We organized our face-to-face training at Université Senghor in Alexandria with participants from the English-speaking cohort and it was a great success! The activity was captivating, informative and generated great interest, thanks to our facilitator, Mr. Mohamed Kholeif, who provided valuable insights into cultural entrepreneurship perspectives.

The training was a great success, mainly due to the support of Mr. Mohamed Kholeif, who served as the mentor for the English-speaking cohort. Participants explored the challenges and opportunities in the cultural and creative industries sector through this program, benefiting from valuable advice and expertise from the trainer. Under his enlightened leadership, participants gained an in-depth understanding of key issues and best practices in this dynamic field.

Participants made invaluable contributions to the training, displaying active engagement in teamwork and throughout the session. Their enthusiasm and dynamic participation enriched the discussions and activities, fostering a collaborative and stimulating learning environment. 

Thanks to their involvement, participants were able to get the most out of this online training experience, putting the concepts covered into practice and exchanging innovative ideas.

We held our fifth online training session on Zoom, and it was a great success! The training was captivating and informative, thanks to our facilitator, Dr. Ribio NZEZA BUNKETI BUSE, speaker for the French cohort, and Dr. Munyaradzi CHATIKOBO, speaker for the English cohort. They brought enthusiasm and valuable insights that enriched the participants experience.

Thanks to the involvement and expertise of both mentors, the online training on Cultural and Creative Industries has enjoyed remarkable success. Their leadership and in-depth expertise enabled participants to fully capitalize on this enriching training experience. With their support, participants deepened their exploration of the challenges and opportunities in the cultural and creative sectors, acquiring essential skills to thrive in this dynamic field.

Participants made an outstanding contribution to this event, demonstrating high engagement and activity throughout the training. Their active participation enriched discussions and exchanges, fostering a collaborative and stimulating learning environment.

Participants were able to share their experiences, ask relevant questions and cultivate innovative ideas for the future of the cultural and creative sectors through their engagement. Their enthusiasm and openness played an essential role in the success of this event, thereby strengthening the actors community in the cultural and creative industries.

The event was engaging, informative, and a huge success thanks to our facilitators for the English cohort, Mrs. Khaulah ABDULKADIR and Mrs. Samia CHELBI, who brought enthusiasm and added valuable insights to all participants.

This online training provided participants with an exceptional opportunity to explore the intersection of technology and cultural heritage. The role of the mentors was crucial in providing valuable support and guidance to both English- and French-speaking participants.

Thanks to their expertise and dedication, all participants thoroughly enjoyed this enriching experience. They made an outstanding contribution, demonstrating genuine commitment to the subject. Their active participation and innovative ideas enriched discussions and activities throughout the training.

Their enthusiasm and curiosity fostered a stimulating and collaborative atmosphere, making this online event a truly enriching experience for all participants.

We organized the online training with Mr. Thomas PANGANAYI as the speaker for the English cohort and Mr. Dja François MALAN for the French cohort, both of whom did us the honour of leading the training sessions. The event was engaging, informative, and a huge success.

The training was an enriching experience for all participants. They were able to benefit from great assistance from the mentors, who have great expertise in the field.

Their experiences and knowledge were widely shared, enabling the participants to provide valuable advice and new perspectives on the impact of climate change on our cultural heritage. The training experience was greatly enriched by their availability and ability to answer questions, which allowed participants to better understand how they can contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage in the face of climate change.

The participants also played a vital role in the training. Their involvement and motivation created a dynamic and stimulating environment, conducive to fruitful discussions and constructive exchanges. Thanks to their varied experiences and unique perspectives, the discussions were enriched, allowing everyone to fully benefit from the training.

Their active participation fostered a collaborative atmosphere where everyone could acquire knowledge and develop together, making this online training a truly enriching and unforgettable experience for all participants.

