Alexandria, Egypt
15 December 2024
Mr. Kareem Gerges, Director of International Partnerships and Communications at the Centre of Christian-Muslim Understanding & Partnership (CCMUP), participated in a field visit to the Farah (Joy) Foundation for Development in Alexandria. The visit was part of the Power of Learning project, managed by the MannionDaniels company in cooperation with the Dutch embassy in Cairo. CCMUP is one of several participating organizations in this initiative.
The Power of Learning project aims to strengthen civil society in Egypt by fostering collaboration among NGOs around common societal challenges. It also works to generate accurate, locally grounded knowledge on issues such as climate change and refugee support.
The purpose of the visit was to learn about the work of the Farah Foundation and explore avenues for future cooperation. During the visit, participants engaged with the Foundation’s leadership team, staff, and program beneficiaries.
The Farah Foundation for Development is a community-based organization that serves people with disabilities, women, and children, focusing on economic empowerment, legal and psychological support, gender-based violence prevention, reproductive health, and environmental sustainability through arts-based recycling initiatives. Their work includes unique practices such as using traditional Egyptian and European paper art techniques to transform waste paper into beautiful, eco-friendly products.
The Foundation also operates a daycare center and shelter for persons with disabilities and currently supports between 50 to 70 individuals per month through a wide range of programs. Their work includes entrepreneurship training, behavior modification workshops, skills development, parent support sessions, and regular gatherings for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Farah Foundation collaborates with key partners, including the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and the UNDP, as well as private sector companies and NGOs supporting persons with disabilities. Their vision is to change both how persons with disabilities view themselves and how society perceives them, by creating opportunities for dignified employment, inclusive empowerment, and long-term development.
It is worth noting that the Anglican Diocese of Egypt partnered with the Farah Foundation, among other organizations, in 2020, as part of the Diocese’s project “Together for Egypt’s Development”. The Foundation contributed to the project by promoting the societal and economic integration of people with disabilities.
