“Ta7wisha”: The Journey of Digital Savings and Loans Associations across the Villages of Aswan

In the heart of Upper Egypt, where the beautiful Nile embraces the land of Aswan, the governorate carries stories that portray challenges and hope. These stories feature remarkable opportunities offered through initiatives such as “Ta7wisha” programme, which creates a hopeful path for women towards financial empowerment and economic independence.

Ta7wisha’s concept is based on the idea of formulating groups of women and educating them about the main concepts of saving and lending in a collective and regular manner, using technology, to make their dreams come true. Through the programme, traditional paper records are transformed into a secure and accurate digital system, where collective deposits are safely stored and women are trained to use Meeza cards, granting them access to the financial system. Once women join “Ta7wisha”, they instantly get integrated into the banking system, an initial step towards a new life.

The programme enlightens women across several governorates including Aswan, Minya, Luxor, Beni Suef, Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr El Sheikh, Gharbia, Assiut, and Sohag, led by the National Council for Women (NCW) and the Central Bank of Egypt and in partnership with UN Women, the European Union, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

The cornerstone of this programme is its facilitators; women like Kholoud Hussein, who received trainings on the concepts of digital saving and loans; economic empowerment and financial literacy, to enhance her skills and equip her to effectively contribute to the implementation of the programme. With her smile and determination, Kholoud carries a message of hope to every home in Aswan. 

Kholoud visits women across the villages in Aswan. She knocks their doors and introduces the idea behind “Ta7wisha” to them in simple terms, while helping them overcome any fears against using technology. At the beginning, it was not an easy step for women as they were reluctant to join such digital programme. However, through Kholoud’s patience and persistence, the women started to trust the process. “During the first year, convincing women to join was a real challenge. But today, they are the ones reaching out, and eager to participate after witnessing the programme’s successful results,” explains Kholoud. Over time, these home visits evolved into weekly group sessions and eventually turned into active digital savings and loans associations.

Among the women who joined the digital groups under Kholoud’s supervision is Zeinab El-Rashidi, a 50-year-old mother of four from the village of Edfu in Aswan.

Her journey began when she joined the training sessions and learned more about how to manage her finances; use her bank card; and plan better for her future. “I used to spend everything I had so quickly. Ta7wisha programme taught me that saving, even a small amount, can make a huge difference and help me achieve my dream,” stated Zeinab happily, while reflecting on the impact of the programme on her life. Zeinab started saving 540 EGP, which she invested in a small poultry business at home. Today, Zeinab dreams of opening her own shop to secure a better future for her children.

Since its launch and up until June 2025, Ta7wisha programme, led by the National Council for Women (NCW) and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), in partnership with UN Women, the European Union, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, succeeded in changing the lives of thousands of women across the abovementioned 10 governorates, as the accumulated savings have reached 4,362,720 EGP. In addition, 1,905 women have started their own businesses, and an amount of 1,316,553 EGP have been issued as loans. On the capacity building front, 76,892 women have received financial literacy trainings, while 86,612 women have improved their digital skills and 31,085 women have benefited from the banking simulation services. Stories like those of Zeinab and Kholoud show that “Ta7wisha” is more than just a programme, it is a gateway to hope, where women prove that they are capable of creating a bright future.