البرامج الرئيسية
الشبكة الوطنية
Egypt
Address
75, Abdel Aziz Fahmi St, 2nd floor, apartment9, Stanely, AlexandriaTelephone
+20035437538Telephone (other)
01000074146E-Mail (2)
hagerabdulhady3@gmail.comE-Mail (3)
rawda.abdelhady@gmail.comMobile Phone
+201024612238Website
Click HereOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationYear of Establishment
2017مجالات النشاط
Arts, Heritage, Youth and educationGeneral Information
Raquda Foundation for Art and Heritage is registered as an NGO under no. 3878, in Alexandria, Egypt, by law no. 194 for 2019 concerning Non-Governmental Organizations regulating practicing civil work. Raquda was Established in 2015 to safeguard and preserve cultural and natural heritage sustainably and through communities.
The Foundation’s main area of work is cultural services. Other areas of the Foundation’s work include research services for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, heritage community engagement, sharing awareness, and capacity building.
Mission and Objectives
Vision: Preservation and safeguarding the natural heritage as well as tangible and intangible cultural heritage in sustainable and developed manners.
Objectives: Empower Communities for Heritage Conservation: Enable communities and societies to actively conserve and preserve their culture, heritage, and arts through sustainable development projects.
Promote Cultural Awareness and Entrepreneurship: Share knowledge on cultural heritage preservation, management, and entrepreneurship by engaging diverse communities in various initiatives.
Foster Youth Engagement in Civil Society: Support and enhance the role of youth in cultural and heritage-related projects, strengthening their participation in civil society.
Support Artistic and Handcraft Industries: Encourage the development and sustainability of artistic and artisan handcraft industries by creating opportunities for growth and visibility.
Celebrate international diversity: organize events, festivals, and celebrations that showcase and honor Egyptian, euromed countries and African folk traditions.
Curate and Host Art Exhibitions: Plan and implement exhibitions of various forms, including collective, temporary, anthological, and monographic displays, to highlight artistic heritage.
Advance Heritage Conservation and Management: Work on initiatives that support the preservation, restoration, and sustainable management of cultural heritage sites and assets.
Main Projects / Activities
1. El-Max Rescue Project – Alexandria, Egypt (2021–ongoing)
A community-based safeguarding project focused on the maritime heritage of El-Max, a historic coastal district in Alexandria. The project documents traditional fishing practices, boat-building knowledge, oral histories, and coastal cultural landscapes, while engaging local communities, youth, and artisans. Activities include documentation, participatory mapping, capacity building, and advocacy related to coastal development and heritage protection.
2. Fish Markets Heritage in Alexandria – Alexandria, Egypt (2021–2023)
A documentation and safeguarding project dedicated to the heritage of fish markets in Alexandria as living urban and maritime spaces. The project focuses on recording traditional knowledge, daily practices, social relations, and oral histories associated with fish markets, highlighting their cultural, economic, and social significance. Activities included field documentation, interviews, visual recording, and community engagement, contributing to raising awareness of water-related urban heritage and its role in local identity.
3. Community-Based Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentation Programme – Alexandria and Coastal Cities, Egypt (2021–ongoing)
A continuous programme dedicated to documenting intangible cultural heritage elements related to maritime life, crafts, food traditions, storytelling, and urban practices. The programme includes training workshops for youth and volunteers, field documentation, and support for safeguarding initiatives in coordination with local communities.
4. Capacity Building Workshops on Heritage Documentation and Safeguarding – Egypt (2017–ongoing)
A series of training and capacity-building workshops delivered annually for students, early-career professionals, and civil society practitioners. Topics include community-based safeguarding, documentation methods, heritage values assessment, and the integration of tangible and intangible heritage in urban and coastal contexts.
5. Sustainable Development Indicators Camp (2022-2030): Achieving sustainable development indicators through intangible cultural heritage: A case study on Khayamiya in Historic Cairo, in collaboration with Beit Al-Yakaneya for Heritage and Arts.
6. Documentation of 51 Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements in Alexandria (2023) funded by CEEBA
7. Participation in Egypt’s 2022 Periodic Report on the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
8. Herafi Project (2021): Under the patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the UNDP.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
Raquda contributes to the Anna Lindh Foundation network by sharing applied experience in safeguarding both intangible and tangible heritage specially within coastal and water-affected communities, with a particular focus on climate-related risks and community resilience. Through participatory documentation projects, Raquda supports the documenting and studying the cultural practices, traditional knowledge, and heritage assets in Egypt, especially those linked to maritime environments such as fishing traditions, boat-building, and seasonal navigation knowledge.
In collaboration with Euro-Mediterranean partners, Raquda engages in interdisciplinary research on historical coastal sites, traditional crafts, and living heritage, connecting local knowledge systems with scientific approaches to conservation and climate adaptation. Raquda can lead heritage awareness workshops and capacity-building programs for youth, artisans, and cultural practitioners, emphasizing the role of heritage in sustainable livelihoods and environmental stewardship.
Furthermore, Raquda is able to coordinate exchange programs between Egyptian cultural organizations and EuroMed partners to share best practices in community-based heritage preservation, climate-responsive conservation, and inclusive cultural programming. The Foundation can also initiate pilot initiatives that link heritage safeguarding with sustainable development, such as community heritage trails, eco-cultural hubs, or artisan markets that promote responsible tourism while strengthening local economies and respecting environmental limits.
Additionally, Raquda has the capacity to conduct analytical studies, field assessments, and community-based development plans for heritage-rich coastal areas. This includes heritage mapping, risk and vulnerability assessments related to climate change, and the preparation of integrated action plans that support adaptive reuse, sustainable urban development, and long-term community resilience.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
During our first year within the ALF Network, Raquda has actively sought to amplify the voices of youth engaged in cultural heritage protection and leadership, particularly in coastal contexts. Through the Network, we contributed to highlighting the role of young practitioners in safeguarding both tangible and intangible heritage and in linking cultural practices to contemporary challenges such as climate change.
However, we recognize that there is still a strong need to create more effective and inclusive spaces for exchange across the Mediterranean—spaces that go beyond visibility to enable applied research, joint studies, structured training programs, and collaborative problem-solving. Continuing as a member of the ALF Network will allow Raquda to deepen its engagement by supporting analytical studies, capacity-building initiatives, and community-led solutions, while ensuring that the voices of coastal communities are meaningfully integrated into regional dialogue.
We seek to continue our membership in order to strengthen long-term partnerships, expand opportunities for youth and local practitioners, and contribute to practical, community-centered approaches that connect heritage preservation with climate resilience and sustainable development across the Euro-Mediterranean region.