Takween Integrated Community Development

مينا هاوس، أكثر من مجرد فندق، إرث معماري يستحق أن يستمر.
تُشارك تكوين لتنمية المجتمعات المتكاملة في مشروع ترميم قصر مينا هاوس، أحد أبرز المشروعات المعنية بالحفاظ على المباني التراثية في مصر، وذلك ضمن مشروع يُنفَّذ بإشراف شركة سكوير للمشروعات الهندسية كمقاول عام، لصالح شركة ليجاسي للفنادق والمشروعات السياحية التابعة لـمجموعة طلعت مصطفى.
تتولى تكوين أعمال ترميم العناصر الخشبية والأشرطة الكتابية والأعمال الإنشائية في قاعة الرباعيات والقاعة الخديوية وتراسات الواجهات، بمنهجية تضع أصالة المكان ومواده الأصلية في صدارة كل قرار.

Heritage doesn't just tell the story of a place. It builds its future.

This belief sits at the heart of everything we do at Takween-ICD, and today, it has been recognised on the global stage. Our Revitalisation of Historic Esna Project has been selected as one of 6 Global Good Practices for 2025 under the World Heritage Contribution to the SDGs initiative, theme of Prosperity & Livelihoods, awarded by HeritAP / WHITR-AP (under the auspices of UNESCO).

The award was presented at the 2025 HeritAP Annual Meeting, held in Hangzhou, China, which brought together more than 150 heritage experts, practitioners, and representatives from 14 countries to explore how heritage conservation contributes to sustainable development. Esna was chosen from a competitive international field spanning heritage conservation, urban development, and local economic empowerment, placing Egypt's experience alongside the world's leading reference models.

The recognition reflects Takween's integrated approach: going beyond preservation to create real livelihoods, support local economies, and transform a historic city into a genuine engine of sustainable prosperity. It confirms that heritage, when approached right, is not just a legacy to protect. It's a tool for development.

We are proud of this milestone, and grateful to everyone who contributed to making Esna a model worth sharing with the world.

In recent months, Takween Integrated Community Development has continued to build on its work in Esna through the Value Investment in Sustainable Integrated Tourism in Esna (VISIT-Esna) project, which led to the establishment of Okra (Esna Women’s Kitchen), a space rooted in local heritage and community identity.

Within this context, Takween implemented “The Esna Table: Inclusive Tourism and Women’s Economic Empowerment,” a project funded by the Embassy of Canada in Egypt through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The initiative aimed to sustain and expand Okra Kitchen’s impact by strengthening its team and enhancing its operational capacity, while also enhancing its visibility and outreach through launching its official Instagram account, alongside building financial management skills through dedicated training sessions to support stronger and more sustainable operations.

As part of the project, a second round of the “Esna Kitchen” competition was held to uncover new local dishes and further enrich Okra’s menu. Three new women were also trained and integrated into the team, while home-dining experiences were introduced in Esna as a new way to connect visitors with the local community.

Building on these efforts, a cookbook dedicated to Esna’s culinary heritage has been developed and is now ready for publication, documenting the knowledge, stories, and traditions embedded in local cuisine.

Through this work, Takween continues to support community-based tourism and women’s economic empowerment by investing in local heritage and transforming it into sustainable opportunities for growth.

Embassy of Canada to Egypt

يعلن مشروع “ورشة ومعرض الأعمال الخشبية التقليدية بإدارة سيدات المجتمع المحلي – بإسنا” عن فتح باب التقديم لورشة تدريبية تهدف إلى رفع كفاءة المنتجات الحرفية لدى المشاركين، وتمكينهم من إنتاج منتجات خشبية تنافسية تعبر عن التراث المحلي.
تمر عملية الاختيار بعدة مراحل تبدأ بملء استمارة التقديم، يليها التقييم، ثم إجراء مقابلات شخصية للمتقدمين الذين تنطبق عليهم الشروط.
تعتمد معايير الاختيار على الخبرة السابقة في الحرف اليدوية، والرغبة في التعلم، والالتزام، والجدية، مع القدرة على تطوير مشروع مستقبلي.

يرجى ملاحظة أن الحضور الكامل طوال مدة الورشة شرط أساسي، وأن التقديم متاح فقط لسكان مركز ومدينة إسنا، نظرًا لطبيعة البرنامج.

للتواصل والتقديم: يرجى الاتصال وملء استمارة التقديم مع أ. منة على الرقم 01223702328، في موعد أقصاه الخميس 30 أبريل 2026.

هذه الورشة جزء من مشروع “ورشة ومعرض الأعمال الخشبية بإدارة سيدات المجتمع المحلي – بإسنا”، من تنفيذ تكوين لتنمية المجتمعات المتكاملة وبدعم من الوكالة الإسبانية للتعاون الدولي من أجل التنمية (AECID).

Join us today for “Living in Heritage” session as part of Egypt Urban Week 2026

🔔 The conversations continue | Egypt Urban Week 2026 | Online Webinar Session #2

Living in Heritage: Community Realities, Housing, and the Politics of Urban Regeneration

🗓️ Tuesday, 21 April 2026 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM (Cairo time)

Across Egypt’s historic urban areas — from Historic Cores to the City of the Dead — communities are living, evolving spaces shaped by resilience and everyday realities.

This session explores how heritage preservation intersects with housing and livelihoods, addressing the risks of displacement and the loss of living culture. Drawing on global experiences, the discussion will highlight approaches that align heritage and housing — positioning communities as partners in shaping inclusive, people-centred urban regeneration.

🌍 Open to participants from across the region

👉 Register to attend:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kVDb2oXyRJGd2TGmIaBd4Q

📢 Update:
The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

Don’t miss the chance to apply!

Calling all creative product designers!

This is an open call for talented and motivated designers to join the Creative Wood Product Design Workshop, inspired by the timeless ornamental heritage of Esna City.

In this workshop, you'll explore Esna's intricate geometric patterns and woodwork traditions, from balconies and windows to door lintels and other architectural elements across the city, and you will transform them into innovative, real-world wooden products that carry the city's rich story forward.

Ready to join? Register now through the application form:
🔗 https://forms.gle/2vW1GZ91CVpHcweD7
Deadline for applications: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The workshop is part of the "Women Led Wood Workshop and Showroom in Esna" Project, supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by Takween Integrated Community Development.

Calling all creative product designers!

This is an open call for talented and motivated designers to join the Creative Wood Product Design Workshop, inspired by the timeless ornamental heritage of Esna City.

In this workshop, you'll explore Esna's intricate geometric patterns and woodwork traditions, from balconies and windows to door lintels and other architectural elements across the city, and you will transform them into innovative, real-world wooden products that carry the city's rich story forward.

Ready to join? Register now through the application form:
🔗 https://forms.gle/2vW1GZ91CVpHcweD7
Deadline for applications: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The workshop is part of the "Women Led Wood Workshop and Showroom in Esna" Project, supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by Takween Integrated Community Development.

This 1930s Guesthouse Sits in One of Egypt's Last Untouched Cities A stamp maker still works his stall. Markets hum. Minarets call. And in the middle of it all, lies Beit Felfel: a 1930s townhouse, brought back to life.

الإفطار السنوي لفريق تكوين لتنمية المجتمعات المتكاملة 🌙