In the words of Asmaa Hanafy: With the support of Rabeha Joint Programme, I was able to transform Green Society from a social enterprise into a fully registered company.

As Asmaa Hanafy strolled the shores of her beloved hometown Alexandria, she would notice the ocean’s changing tides and the extreme shift in weather. As a scientist, she recognized the alarming signals of global warming, igniting within her an intense determination to act towards building a more sustainable world. After founding Green Society, a social enterprise working towards raising awareness of environmental sustainability, Asmaa sought the support of Rabeha Joint Programme to expand her impact by transforming Green Society into a registered company.

“This earth is our only home, and we all share the responsibility of protecting it for a sustainable and healthy future for ourselves and generations to come. The warnings of global warming are becoming clearer every day. As a scientist, I feel obligated to educate people on the ongoing environmental changes because we all must act now; before it's too late.

I decided to take matters into my own hands. I jumped right in and started educating the people I cared about most – my family and friends. I joined forces with my two amazing sisters and launched Green Society, a social enterprise with a clear mission: raising awareness of environmental sustainability.

We hit the ground running! We spread the word by handing out flyers, talking to people on the streets, and organizing public events. Realizing the importance of educating tomorrow’s leaders, we even published a children's book about environmental sustainability and started distributing it to schools and libraries to help shape our green champions.

Our passion was strong, but our reach was limited. As Green Society was not a registered company, we faced difficulty in partnering with key players such as the private sector and governmental institutions to help scale our initiative nationwide. Registering Green Society was an intimidating step for us as I had limited knowledge of the required paperwork and correct process. That’s when I came across Rabeha Joint Programme and felt that it would help direct us in this critical step professionally.

The Rabeha Joint Programme provided the necessary knowledge to navigate the legalities of company registration. The training took a deep dive into the required paperwork and which government office to visit for different approvals. I understood the various available company types to register under, helping me take an informed decision when applying. The taxing system, once a scary and confusing realm, was now broken down into simple terms I could comprehend. Guidance received from the training ensured the proper registration of our intellectual property as well, such as the children's book.

With the support of Rabeha Joint Programme, I was able to transform Green Society from a social enterprise into a fully registered company. We have successfully issued our commercial registration and are currently finalizing our tax card, helping us start a new chapter of possibilities.

Rabeha Joint Programme's guidance extended beyond legal affairs. The training emphasized the significance of establishing a distinct brand identity for Green Society. A professional brand image would enhance our reputation and attract potential partners. Recognizing the value of this insight, we launched a comprehensive rebranding initiative. We revamped Green Society's visual identity and designed a new logo. Additionally, we developed detailed branding guidelines to ensure consistency across all our communications. I am particularly proud of this project as it strengthened Green Society's credibility and professional image, improving our position for future growth.

Empowered by our successful registration and the invaluable network fostered by Rabeha Joint Programme, Green Society is ready for accelerated growth. As a registered entity, we can now build strategic partnerships with private sector companies, helping us organize impactful awareness-raising events and public activations. Additionally, collaboration with the relevant governmental institutions opens doors to integrate environmental sustainability education into public school curriculums.

I am proud of the success Green Society has achieved until today. We have overcome countless challenges, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to the cause. Our journey emphasizes a fundamental truth: perseverance is key to achieving impactful goals. Our efforts extend far beyond Green Society's success [as a company]; we're actively building a more sustainable future for all, safeguarding the well-being of our planet for generations to come.

^{Asmaa is one of 9,911 women who participated in the “Women’s Economic Empowerment for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Egypt” programme known as “Rabeha”. The Rabeha Joint Programme aims to enhance women’s economic empowerment through increased access to employment and/or self-employment opportunities, by providing capacity building, development support and financial aid to women entrepreneurs, jobseekers, private sector companies and investors.}

^{Rabeha Joint Programme is implemented by UN Women Egypt and UNIDO Egypt, in partnership with the National Council for Women (NCW), the Min­istry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Develop­ment Agency (MSMEDA) with the generous support of Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Asmaa attended the entrepreneurship training that was delivered by The American University in Cairo under the joint programme.}