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Photos of Qena

The Achieved Positive Results

- The governorate of Qena has presented a model which many are interested to investigate and make use of. Such a model drew the attention of local and international experts and scholars alike. In this context, experts from the United States and Japan visited Qena in addition to experts working for the UN Development Fund and other bodies. Certain human development indicators showed a remarkable improvement in Qena such as:

o Illiteracy reduction: During the first phase of the illiteracy program, the illiteracy of 133,000 citizens was eradicated by June 2004.

o Increase of students at different educational stages:  

Number of students admitted into University of South Valley increased from 1999 to 2004 by 3,420 male/ female students accounting for a 21% increase;

Number of students joining AI-Azhar University increased from 1999 to 2004 by 2,903 male/ female students, making up for an 80% increase:  

The number of students studying in higher education institutes increased by 8,297 male/ female students representing a 98% in the period 1999'-2004; '

Numbers of students studying at different stages and forms of pre- university education increased by 7% from 1999 to 2004, reaching a total number of 42,114 student;

An increase by 5.010 male/ female students, accounting for 6%, was reported among students studying at various stages of Al-Azhar pre- university education from the period 1999-2004.

o Decline in Unemployment:  

Several developmental projects led to a decrease in unemployment, most of which demanding intensive labor. Such projects created job opportunities for youth in public and/or private enterprises, or in non-governmental organizations;  

Cleaning service projects provided 3,000 job opportunities. Moreover, 12,000 persons were temporarily hired in lieu of leave without pay employees.

o Raising health awareness:  

Qena has emerged as one of the leading governorates in the area of family planning, birth rates dropped from 31.8 per thousand in 1996 to 25.5 per thousand in 2002; '

Number of family members decreased from 6.1 child per family in 1998. to 3.9 child per family in 2001;  

Renovating the infrastructure across the governorate: The renovation process included: sanitary drainage, water supply, electricity networks, roads, means of transportation, communications, cleaning service, the proper management of solid waste, environmental protection, increasing the green areas, improving the medical services, moving towards more clean "environment-friendly" and bio-agricultural practices, focusing attention on the improvement of educational services, besides many other developmental activities which necessarily will improve the health of Qena people, increase their health awareness and eradicate lots of diseases.

Upgrading the economic level

It is anticipated that current developmental efforts will contribute to improving the economic level of Qena people, raising their average income and enhancing their standards of living. The most striking examples of such developmental efforts are: industrial and agricultural projects, youth projects financed by revolving loans, service activities that demand heavy labor such as cleaning, painting, maintenance, as well as tourist projects, market- and export-oriented approaches and encouraging handmade and trade industries.

An improvement was reported in the environmental conditions and natural resources protection. Referring to Qena's environmental description and as a result of adopting the scientific approach and implementing firm environment policies, a tangible improvement was noted in the way the governorate uses natural resources. Features of said improvement were: '

Formulating inspection committees to consistently observe Nile water pollution prevention measures;  

The proper management of solid waste and operation of the organic fertilizers factory;  

The sound exploitation of lime and marble quarries: '

Increasing green areas and positively contributing towards pollution abatement;  

Raising citizens' environmental awareness

An obvious shift in citizens' behaviors was noted, and more social capital was generated, which is considered one of the most significant factors of development. This is represented in the increased confidence citizens placed in the local administration, the interaction of citizens with renovation and development activities in process, compliance with the new sets of rules and constraints and their turning to make advantage of services provided to them. In consequence, crime rates in Qena declined, feelings of tribal fanaticism were evidently improved, severe competition between tribes and families was eased off, and community participation increased. Of the most salient features of the behavioral shift were:

o Citizens' responsiveness to the current development move and their compliance with rules of speed and traffic instructions, parking vehicles in designated parking areas, and their cooperation in maintaining their governorate clean, to mention but some examples.

o Compliance by different social classes with the rules and laws, and paying the fines and penalties when necessary, without any exceptions to any privileged societal groups who used to enjoy such exempts from the enforcement of rules and controls: like members of the judiciary bodies, police and the legislative councils.

People in Qena have proceeded to enjoy the improvements made to their governorate. Families and youth frequently go out to public parks and gardens, and the Nile Corniche, to spend their time and to enjoy the splendors added to their governorate.

The increased sense of belongingness among Qena citizens and the increased pride portrayed in belonging to Qena.

Increased popular participation and voluntary work in the developmental projects in the governorate. Moreover, people more readily donate funds and estates in realization of development and aesthetic objectives.

Raised environmental and health awareness among Qena people.

Raised political consciousness and willingness to participate in the elections of municipal councils in addition to the increased participation of the women in public life.

The increased interest among investors in establishing industrial and service projects in Qena, which was not the case before.

Near disappearance of the amount of grumbling and complaining regarding the tough living conditions previously exercised by employees working in Qena from any other governorate This may be attributed to the developmental breakthrough and public services enhancement, to the extent that more people now think that Qena is a good place where they can live and work, and seek to move thereto.

Enhancing the aesthetic sense of the citizens and raising their awareness about how important it is to maintain the gardens, streets and public places clean.

Reduction of different forms of crime: a group of junior lawyers who are members of the Sub-Bar Association in Qena and the Red Sea conducted a study on assault crimes against the civil self in the period from 1997-2001. These crimes included pre-meditated murder, battering causing death or permanent disability, in addition to minor battering misdemeanors. The study found out the following:  

Crimes of pre-meditated murder, battering causing death and permanent disability disappeared completely in the last year of the study whereas the rate of minor battering misdemeanors was found to have diminished. 

In the last two years of the study, a good deal of claimants abandoned the legal channels and rather referred their cases directly to the Governor to obtain their rights, being fully confident of the usefulness of such an approach to recover their rights in the shortest time possible. '

Qena as well as its governor, was awarded many international prizes such as:

o In 2004, Qena was awarded the ISO International Certificate 14001 for sound environmental management. The environmental assessment activities were performed by the German foundation "Ger Mancher Leud" which decided that official environmental management at the governorate, and the development and progress projects executed in Qena, comply with the international standard specifications for cities and local administration.

o Dubai Prize: the prize of Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum for Arab Management was awarded to Qena after it won in the "Distinguished Arab Administrative Experience" for 2004. This prize is an excellence certificate for Qena's experience in the area of development in Egypt.

o Man of the 21" Century Prize by the International Center of Biographies at Cambridge, England, and the prize of Man of 2001 awarded by the American Centre for Biographies in 2001.

- In addition, Qena as well as its governor was offered many local and national awards and prizes such as:

o  The honor given by the Egyptian Society For Environment in Alexandria to Major General/ Adel Labeeb in September 2001;

o Medal of excellence and distinction by the general syndicate of pharmacists in March 2002;

o Egyptian doctors syndicate's coat of arms and an appreciation certificate in March 2002;

o The honor given by the Arab Association for Human Development to the governor in October 2002;

o The honor given by the Arab Association for Administration to the governor and conferring on him honorary membership in recognition of his distinct achievements in the field of management;

o According to the Al-Ahram annual environmental assessment for 2001, the governor was chosen "Man of the Environment", Qena was chosen "Governorate of the Environment", and "Houd 10 Street" was elected the "most beautiful street in Egypt".