Silkworm harvesting improves livelihoods in Egyptian village

A farmer works on silkworm cocoons at Nagaa Awni village in Egypt in September. In 2016, Awad conceived the idea of leveraging Nagaa Awni's agricultural strengths to plant mulberry trees for feeding silkworms, producing silk and making carpets. The story of Nagaa Awni's transformation has reached the Egyptian government, which, under the Decent Life Initiative launched by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in January 2019, has provided additional support to the village by building roads, a school and a clinic, and extending water, electricity and sewage lines. Pointing to upgraded homes built with bricks and cement, Ismail Ibrahim, 32, feels proud of Nagaa Awni's positive changes over the years. "We lived in extreme poverty for many years, and until recently it was difficult to afford enough food or pay for my children's education," Ibrahim said.