1. HEALTH AWARENESS

2. KINDERGARTTEN

3. LITERACY

4. MEDICO-CENTERS

5. YOUTH

HEALTH AWARENESS

Caritas Egypt has started working in the field of health more than 30 years ago aiming to provide good health services especially to the most desperate and needy through Caritas 7 socio-medical centres, which are distributed between Cairo and Guiza Governorates in very poor rural and urban areas.

The centres were playing more of a curative role than anything else and this service was felt not to be enough because the Egyptian infant mortality rate was high with infectious diseases like diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARI), accidents, and malnutrition. Maternal mortality was also relatively high compared to other countries due to haemorrhage, infection, abortion, lack of care and follow-up during pregnancy.  We are still suffering from many endemic diseases such as intestinal parasites, bilharziosis, enteric fever, infective skin and eye diseases. Also the level of environmental health is still very low due to poor access to pure drinking water, to the spreading of insects and parasites, and to the high degrees of air, soil and water pollution.  There is a high prevalence of traditional practices harmful to women and children such as female circumcision (FGM), early marriage, close relatives marriage, practices to treat sterility, etc.  Also, the governmental health budget is continuing to be primarily allocated for curative purposes. 

All above factors led us to think that most of our health problems as a developing country are closely related to illiteracy, lack of awareness, bad hygiene and poor environmental health.  Most of these problems could be managed through well-designed health education programs and primary health care projects, meaning prevention.

Caritas Egypt preventive health programs began in 1986 to achieve the following objectives:

1.       Promotion of health awareness and practices on the community levels through dissemination of health information to different areas and categories of the society, especially on the grassroots level, in urban and rural areas of about 10 governorates; in collaboration with the German NGO “Misereor”, the "Egyptian Swiss Development Fund", the “UNICEF”, the French NGO “Les Amis de Soeur Emmanuelle”, The European Union via the Secours Catholique/Caritas France and the “Canadian International Aid (CIDA)”.

     Health Education Programmes and Activities that work in parallel to the literacy programme:

·          We have many health education programmes applied in parallel to the literacy programme, which is implemented through the training of literacy teachers and supervisors, who then disseminate this information to the illiterate students who are more than 90% females of different ages.

·          These programmes comprise health issues and communication skills: general health, hygiene, first aid, environmental health problems, reproductive health, maternal and child health care, etc.

·          T here is a special health education programme directed to the children classes (9 - 13 years old) called "Child to Child" programme, providing them with information, skills, and training to care for the health of their families, surroundings: personal and general hygiene, first aid, protection from accidents, etc.

·          Regular follow-up, monitoring and evaluation of our programme are in place to cover new needs, and solve difficulties discovered during the implementation process:

o         Promotion of mother and child health through regular follow-up visits of beneficiaries to our maternal and childcare units, nutrition education, food supply and medical care. 

o                     Mothers are trained in personal hygiene, nutrition awareness, reproductive health and in the fight of harmful traditional practices.  They are also encouraged to a pre-natal follow-up as well as post natal care of their baby: regular weight taking, vaccination, nutrition, and prevention of infant infections.

o         Creation of well-trained key local personnel : physicians, nurses, literacy teachers, health workers and visitors to play a positive role in health education on the grassroots level.

• Combating traditional practices harmful to women and children health.

• At the wake of the ICPD, Cairo 1994, renewed interest was given to the reproductive health and rights of women and children.  More closely was our involvement in fighting the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is a practice widely, spread in Egypt with a prevalence rate of 97% (DHS 1995 and 2000).   

• Caritas Egypt shared in the formation of the Egyptian FGM Taskforce, which is a big network of active NGOs and produced a Reproductive Health Manual "New Concepts for a Better Life" which was reprinted and distributed to all governmental health units all over Egypt by the Egyptian Ministry of Health.

·        Furthermore, in cooperation with the UNICEF, we prepared a “Documentary report on FGM in Egypt” which was translated in English and published and distributed worldwide by UNICEF, New York.  Caritas Egypt has also cooperated with the Ministry of Health in producing the first complete kit on FGM covering the medical, social, religious and legal aspects. 

KINDERGARTTEN

Better childhood, better future for all…..
Children are like kites; first you hold them tight until they're strong enough you can let go fly your kites and get the best future
Solidify the foundation for a lifelong learning process :
 

What do we do?

• Caritas Egypt being a humanitarian body concerned with human development, is now introducing a new project working on strengthening and improving education and care in slum desert areas.  We work on those areas facing acute shortage of quality childcare as follows:
  
  Modernization of functioning pre-school centers (technically and materialistically) i.e. we perform workshops, training seminars for staff members (teachers, social workers, all level of employees in the preschool centers)
   

These workshops aim to train the staff on several issues such as:

·           Children's physical well-being.

·           Dealing with children's behavioral problems.

·           Teaching children how to acquire skills.

·           Introducing more activities for the children.

