The Bibliotheca Alexandrina hosted on Saturday, August 15, 2026, the “A Safe Step… Every Step Makes a Difference” sports marathon, organized by the Fund for Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking, affiliated with the Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The event aimed to raise public awareness of the dangers of human trafficking and promote community participation in combating the crime.
The event was attended by Heba al-Rafaei, acting head of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s External Relations and Media Sector, representing Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director Ahmed Zayed; Ambassador Amr Ramadan, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking; Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, representing the Minister of Youth and Sports; Safaa al-Sherif, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Alexandria; and Amira Heikal, Deputy Governor of Alexandria.
In her address, al-Rafaei welcomed the guests and marathon participants on behalf of Zayed, stressing that the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s mission extends beyond preserving heritage and disseminating knowledge to actively contributing to community development and raising public awareness, as a platform for dialogue and education.
She said the library’s hosting of the initiative stems from its belief that knowledge is one of the most powerful tools for addressing societal challenges. She called on young people to educate themselves and learn more about issues related to human trafficking and the various forms of human rights violations and exploitation affecting vulnerable groups.
For his part, Ambassador Ramadan said organizing the first “A Safe Step” activities in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports represents a model of community cooperation and reinforces the values of participation.
He noted that combating human trafficking requires broad public awareness and concerted efforts by various institutions.
Heikal, meanwhile, expressed appreciation for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s role in supporting young people and providing activities and events targeting them, stressing that the event reflects the importance of initiatives aimed at engaging youth and strengthening their participation in community issues.
The event featured a number of accompanying activities, including awareness sessions, interactive games, and competitions, giving an interactive dimension to the awareness messages on combating human trafficking.
The activities concluded with a ceremony honoring the winners of the mini-marathon, followed by official photographs with participants and guests.
