Based in Cairo, the Egyptian foundation BENAA is dedicated to empowering youth through sustainable projects in Egypt and the MENA region. Embracing their motto, “Building Capacities, Building Communities,” BENAA focuses on raising awareness and engaging communities in their innovative activities.
In 2020, they spearheaded a groundbreaking project: constructing an eco-classroom using plastic bottles as building blocks and clay for thermal insulation. This project, part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) ‘Trash Hack Campaign’ and supported by ESD youth leaders, stands as a testament to BENAA’s commitment to sustainability and education.
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes international collaboration in education, science, culture, and communication. Established in 1945, UNESCO strives to build peace, eradicate poverty, and drive sustainable development through its diverse programs and initiatives.
In education, UNESCO promotes universal access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, integrating sustainable development principles into education systems worldwide. Science encourages research, innovation, and the use of science and technology for sustainable development and peace.
UNESCO also preserves cultural heritage and promotes cultural diversity, safeguarding sites of outstanding universal value and fostering intercultural dialogue. In communication and information, it advocates for freedom of expression, media development, and access to information.
Through major programs like the World Heritage Program and the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, UNESCO supports the preservation of cultural and natural heritage and promotes sustainable development. By collaborating with governments, civil society, and other partners, UNESCO aims to create a more just and sustainable world.
Rasha Emad Eldin, the co-founder of BENAA, recounts the significant challenge faced at the project’s inception. “From collecting enough plastic bottles to understanding their durability and the long-term effects of using them in construction, we knew we had a long journey ahead to bring this eco-classroom to life,” she explains. Despite these obstacles, the project was designed to integrate deeply with the community, drawing on local knowledge and resources.
In Ezbet Eshaq, a small residential area surrounded by agricultural land in El-Fayoum, the BENAA team found a welcoming community eager to collaborate. “The people of Ezbet Eshaq saw our project as an opportunity to improve their children’s education while learning about and protecting the environment together,” Rasha reflects.
The community, particularly the children, played active roles in construction. Their involvement was crucial, from filling plastic bottles with sand to leading tours for visitors. BENAA also launched a campaign to encourage architecture students to volunteer in building the eco-classroom. “We aimed to bring urban and rural communities together to foster knowledge exchange and teach new generations of architects about eco-friendly building techniques using solid and natural waste,” says Rasha.
The eco-classroom evolved into an open learning space, complete with outdoor classrooms and a playground featuring swings and a tire wall made entirely from solid waste materials. The community’s expertise made addressing initial challenges, such as concerns about the durability of plastic bottles, possible. Local knowledge helped source the clay used to insulate the bottle-made walls, ensuring the structure’s stability and sustainability.
Islam Abo El Dardaa, architect and project manager at BENAA, highlights the importance of community collaboration. “The community has been instrumental in connecting us with locals and helping us procure the materials needed to continue building. It took time to gain their trust, but our shared goal of providing children with proper education expedited the process,” he states.
For BENAA, the eco-classroom project symbolizes growth, hope, and community empowerment. Initially lacking resources and support, these challenges only motivated the team further. Today, BENAA is a resource, committed to educating communities to shape a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
The involvement of young people and the community in this project has led to a deeper understanding of the relationship between various ESD approaches, including youth empowerment, transforming learning environments, and engaging local actors. Egypt is developing its ESD for 2030 country initiative, highlighting efforts aligning with UNESCO’s ambitious ESD for 2030 Roadmap.