·           Mounting the child's reading skills.

·           Enhancing the interaction between the children, the center and the teachers.

We provide them with necessary equipment (furniture, books, materials), better facilities.

 It is worth mentioning that our preschool developmental program is not only of value to the kids but it's also vital to their parents as it increases their awareness in various aspects as health, rights, development and education and pedagogy .

Health : regular check ups are done for the children regarding their growth rate, eye sight also the vaccinations are given on time.

Rights : child right and child law focusing on the illegality of child labor in Egypt.

Development : child behavior, behavioral problems, physical and mental development.

Education : child stimulation through creativity and education.
 

Pedagogy : child-appropriate method of upbringing, physical, and psychological damage related to physical punishment.

All the above in turn increases the awareness and experiences of the parents thus the community as a whole.

LITERACY

The basic education program

Introduction

Caritas Egypt has been active in the field of functional literacy since 1972. The trust of the literacy program is based on Paolo Freire pedagogy adapted to the context of the Egyptian culture. The curricula of "Learn & Liberate Yourself"  was developed by the Ecumenical Committee for Literacy Program a group of Egyptian institutions and field workers keen to provide an active learning model that suits the needs of the most vulnerable groups in Egypt. Caritas has been involved in this committee from the beginning.  This curriculum is revised and amended periodically based on needs and ongoing self assessment.

Activities

Caritas Basic Education program includes a series of activities crystallizing the functional aspect of the literacy program. These aspects are translated to several components mainstreamed in the curricula which cover: health education, environmental awareness, human rights, and basic life skills. The capacity building of monitors and supervisors of the classes is an essential component of the program to guarantee quality learning "with a human face".

Since 1972, the program has undergone several phases of evolution and extension. Aspects of evolution cover the contents of the curricula, the teaching methods in the classroom, the relationship between learners and moderators, the skills needed for the moderators, and the community participation element.

Expansion

The program witnesses considerable extension in terms of number of beneficiaries, experience exchange and collaboration with other organizations. Today, the number of collaborating institutions reached around 50 agencies and NGOs. The total number of learners benefiting from this program is about 20,000 students per year. Around 80% of the students are women; the average age is 15 to 45 years old, in about 1,000 classes in following governorates: Alexandria, Beheira, Cairo, Guiza, Fayoum, Beni Sueif, Minia, Assiut, Sohag, Kena and Aswan. 

These classes are managed through six regional offices based in Alexandria, Cairo, Minia, Assiut, Sohag, Luxor.

Post Literacy Activities

Since the year 2000, Caritas launched a post literacy activity through village libraries which aim to reducing the relapse into illiteracy of the beneficiaries as well giving them the opportunity of getting involved in the social development of their communities.   It also gives the beneficiaries a chance to meet other groups of beneficiaries.  Around 57 libraries are actually working and we expect to enlarge this service to reach around 70 libraries by year 2007.

Linkages

·          This literacy program is a contribution to national priorities, since universal literacy is a major national goal of Egypt to be reached by the year 2007.

·                 Caritas Egypt literacy program is a multi-disciplinary approach aiming at overcoming major obstacles which affect the participation of the marginalized groups in the development process.

·                 Improving the conditions of communities in the most deprived areas is a national priority to which this literacy program is making a contribution. All of Caritas programs are geared to the most vulnerable groups in the urban and rural areas.

·                 Caritas development work in the marginalized areas, capitalizes on the role of existing human resources and services. It aims at mobilizing these local resources and empowering the communities to take an active share in their own development.

·                 The active links Caritas develops with the communities leads to sustained development. Gradually, and by the fact that the literacy classrooms are offered by the community, and after building the capacity of local leaders, Caritas will lend these activities to the communities to be managed by themselves.  A concrete aspect is the village libraries project.

·                 Caritas Egypt is among the major agencies working in the field of literacy in Egypt. It possess a wealth of experience to share with different organizations in the government and non-governmental sectors. This includes: General Agency for Literacy and Adult Education, UNESCO, UNICEF, Care International, Save the Children US, bilateral donors and more than 50 NGOs at the national and grass root levels.

·                 Caritas Egypt is a member of Caritas Internationalis Confederation. In this capacity, Caritas Egypt benefits and contributes to literacy experiences supported by Caritas Offices in some Arab countries.

Implementation Strategy

The program is implemented through the following axes:

Axe One

Contributing to expanding literacy efforts for deprived communities in Egypt.  Major elements:

1.         Running 1,000 classes for deprived communities:

2.         Piloting a peer education model in 120 of the existing classes.

3.         Running a "Third Level Program" for the promising literacy graduates with leadership skills.

Axe Two

Contributing to the improvement of the learners and communities’ health and environmental status.  Major elements:

1.         Training new monitors in the health and environmental education.

2.         Updating the health education component mainstreamed in the literacy program which covers: primary health care, child care, reproductive health, youth health and environmental sanitation.

