Amira Ahmed chose a path only few young women in Egypt take: automotive engineering. Through hands-on training supported by Invest for Jobs, she gained early work experience in the electric vehicle sector and is now building a career in a fast-growing, sustainable industry.
“I saw that it was a field dominated by boys mainly.”
Amira Ahmed is 18 years old and from Giza, Egypt. She is currently studying Autotronics at the Helwan Technological University, specialising in electric vehicles. Before that, she chose to enrol in the Ghabbour School, a school for secondary education, where she trained in the automotive and electric vehicle (EV) field through a programme supported by Invest for Jobs.
Her decision was not an obvious one. Automotive engineering in Egypt is still largely male-dominated. When Amira first considered joining the programme at the Ghabbour School, she hesitated. “I was afraid of this step,” she says. Even her family questioned her choice: “How can a girl enter an automotive department?”
At the time, the newly established Ghabbour School was among the first in the country to open its automotive and electric vehicle departments to female students. “We were actually the first school in the republic to have girls in the automotive and EV departments.”
Choosing this path meant stepping into unfamiliar territory. But Amira decided to take the risk. “Why not?”, she thought. “Girls have the same capabilities – so why not use all our potential?” Her interest in engineering and sustainability motivated her to move forward and pursue a field that is becoming increasingly important worldwide. “Since I was young, I was interested in how things move and how they work from scratch.”
“Don’t wait for the right moment. Got an idea? Act on it.”
Amira Ahmed
Learning by doing in a future-oriented sector
Amira’s journey is part of an initiative supported by Invest for Jobs to create new high-tech employment opportunities in Egypt’s automotive sector. Together with the Ghabbour Auto Group and the Ghabbour Foundation for Development, the programme prepares young people for careers in electric mobility and sustainable technologies.
The Ghabbour Auto Group is one of Egypt’s leading automotive companies and plays an active role in the transition towards electric vehicles. Through its Foundation, it provides practice-oriented training that is closely aligned with labour market needs. With support from Invest for Jobs, modern training workshops and curricula focusing on electric vehicles and resource-efficient technologies have been introduced.
Amira benefited directly from this approach during her education at the Ghabbour School. From the beginning, learning went beyond theory. “We trained inside and outside the school, dealing with customers and companies, and gaining hands-on experience.” This close link between training and industry gives students a clear advantage. “We discovered how to enter the job market and start working right away,” Amira explains.
At the same time, the programme reflects a broader shift towards sustainability. “The whole world is moving toward sustainability and a cleaner environment”, Amira says. The electric vehicle sector offers her the opportunity to apply her skills with confidence. Alongside technical training, Amira also developed key personal skills. “I learned how to deal with people, to trust myself and not fear failure just because I’m young.”
Shaping the future with new skills
Amira is convinced that young people play a central role in shaping the future of work. “In Egypt, there are many young entrepreneurs and managers. The voice of youth and their active participation is truly a positive and powerful thing.”
With the support of Invest for Jobs, she has already gained practical experience that many only acquire later during their studies. This early start gives her a clear advantage as she continues her education and prepares for her career. At the same time, she encourages others to take initiative and explore new paths. “Don’t wait for the right moment. Got an idea? Act on it. Don’t fear failure.”
Projects like this help young people in Egypt gain relevant skills, enter future-oriented sectors and contribute to a more sustainable economy. For Amira, this is just the beginning of a career in a field that is shaping tomorrow.
This project is supported by the Facility Investing for Employment (IFE) of KfW Development Bank within the framework of the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).