“Let’s Run”
Let’s Run (ماتيجى نجرى) initiative, a groundbreaking project launched in collaboration with Ashoka, Nike, and Waqfeyat Al Maadi Foundation, has made a lasting impact on over 1,500 girls in Egypt. Targeting young girls between the ages of 10 and 16, the project used running as a powerful tool for empowerment, health, and social inclusion.
Launched in December 2009, the initiative aimed to break down socioeconomic barriers, fostering self-confidence, leadership skills, and physical well-being among girls from diverse backgrounds. Through a series of structured phases, the project reached girls in both public and private schools, as well as youth centers, creating opportunities for physical activity that many young girls may not have had otherwise.
The project was rolled out in three distinct phases, each building upon the previous one. In the first phase, 700 girls participated in activities that took place in school yards and public tracks. The second phase expanded the initiative to reach 300 girls and refined the model for future growth. By the third phase, the initiative reached over 500 girls, with a focus on community ownership and sustainability. This phase also saw the launch of a waqf (endowment) fund, ensuring the long-term support of the program.
AIS Involvement in the “Let’s Run” Initiative: A Key Contributor to Success
As the “Let’s Run” (ماتيجى نجرى) initiative entered its third and final phase in late 2010, the American International School (AIS) played a significant role in bringing the project to its grand conclusion. AIS hosted the final marathon and closing ceremonies, providing a prestigious platform for the young participants to showcase their achievements and celebrate their hard work.
AIS’s contribution went beyond hosting the event. The school became a key partner in promoting the project’s values of social inclusion and community engagement. By opening its doors to girls from various socioeconomic backgrounds, AIS helped broaden the reach and impact of the initiative, ensuring that girls from all walks of life had an equal opportunity to participate. The active collaboration between AIS and the Waqfeyat Al Maadi Foundation played a critical role in the event’s success, making it a truly community-driven celebration of empowerment and progress.
AIS’s involvement elevated the visibility of the project and its goals, turning the final marathon into not just an event, but a milestone in the broader movement for girls’ empowerment through sport in Egypt.
