ABOUT HEMAYA
A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1997 in Nuweiba City, South Sinai, Hemaya Association for Community Development is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting & preserving the environment as well as empowering the local community. Recognized under Proclamation No. 46/1997 by the Directorate of Social Solidarity, our mission is to create a sustainable future for both people and nature.
As the first solid waste management NGO in Sinai, Hemaya played a pioneering role in introducing structured waste collection and recycling in the region. Today, it remains the primary organization managing waste across an 80 km stretch between Taba and Nuweiba. From 2006 to 2019, Hemaya also extended its operations to Dahab, covering an additional 40 km stretch inside the city. Waste is collected pre-sorted from hotels and camps, as "Organic Waste" and "Non-Organic Waste". Non-organic materials get carefully sorted into plastic, glass, metal, and paper at Hemaya’s sorting station before being sent for recycling in Cairo.
Beyond waste management, Hemaya is deeply committed to community development. Through various initiatives, we work closely with the local Bedouin population, helping them identify their needs, develop new skills, and create sustainable opportunities. All while ensuring the preservation of their cultural heritage and the pristine environment of South Sinai.
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THE FOUNDER
SHERIF EL GHAMRAWY
​Sherif’s passion for environmental conservation and community development began long before Hemaya’s founding. In 1986, he established , a pioneering sustainable tourism establishment in South Sinai. As tourism in the region grew, his concern about the impact of mass tourism on Sinai’s fragile ecosystems and the local Bedouins increased.
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Determined to take action, he founded Hemaya in 1997. Meaning "protection" in Arabic, Hemaya was created to safeguard both the environment and the cultural heritage of South Sinai. Over the years, Hemaya has led numerous impactful initiatives, with its primary focus on waste management, collecting, sorting, and recycling solid waste across an 80 km stretch from Taba to Nuweiba. Through his work, Sherif continues to promote sustainability, to ensure a cleaner and more responsible future for the region.