We are proud to announce that Aswan Birdwatching has won third place at the “Helmak” Business Pitch Competition, following the successful completion of the final Pitch Presentation stage.
For us, this achievement is much more than a place on the podium. It represents another important step in a journey that began with a simple idea: Aswan’s birds, biodiversity and exceptional natural landscapes can become the foundation for a sustainable ecotourism model that benefits both nature and local communities.
From Birdwatching to Sustainable Tourism
Aswan is internationally famous for the Nile, Nubian culture and its ancient monuments, but its natural heritage still holds enormous untapped potential.
Through Aswan Birdwatching, we are working to introduce visitors to another side of the destination — one where people can experience the Nile through its birds, wetlands, islands and wildlife.
Our vision goes beyond organizing birdwatching trips. We believe responsible birding and nature-based tourism can help create alternative livelihoods, support local communities, raise awareness of biodiversity conservation and offer visitors meaningful experiences connected to the places they visit.
Winning third place at the Helmak competition gives us further encouragement to continue developing this vision.
A Team Achievement
The award was received on behalf of Aswan Birdwatching by Ayat Ahmed Omar, Media Director of the initiative, in recognition of her efforts in communicating our vision and presenting Aswan Birdwatching to a wider audience.
This achievement also belongs to the people working behind the scenes.
Special thanks go to Youssef Ashraf, responsible for bird documentation and professional photography, and Captain Mizo Emam, captain of our main birdwatching boat, Nahr El-Kheir.
And, of course, our sincere thanks go to every friend, birder, guest, supporter and follower who has believed in what we are trying to build.
More Than a Competition
One of the most valuable aspects of the Helmak experience was not simply competing, but learning.
I was delighted to meet other entrepreneurs and discover their promising projects and ideas. Experiences like this remind us that sustainable development is rarely built by one project alone. It grows through people exchanging ideas, supporting one another and finding creative solutions to local challenges.
I would particularly like to thank Ms. Hamdeya Othman, entrepreneurship consultant and expert, for her valuable guidance throughout the training period.
Our appreciation also goes to the organizers of the Helmak project for creating a space where young businesses and startups can transform ideas into projects capable of generating genuine economic and social impact.
About the Helmak Project
Helmak (Your Dream) is a development program implemented by Enroot Development since 2023 in cooperation with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and Aswan University.
The program focuses on developing sustainable economic and social alternatives linked to tourism in Upper Egypt, with particular attention to empowering young people and women.
For Aswan Birdwatching, participating in a program built around sustainable tourism was especially meaningful because these principles are at the heart of our own work.
