2. The Oasis Community Center (OCC) is an ecological initiative. Our farm as a piece
of nature among 10.000 square meters of green and desert is located near 6th of
October city.
Our vision is to build a more sustainable world while impacting and actively involving
the young generation.
We believe in our children and therefore we want to engage the youth to sustain the
environment. On these grounds, through the medium of education, our mission is to
raise environmental awareness.
We host different events and workshops. Thus, we focus on camps and day trips for
young people from schools, centers and organizations as well as companies. To gain
the young generation’s interest for a cleaner, healthier and brighter future, our
environmental activities contain:
Furthermore, we appreciate hosting events with the aim to teach young people
about leadership and social entrepreneurship.
• Education on renewable energy, recycling and waste management
• The Eco-Club: tree plantation, solar energy and green building
• Outdoor sport activities and farm animals
• Art and Craft
Welcome to the Oasis Community Center
About our Oasis
3. 3
In the ground floor of the two-storied
villa, we already deliver workshops and
events. But we envision the model of a
sustainable villa. Therefore our plan is to
dedicate the first floor to the issue of
recycling and recyle arts. The second
floor will adress the topic of renewable
energy. Following up, the roof already
contains renewable energy exhibits.
The idea of the green building using the “Hassan Fathi“ method is to preserve the
energy while keeping the hot air out in summer and maintaining a good
temperature in the winter. The main hall with its seats serves as a hub for corporate
meetings and conferences. Besides, the house consists of four bedrooms.
Our quasi-passive green house
The villa
The decoration of lanterns and carpets is bought from small Egyptian family-run
businesses. The coloured glass used in the dome of “Al Khan“ is recycled as well as
the wood used to built the tables and sunshades outside. Furthermore, you will find
“Khiamyia“, which is a typical Egyptian handcraft. In the front side of the building, a
comfortable pool invites to swim and relax.
4. 4
Furthermore, we hold four solar water
heaters of EmicoEgypt, each with a
capacity of 50 liters. The hot water can
be used for the bathrooms. We also show
lower priced versions for 100$.
In addition, a wind turbine prototyp out
of 100% local material is built up in our
center. It is still under testing. These three
sources of energy are exposed for visitors
and further information can be delivered.
Our farm is partly run by renewable energy. On the roof of our villa, we have
established five photovoltaic (PV) panels of the German company MaxSolar, each
with a power of 250W. The energy produced out of this ressource is used to entirely
light our building “Al Khan“ if necessary.
Renewable energy in the OCC
The Oasis Team
Because we always strive for the best in everthing we do, we have international
volunteers from AIESEC in our young team. We all share the passion for a sustainable
environment.
5. 5
Development of the Oasis
“It all started in 2003. My husband
drove me along an unpaved road in
the middle of the desert around
Cairo to an inhabited area. Only
several empty villas were built up in
the middle of nowhere. We decided
to purchase a part of the land
because we were searching for a
place for family gatherings and
celebrations. At that time, no water
or electricity supply were
established, yet.
In 2010, we decided to make our idea public. As we were recycling at home and
planting in our street in Cairo, we discovered that my oldest son has different
interests than his classmates. Thus, we decided to use our place in the desert to invite
his friends. After this nice event, we asked the boys to plant a small tree. This was the
first small step of our idea: we launched a planting trees initiative. The following
weekends, we used to plant trees and bushes with friends.
In the same year, inspired by our passion
for environmental issues, my husband
dreamed of constructing a green
building in the "Hassan Fathy" style. After
finishing, we called it "Al Khan", which
means “The Place“ because we all feel
very comfortable in it.
Planting parties continued and we were known among our circles for our weekly
planting activities soon. More then 800 trees have been planted so far. Until now, we
still keep the custom that each person entering the Oasis has to plant a tree.
6. 6
A friend asked us to host an international
youth camp with a social background
called CISV. After this formative event, we
realised the need of a community for
planting and environmental awareness.
So together with the organization “Nahdet
el Mahrousa“, I collected my knowledge
about sustainability. We also hosted a
meeting of all egyptian ecological
initiatives.
Consequentially, the idea of the
Oasis Community Center as the
future green hub for ecological
initiatives all over Egypt was born.
Indeed, we are very contended
about the past developments
and we intend to continue and
grow.“, narrates Dr. Sally Hafez
Bahgat, CEO and founder of the
OCC.
