The EFG Hermes Foundation and UNICEF have entered a partnership in September 2006 to support the protection of street children in Egypt. The project aims at helping prevent children from living in the street and protecting children who are actually living in the street.

Project Description

Prevention actions will include working with primary schools to become more child-friendly through training of teachers on active learning techniques and tackling the issue of corporal punishment in schools, in addition to putting a referral system in the schools for the abused and abusers; while providing them with the necessary educational, psychological, health services needed for them and their family. This will be implemented with the support of the governmental and non-governmental agencies.

Concerning protecting children living in the streets, support will be provided to receptions centers (drop-in centers) in greater Cairo and Alexandria. Children, boys and girls, are free to come and go at their own choosing and the contact established with the social workers at the centers allow ultimately, returning the children to their family environment. The centers also run outreach programs in the gathering spots of street children. Support will also be for the Young Street Mothers Shelter. This is the first ever shelter in Egypt established in May 2005 catering for pregnant and young street mothers. It is currently in a rented building, and through the partnership with EFG-Hermes Foundation a permanent building will be constructed in Mokattam.

Contribution by the EFG Hermes Foundation

The EFG Hermes Foundation is funding the project with an amount of Three Million Egyptian Pounds.

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