The event was captivating, informative, and a huge success, thanks to our facilitators Prof. Dina Ezz El-Din and Dr. Khaoula KEMBOUCHE, who brought enthusiasm and added valuable insights to all participants! Many thanks to all the amazing participants for making this event fantastic.

The online training program titled “Tourism and Cultural Heritage” was an enriching experience. The mentors played a crucial role in generously sharing their expertise and experience with the participants. Their guidance was extremely helpful in understanding the challenges and opportunities in the field of cultural tourism.

Thanks to their wise advice, participants were able to acquire new perspectives and practical skills to develop sustainable tourism initiatives that respect cultural heritage. The contributions of the two mentors were invaluable, and their commitment to knowledge sharing greatly enriched this online training experience.

The participants made a significant contribution to the training, demonstrating high engagement and keen interest in the topics covered. Their active participation enriched discussions and the exchange of ideas, fostering a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. Their diverse experiences and perspectives added invaluable depth to the training, enabling mutual learning and the development of innovative ideas for tourism and cultural heritage.

The event was captivating, informative, and a huge success thanks to our host, Mr. Souayibou VARISSOU, who brought enthusiasm and added valuable insights to all participants.

It was an enriching experience for all participants. Through interactive sessions and multimedia presentations, learners explored the hidden treasures of cultural and natural heritage. Our host, Mr. Souayibou VARISSOU, shared his extensive knowledge of history and architecture, providing a holistic perspective on the inestimable richness of our heritage.

The lively discussions and practical activities enabled participants to better understand the importance of preserving and promoting our heritage for future generations.

Ultimately, this training heightened awareness of the value of cultural and natural heritage and inspired participants to become committed ambassadors for its preservation.

We launched our online webinar on Zoom on April 8, 2024! It was engaging, insightful, and a huge success.

This webinar was organized to connect and provide information about the Utamaduni Heritage Hub program to be held at Université Senghor. It was designed to be both engaging and effective, giving attendees a comprehensive overview of what they can expect from the program.

The organizers included interactive presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and testimonials from past participants to give interested parties a clear idea of the experience offered by the program. Through this interactive approach, participants felt engaged and informed, sparking great interest in the Utamaduni Heritage Hub program.

On November 28-29, 2023, in Egypt, the Utamaduni Heritage Hub was officially launched under the auspices of the International Center for the Study of the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).

Utamaduni Heritage Hub is a project led by the culture department of Université Senghor in Alexandria. It consists of a training and capacity-building program to support young Africans in implementing entrepreneurial projects centered around African cultural heritage. The Utamaduni Heritage Hub aims to provide students and young professionals aged 15 to 30, working or retraining and residing in Egypt, with the fundamental knowledge, techniques, and tools necessary to fully realize their entrepreneurial potential.

Utamaduni Heritage Hub aims to promote cultural entrepreneurship among innovative African youth and represents a significant milestone in the promotion of cultural entrepreneurship among African youth. It provides a vital platform for exploring, enhancing, and protecting the continent's rich cultural heritage.

The Utamaduni Heritage Hub is the result of a dynamic collaboration between ICCROM and Université Senghor, aiming to instill innovation and entrepreneurial empowerment in young Africans in the field of culture and crafts. This visionary project is part of the broader framework of efforts to support sustainable development and the preservation of African cultural heritage.

The launch of the Utamaduni Heritage Hub represents an unprecedented opportunity to stimulate innovation and engage younger generations in the preservation and enhancement of African cultural heritage.

By encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship, the Utamaduni Heritage Hub aims to strengthen cultural identity and foster inclusive and sustainable economic development across the continent.

At the session on business creation, financing and intellectual property led by Mr. Nicolas Étienne, we had the opportunity to explore in depth the challenges and opportunities associated with these key areas.

As a speaker, Mr. Étienne shared his expertise and valuable experience with us, offering practical advice and insightful perspectives. We covered topics such as the different sources of finance available to entrepreneurs, strategies for protecting intellectual property and best practices for creating and developing a sustainable business. 