"Khadra" (engl.: Greenery) is an initiative that
encourages school children to be
environmentally friendly. Through "Khadra" we
aspire to be part of the solution for environmental
sustainability in Egypt through educating and
motivating school children to make changes in
their lifestyles. They should learn to adopt simple
habits to manage solid waste, and conserve
energy and water.
The initiative “Khadra“
7. 7
Since December 2014, the initiative is
a partnership between the OCC and
“Takatof Foundation“, which is a
corporate responsibility branch of
PricewaterhouseCoopers Egypt
(PwC). “Takatof“ stands for support.
So they sponsore activities in 40 public
Egyptian schools and orphanages.
Until now, 20 schools and two
orphanages already visited the OCC.
During an educational “Green Day“
at the Oasis, “Takatof“ provides
human ressources, busses and meals.
Volunteers of “Khadra“ and “Takatof“
deliver workshops about waste
management, renewable energy
and recycling as well as planting
sessions. Thereby we consider the
importance that the children try the
activities with their own hands.
8. 8
The small solar cells that we use to
demonstrate renewable energy
possibilities are materials used in
schools all over the world but
unfortunately not in Egypt, yet. So this
is one example of how “Khadra“
closes gabs in the green education of
public schools.
Partners
Besides the partnership with PwC, the OCC works together with several other
organizations.
The academies and associations hold trainings about
PV and solar water heating for young Engineers and
interested people at the Oasis on a regular basis.
Because we provide prototypes of PV panel and light,
wind turbine as well es solar water heater.
Oasis Renewable Energy, Solar Energy
Development Association (SEDA) and
Renac Renewables Academy
Wataneya Society for the Development
of Orphanages
The NGO in its program works together with the OCC to involve orphanages to
spend a “Green Day“ at the Oasis through the initiative “Khadra“.
9. 9
AIESEC
In 2015, we started a collaboration with the local
committee of AIESEC in Cairo University. This summer, we
welcomed three interns from Europe and Latin America
and exchanged ideas about global environment
awareness.
References
A global organization dedicated to educating and
inspiring for peace through building inter-
cultural friendship, cooperation and understanding.
CISV
Alwan W Awtar
An nonprofit organization with the aim of providing a
safe haven where children can nurture their artistic
senses, develop their creativity and intellectual abilities
and experience self-discovery in a stimulating
nonjudgmental environment.
Nabta Camp
A community of volunteers that connects people and
ideas, Creating spaces to co-create solutions for social
good.
Furthermore, here are some organizations and companies, we already worked with
in the past as a reference.
10. 10
A Social Enterprise and community-powered green tech
innovation hub, that work together to solve
environmental and social challenges using the brilliance
of the Icecairo community, and to turn these challenges
in to green businesses.
Icecairo
An experienced service provider and assist the
German Government in achieving its objectives in the
field of international cooperation who offers customized
solutions to complex challenges. demand-driven, tailor-
made and effective services for sustainable
development.
Giz
A group of students, from the German University in Cairo,
who are passionate about TED, aiming to trigger
development, changing something about the world,
providing a learning and teaching ecosystem then in a
TED-like environment.
TEDxGUC
An international non-profit organization that uses the
power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality
of life and standard of living for people in need.
Enactus
11. 11
A multinational professional services network. It is one of
the largest professional services firms in the world, and is
one of the Big Four auditors.
Price Waterhouse Coopers
An incubator who supporting social entrepreneurs
develop/build successful and scalable social enterprises
throught its incubator of innovative social enterprises.
Nahdet el Mahroosa
An enrichment program targeting Egyptian youth at
school age. Bridging the gap between their mindsets
and market needs.
Teen Preneurs
A volunteer youth initiative aimed at learning and
cultivating the skills needed for the advancement of
Egypt’s civil society.
Nama
12. 12
New partnerships and cooperation with organizations and initiatives that share the
same vision with us in order to impact more young people are very welcome.
For schools, we host educational events with an environmental background such as
“Green Days“ in our Oasis.
For organizations and initiatives, we offer our place to be rented for day camps and
events that contain an ecology-minded purpose.
As a company, a sponsoring cooperation within the framework of the Khadra
program is welcome.
We feel glad to get in touch with you.
For further information, kindly contact:
Dr. Sally Hafez Bahgat (CEO & Founder)
Tel: +20 122 219 1458
E-Mail: oasiscommunityegypt@gmail.com
Adress of the Center:
6th of October city, Wahat desert road, Green Belt, Egypt
Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OasisCommunityCenter
Instagram: OasisCommunityCenter
The Oasis Community Center and you
Contact for further information
