How The Shagrha project started
It started with a chance observation, and has blossomed into an initiative that will help the community with sustainable natural resources. How? By making free vitamin-packed fruit available throughout the city, through the simple act of planting trees to go green and save mother nature. The brainchild of Eng. Omar El Deeb, a project started in 2016, it is now well under way. According to El Deeb, the community support and response has been gratifying.
A petroleum engineer with no initial training in agriculture, El Deeb received his diploma in environmental engineering in 2014. El Deeb says this project is a fulfillment of a childhood dream to be able to do something of lasting value for the community, especially the less privileged.
One day he noticed local passersby picking fruit from a tree adjacent to his home on the outskirts of Cairo, and the idea came to him to plant more trees along the street. Although the land was relatively barren, he went on to plant ten trees opposite his house, for anyone in need to pick from. The next step was to write a post on Facebook, inviting friends to join in and start a tree planting campaign. Within two days Shagrha was up and launched in El Obour City.
Obstacles and Hardships the team has overcome so far green
There was no shortage of challenges. Trees were cut down and destroyed for no reason. The law did not have a provision for individuals to plant fruit trees in the streets. It took a massive effort, and eventually the law was changed. Inspired by his efforts, the idea snowballed and soon volunteers in other locations joined in tree planting events, with more than 300 having taken place to date.
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Youth have come on board, along with multinational companies and other organizations to support eco friendly events, and by time, the initiative spread to other countries and has been emulated by new groups. Now, over 100,000 fruit trees have been planted, in schools, universities, on roof tops and balconies, both in Egypt and abroad. With a strong, enthusiastic team Shagrha is setting a sustainable example for many to follow to go green and save mother nature. ..