The discussion was enriching and instructive, giving participants a better understanding of the key issues and the steps to take to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. 

We organized a fantastic visit for Utamaduni participants to Alathar-Lina, an initiative that involves the community in the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage in Al-Khalifa district in Cairo. 

The participants thoroughly enjoyed the visit and actively participated in the workshop and various activities. It was a truly wonderful experience that allowed everyone to learn and appreciate different aspects of our rich cultural heritage. 

The visit to Alathar-Lina was a resounding success, providing Utamaduni participants with a unique opportunity to engage with the community-driven initiative focused on preserving and promoting cultural heritage. 

The participants enthusiastically embraced the workshop and actively took part in the diverse range of activities, demonstrating their genuine interest in learning and immersing themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of the region.

The experience proved to be an enriching and eye-opening one, allowing everyone to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the various facets of our cultural heritage. The visit not only fostered a sense of connection and understanding among the participants but also highlighted the importance of community involvement in safeguarding our collective heritage. Overall, it was a truly remarkable experience that left a lasting impression on all those involved.

We organised a training course for Utamaduni participants on "Storytelling: personal stories and product/service stories". 

During the course, participants had the opportunity to acquire valuable new skills and knowledge. They learned a great deal on subjects such as attractive and impactful presentations, the art of the pitch with its best practices and exercises, as well as through inspiring exchanges with accomplished entrepreneurs. 

We would like to express our deep gratitude to our trainers, Mr. Ahmed El-Bastawy for the English cohort and Mr. Ribio NZEZA BUNKETI BUSE for the French cohort, for their invaluable contribution to the training of Utamaduni participants on the theme of "Storytelling: personal stories and product/service stories". Their expertise and dedication greatly enriched this learning experience. We are also very grateful to all the participants for their commitment and enthusiasm, which made this event truly exceptional.

During the semi-final, 10 projects were selected for the final competition:

 First place: DEGUENON Mêhévêna Joëlle Clara (Benin) for her Sens'Heritage project.

Second place: Abdelaziz Wafaa (Egypt) for his ZayTunis project.

Third place: LAWENDY Angelina (Egypt) for her project Taste Egypt.

Fourth place: SOUSSIA Moksia (Chad) for her project Echo Nature.

Fifth place: NAMESSI Essodibèrim (Togo) for her project Koutammakou HOME.

Sixth place: GAMEDJO Senami Ginette (Benin) for her project African Flavour.

Seventh place: BALDE Omar Bouly (Senegal) for his project Plateforme d'Activités Culturelles Technologiques.

Eighth place: Ibrahim Nada (Egypt) for his project The Egyptian Plate.

Ninth place: GOHAR Dina (Egypt) for her project Heritage Marine Crafts and Climate Change.

Tenth place: IBRAHIM Mariam (Egypt) for her project Handcraft Club.

We would like to thank the judges for their help in selecting the best projects for the final competition.  

The 5 finalists in the Utamaduni Heritage Hub pitch competition were:

First place: DEGUENON Mêhévêna Joëlle Clara (Benin) for her Sens'Heritage project.

Second place: Abdelaziz Wafaa (Egypt) for his ZayTunis project.

Third place: LAWENDY Angelina (Egypt) for her project Taste Egypt.

Fourth place: SOUSSIA Moksia (Chad) for her project Echo Nature.

Fifth place: NAMESSI Essodibèrim (Togo) for her project Koutammakou HOME.

The closing ceremony of the Utamaduni Heritage Hub Cultural Entrepreneurship and Heritage training course took place on June 13, 2024. The 28 participants (12 English speakers and 16 French speakers) from 9 countries (Burundi, Togo, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Mali, Benin, Chad and Cameroon) were mobilised for 6 weeks from 14 April to 10 June 2024. 

The success and successful conclusion of the training programme would not have been possible without the involvement of the various juries (semi-finals and finals), tutors, lecturers, institutional partners and the participants themselves.