COPTIC ORPHANS SUPPORT ASSOCIATION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THE VALUABLE GIRL PROJECT IS A MULTI-FACETED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT TARGETS MARGINALIZED GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN HIGH-POVERTY AREAS IN EGYPT. VALUABLE GIRL'S MAIN GOAL IS TO EMPOWER GIRLS ON THE INTRAPERSONAL, INTERACTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL LEVELS BY INVESTING IN THEIR POTENTIALS AND EMPOWERING THEM TO MAXIMIZE THEIR INFLUENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN GIRLS (AGES 7-22) IN A BIG SISTER-LITTLE SISTER MENTORSHIP ARRANGEMENT THAT PROMOTES PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE, STRENGTHENS GIRLS' UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS, AND IMPROVES ACADEMIC RETENTION RATES, ALONG WITH OTHER POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR PARTICIPANTS. THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY EMPOWERS GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, RAISE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, DEVELOP DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, RAISE AWARENESS ON GENDER-BASEDVIOLENCE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, REDUCE THEIR SOCIAL ISOLATION AND BREAK THE BARRIERS OF SECTARIANISM.SINCE ITS INCEPTION 20 YEARS AGO, THE PROJECT HAS OPERATED IN 184 SITES ACROSS EGYPT AND EMPOWERED MORE THAN 15,000 GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN. IN THE CURRENT CYCLE (2021-2023), THE PROJECT OPERATES IN 20 LOCATIONS IN FOUR GOVERNORATES, NAMELY CAIRO, MINYA, ASYUT AND QENA TARGETING 2,000 GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF 80 ON-SITE STAFF MEMBERS FROM 20 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS (CDAS).21 PROGRAM - IT IS A FULLY PAID TRIP BY COPTIC ORPHANS THAT AIMS TO GIVE COPTIC YOUNG ADULTS IN THE DIASPORA THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN EGYPT WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THEIR HERITAGE AND COPTIC IDENTITY. WHILE IN EGYPT, FELLOWS OF THE 21 PROGRAM SERVE COPTIC ORPHANS CHILDREN, VISIT CHURCHES AND CULTURAL SITES, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR TIES WITH THEIR ROOTS AND HERITAGE. PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED BASED ON CERTAIN CRITERIA. IN 2023, 100 FELLOWS SERVED ROUGHLY 2,000 CHILDREN IN EGYPT IN TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS FROM JUNE 8 TO JULY 3 AND FROM JULY 13 TO AUGUST 7.SERVE TO LEARN - IS A DYNAMIC PROGRAM THAT STRENGTHENS THE TIES OF COPTIC DIASPORA VOLUNTEERS (SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION EGYPTIANS) WITH THEIR HOMELAND, EGYPT, THROUGH SERVING UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN OVER A SPAN OF THREE WEEKS. THE PROGRAM STRIVES TO PROVIDE YOUTH THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND ENABLES THEM NOT ONLY TO WITNESS THE CHALLENGES UNDERSERVED CHILDREN FACE, BUT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY CONTRIBUTING, ALBEIT SHORT-TERM, TO THEIR EDUCATION. BY LIVING IN THEIR VILLAGES, TEACHING IN CLASSROOMS, VISITING THEIR HOMES, AND ENGAGING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, THE VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF A NOT ALONE CHILD. THE IMMERSIVE NATURE OF THE EXPERIENCE LETS VOLUNTEERS SEE A CHILD FROM MULTIPLE VANTAGES TO GIVE THEM A DEEPER AND MORE INSIGHTFUL UNDERSTANDING OF EACH CHILD BEYOND THE VENEER OF POVERTY. UPON THEIR RETURN, THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO ADVOCATE AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE CAUSE OF DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN EGYPT. SERVE TO LEARN VOLUNTEERS AND ALUMNI THEN BECOME THE DRIVING FORCE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY. IN 2023, THE SERVE TO LEARN PROGRAM BROUGHT 21 VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ROUGHLY 500 CHILDREN IN EGYPT FROM JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 11.