Did you know that in Egypt, nearly two thirds of young Egyptians between the age of 15 and 30 are jobless, neither in school nor employed? Mina, a 19-year-old from Abu Korkas village in the Minya governorate, used to be one of them.

But Mina’s life has changed since he came to a HANDS-sponsored job-skills training program that he learned about from his brother, a former trainee and now a barber shop owner.

Mina’s brother had participated in a men’s hair dressing course where he acquired this marketable skill. The vocational training courses also stimulated his entrepreneurial spirit; he went beyond finding employment to opening a barber shop of his own.

Inspired by his brother’s behavior, Mina attended the same training program to learn men’s hairdressing. Since graduating from the course, Mina has been working alongside his brother in the barber shop.

Before this HANDS-sponsored vocational training, Mina and his brother were unemployed and frustrated. But this training has enabled the brothers to rebuild their hope and inner strength. We believe this strength is contagious to other youth facing the same challenges!

Mina’s success could not be achieved without the generous support of our committed donors in the US. Thank you all for being a part of this journey to help young people like Mina.

HANDS is aiming to offer vocational training to at least 200 more Egyptians in the first quarter of 2020! There is still time to make a year-end tax-deductible contribution to help more young adults like Mina. We hope you’ll join us in this endeavor!