3.         Mobilizing learners to benefit from health services in their communities.

4.         Providing basic health services for learners in need (e.g. eye glasses)

5.         Nutrition surveillance for children under five through an active programme for learners.

6.         Building some graduate skills in First Aid for self-health and to serve their community in this field.

Axe Three

Learners empowerment for active participation in comprehensive development.  Major elements:

1.         Ensuring civil status of the learners by emphasis on the birth registration of girls and ID for women participating in literacy classes.

2.         Raising awareness about legal and human rights through classroom discussion and activities.

3.         Practicing team work through literacy classes and other activities being a path for active participation in comprehensive development. 

4.         Supporting graduates to strengthen their capacities for community self improvement especially through the activities of 70 villages’ libraries.

 Litteracy Financials

Financial Issues

Information about other ways of contributing to the program

MEDICO CENTERS

The medico-social centers, established since 1967, have been the focus of care of Caritas Egypt because of the services they provide to the poorest.  Seven centers have been successively created in poor areas situated far from urban regions where there is a lack of essential services.

 The work of these centers is not limited to the medical aspect, but also includes other services needed by the inhabitants such as: 

·           Taking care of mother and children by helping the mother to fully assume her role towards her child, through advice, guidance, medical care, early diagnosis of handicaps and congenital anomalies.

• Promoting the status of women by teaching them their rights to take in charge their noble mission as mothers and wives.

• Providing literacy courses for women to teach not only writing and reading, but also mathematics, history and general knowledge.

• Teaching women the art of sewing to be useful for themselves and for members of their families.  They can also increase their revenues by working at home or in ready-made clothes industries.

• Taking care of the mentally handicapped, cooperating with members of their families to improve their life conditions.

• Libraries containing hundreds of books to teach women and serve inhabitants, either by reading these books or by loaning them.

• Holding seminars and conferences on legal subjects.  Projection of video-films for educative, social and cultural purposes.

• Organizing cultural trips to know historical and archeological monuments in Egypt.  Visits to exhibitions and museums.  Recreational activities through organizing Nile trips and excursions to beaches and gardens.

• Providing social assistance to the poorest, including milk and ground cereals given to malnourished children.  Assistance in the field of housing is also provided.

YOUTH

The Youth sector has aimed, since its establishment, to develop talents of young people in all fields. Youth are considered in Egypt as the main resource for development, as they represent 50 % of the population. There are 15 million students in more than 30.000 educational institutions. The sector’s policy is based on reaching youth in their gatherings (schools, universities and clubs). Through training by sociologists, psychologists and administrators, it is possible to develop volunteer work.

Objectives

Project for integration

Light Initiative: its objective is to integrate the handicapped children with other normal children to provide them with services. This was achieved in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, within the framework of the initiative for social protection, financed by the International Bank. This project aims to integrate these children in all the activities of the Association, after being sure that they benefit from all medical, teaching and recreational services offered by our medico-social centers of Mataria, Kafr El-Sissi and Abu Zaabal.

Important achievements in Cairo

·          Lectures given in governmental and private schools by social workers. They are focused on the adolescence phase problems .

·          Awareness activities: Formation of volunteer teamwork in 14 governmental and private schools. The teams achieve benevolent activities in hospitals, asylums, homes for the elderly, orphanages and others.

Important achievements in Alexandria

Socio-cultural Club and its objectives:

·          Preparing, forming and training youth leaders to assume the responsibility of administrating the work and social activities in Alexandria.

·          Discovering and improving the individual skills of the youth.

·          Supporting the spirit of benevolence among the youth to serve and promote the marginalized and poor categories.

·          Giving the chance to the youth to be acquainted with the different humanitarian, social and cultural experiences.

The youth of the socio-cultural Club participated efficiently in benevolent works to support some developmental projects, such as the street children project, the International Leprosy Day, to be able to share experiences with others.

Awareness activities: Preparing, forming and improving skills through days of formation for preparatory, secondary and university youths. The most important axes of discussions were :

·                      Raising awareness of the youth to various changes.

·                      Self assessment of youth behavior.

·                      How to take a decision on an individual level.

·                      Training for efficient social skills in the community.

Preparation, formation and improving skills of the youth of both sexes. The most important axes of discussions were:

·          The importance of personal experiences, how to live them fully and take profit from them.

·          Thinking about the future on education and vocational levels.

·          The relationship with the family, friends and school colleagues.

·          Self acceptance, accepting the others and reality.

·          Devotion, how to think logically and communicate.

·          The role of youth in the community and discussing the problems faced by youth.

Forming the benevolent spirit among the youth by means of:

·          Participating in benevolent work to support some developmental projects, as the street children project, the International Leprosy Day, to be able to share experiences with the others.

·          Participating in international working camps.

·          Organizing regular visits to serve the elder and handicapped people.

• Organizing competition between schools to raise the cultural awareness of youth.