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Middle aged men in a program

Civic Engagement Programs for Middle Aged

Our programs foster the growth of creative and social enterprises that address local and global challenges while contributing to inclusive economic growth.

By promoting the social enterprise movement and supporting the creative economy, we create opportunities for capacity building, incubation and scaling of creative ventures. This program connects aspiring social entrepreneurs with valuable resources, mentorship and a vibrant community, empowering them to turn innovative ideas into impactful solutions for a healthier, more sustainable world. 

Through these initiatives, we create lasting, meaningful change by equipping communities with the tools and support needed to thrive and address their unique challenges through innovative social enterprises.

Key Areas of Impact

Our core mission is to support underprivileged youth by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and resources to launch income-generating projects that meet community needs. This approach creates sustainable economic opportunities and fosters long-term, positive change.

What sets us apart at the Gerhart Center (GC) is our bottom-up approach. We begin by conducting thorough community needs assessments, ensuring our interventions are relevant, effective and aligned with local priorities. By engaging communities in identifying their challenges and co-creating solutions, we ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of each project.

Our unique strength lies in our alumni network. We develop customized curricula and invest in training our program alumni, who, in turn, mentor and support new participants. This fosters leadership and builds a cycle of growth where experienced entrepreneurs guide the next generation of social innovators.

Throughout the program, youth receive mentorship, hands-on guidance and funding to bring their ideas to life. Additionally, participants benefit from networking opportunities with peers, experts, partners and potential donors. This comprehensive support system is designed to ensure the successful growth and scaling of social enterprises.

  • We are proud to implement projects in communities beyond Cairo, such as Dakahlia and Ras Gharib. In Dakahlia, we launched an incubation center that empowers women to start sewing businesses, directly addressing local needs and creating economic opportunities for women. In Ras Gharib, we trained over 121 participants leading to the successful establishment of 10 new startups.
  • We are also conducting a Training of Trainers (ToT) program for our alumni, enabling them to train more youth to start their own projects. Additionally, we are now offering social entrepreneurship training for children, planting the seeds for future leaders in the field.