Hayam Nazer founded Fekra Association for Development in 2014. Fekra started as an initiative to improve the social conditions of youth in Upper Egypt. In particular, conditions in Asyut, one of the poorest governorates in Egypt, where poverty is the most basic problem of youth. Asyut Governorate lacks of opportunities and activities for youths, who do not have the resources to develop their lifestyle, professional or technical skills. This increases the vulnerability to ignorance and emptiness in their communities, perpetuating suffering from poverty and violence.
Fekra works in three main themes to target adolescents and youth. The first is through youth leadership empowerment, through programs like Dream, a competition that supports young entrepreneurs with creative and innovative ideas to design life skills programs for youth and students of governmental schools. Secondly, peace-building within their community, through arts and sports with camps that include youth in the artistic activities of the association to develop their artistic taste as individuals. Thirdly, career development through numerous programs like a job-search workshop, which, with its various tools, equip youths with the skills and real needs of the labour market. In addition to this, Fekra also works on networking with business owners and companies to find opportunities for young people.
Hayam believes that creativity and active learning are the best ways to deliver information and that this is the most important thing that characterizes Fekra: to make learning easier and more fun than the usual memorizing process.