is ripe with talented and innovative individuals who are looking for a chance to achieve their potential. QHSF provides these youths with the opportunity to obtain a wider educational experience, supporting a future generation of Master’s degree holders and innovators, and by extension the future of the country. This year, the scholarships include a scholarship sponsored by Qalaa Holdings subsidiary ERC, a leading energy company,” El-Khazindar continued.

Ambassador Hussein El-Khazindar, Chairman of QHSF’s Board of Trustees stated: “Since its inception 16 years ago, the Foundation has succeeded in achieving its mission of supporting Egyptian youths by providing them with the opportunity to obtain post-graduate degrees from the most prestigious universities worldwide. I am delighted with the Foundation’s success in consistently supporting students in achieving their educational aspirations despite the unprecedented domestic and international challenges, displaying a keenness on continuing to support a new generation of promising students by enabling them to leverage their education and put it to use supporting Egypt’s development. QHSF will continue delivering its purpose of supporting promising Egyptian students, providing them with the opportunity to obtain an exceptional level of education, in line with the Foundation’s principles.”

Ghada Hammouda, Group Chief Sustainability and Marketing Officer at Qalaa Holdings commented: “Qalaa wholeheartedly believes in the important role private sector businesses play in leading by example when it comes to adopting and promoting ESG initiatives. Developing human capabilities and enhancing education represent the most valuable and sustainable investments that a business can make, as they are indispensable when it comes to empowering individuals within society and achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030, as well as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). They are also the cornerstone of Qalaa’s various developmental initiatives.”

“QHSF has been awarding scholarships consistently for 16 years, funded by Qalaa Holdings. Qalaa’s funding guarantees the consistency of the Foundation’s operations. In addition to the prominent role that the Foundation has played over its 16-year track record in supporting aspiring students, Qalaa has undertaken various initiatives geared towards enhancing the quality of education across the country, with the number of direct and indirect beneficiaries of our developmental initiatives reaching around 36,900,” Hammouda continued.

“Recipients of QHSF’s scholarships have gone on to become prominent figures in their fields, facilitating a paradigm shift across various disciplines. Youth represent the main building block for national development and achieving comprehensive economic and social growth. QHSF’s efforts are not limited to enhancing economic and social development and providing new educational opportunities. The Foundation also seeks to promote the principles of diversity, equality, inclusivity, and gender equality. Notably, females constituted 46% of overall QHSF scholarship beneficiaries,” Hammouda concluded.

The six winners of this year’s scholarships are Ahmed Rashwan, Master’s degree in Law, Youssef Afifi, MBA, Sandy Sameh, Master’s degree in Economics, Mohab Kaddah, Master’s degree in Musical Theatre, Ghada Afifi, Master’s in Innovative Dairy Chain Management, as well as the winner of ERC’s grant, Youssef Toukhy, MBA.

Since its establishment in 2007, QHSF has consistently provided scholarships to promising students, with the number of overall recipients reaching 200, an average of 15 recipients per year over the past 16 years. The Foundation was keen to provide consistent support despite the onset of unprecedented challenges throughout the past years represented in the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which led to a reduction in the number of scholarships awarded.

QHSF was founded on the premise of providing scholarships to promising Egyptians and promoting their role in supporting economic and social development. The Foundation offers scholarships to promising students looking to pursue their post-graduate degrees at reputable global universities, on the condition that they return to Egypt for work for a minimum of two years.

The recipients of QHSF’s scholarships come from diverse backgrounds within the Egyptian community, with winners from 15 different governorates studying more than 34 different majors across the most reputable universities in the United States and Europe. This year’s six winners will continue their education at universities in the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands, where they will study a wide range of majors which include Law, Business, Education, Economics, Theatre, and Food Security. In addition to the Foundation’s main scholarships, QHSF has for the fifth year running presented scholarships funded by Qalaa’s energy subsidiary ERC for students looking to obtain a Master’s degree in oil-related majors.

-Ends-

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Qalaa Holdings (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Stock Exchange) is an African leader in energy and infrastructure. Qalaa Holdings builds responsible and sustainable businesses that add value to the economies and societies in which it does business. Formerly known as Citadel Capital, Qalaa Holdings controls subsidiaries in industries including Energy, Cement, Agrifoods, Transportation & Logistics, Mining and Printing & Packaging. To learn more, please visit qalaaholdings.com.

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