Together Association for Development and Environment (TADE)
Together Association for Development and Environment (TADE) is a non-profit NGO registered 19/2006 under the Ministry of Social Solidarity (Egypt). TADE seeks to support poor and underprivileged families to live dignified lives and improve their living conditions.
What we should know about you
Questions answered by Sameh Seif, Founder
1.Imagine yourself 5 years ago in comparison to the situation you are in today. Which achievements surprise you the most?
TADE has become a partner of the World Bank and the Ministry of Housing as a result of 150 implemented sanitation systems in Egyptian villages. Further, we have been able to build a strong relationship with the community and the local community committee. TADE has expanded inside and outside Egypt, and we became an Ashoka Fellow (Arab World 2006). We recommend to anyone who wants to start a social enterprise to build a strong relationship with the community and the local community committee.
2.What drives you personally to keep your social business running?
We aspire to improve the living conditions of Egyptian households; we seek to support poor and underprivileged families to live a dignified life and improve their living conditions. And we provide sustainable infrastructure for villages and slums as well as other services and social care through professional specialists and consultants to guarantee the quality and sustainability of the services provided. Our mission is to provide high-quality services to Egyptian households in rural areas, slums, and semi-urban areas through integrated sustainable development based on lessons learned and experiences from previously implemented regional and international developmental programs. TADE achieves change in the community through an actual partnership with the beneficiaries to allow them to express their problems and solve them through a team of specialists.
3.What recommendation would you give to someone who thinks about starting a social enterprise?
Anyone who wants to start a social enterprise should believe in sustainable development – meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Also, it’s important to believe in environmental limits – there are definite limits to what we can take from the natural environment and limits for the amount of pollution and waste that can be dumped into the environment.
Within those limits they should believe in a fair share of the available environmental space. In particular, they should be aware that the impacts of damage to the environment hit the poorest in the community the hardest, both at home and overseas. Believe in evidence-based solutions to solve environmental problems that make life better for people while protecting the planet for future generations. And also, believe in promoting people’s actions, individual and collective, local, national, and international, to tackle the environmental challenges they face.
Additional achievements
Awards
- Outstanding Social Entrepreneur in the Arab World in Recognition of Visionary, Pragmatic and Outrageous Contributions that Significantly Improve the State of the World
- Takreem Jury Board commended Mr. Sameh Seif Ghali, the founder and consultant of the association of TADE, with the Environmental Development and Sustainability Award in Recognition of Exceptional Contribution to The Arab World
Memberships and Networks
- Ashoka Fellow (Arab World 2006)
- NGO member of the World Toilet Organization 2014
- Member of the Arab World Social Innovators Program in Synergos, New York, USA
- Professional Development Program 2013-2015
- Sanitation Network GIZ
- Member of the Blue Planet Foundation