Egypt Programs and Projects

Education

Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo

The Evangelical Theological Seminary was founded in 1863 by members of the American Mission in Egypt. The American Mission was undertaken by the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPNA), now the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Seminary's first location was Asyut; the Seminary was established in its present location in Cairo in 1926. The Seminary has over 180 students, most of whom are Egyptians but many other nationalities are represented. A sizeable group of students comes from Sudan to prepare for pastoral ministry or for teaching religion in secondary schools. The student body represents many denominations. The Seminary is preparing to offer two new degrees in the near future: a master’s in Theology and a Diploma of Higher Studies in Theology. Presbyterian support helps this seminary provide faculty development; scholarships, especially for students from Sudan and Iraq; a lay training academy, with special emphasis on women's leadership and church officer development; and library development.

The Evangelical Schools of the Synod of the Nile

The American Mission of the United Presbyterian Church started work in Egypt in Assiut in 1854. The first school was a boys' school started soon after the founding of the Mission. The first aims/objectives of the schools were to offer a high-quality education within a Christian environment of love and caring. These aims/objectives have not changed in the last 150 years. In the 1960s the management of the schools was transferred from The American Mission to the Synod of the Nile, which had become an independent Egyptian organization. There are 18 schools from Luxor in the south to Monsura in the Delta (north). In Cairo there are also an Institute for Secretarial Studies and a school of Special Education on the same grounds as Ramses College for Girls. Of the 18 academic schools, 8 are language schools, which teach high-level English and teach science and math in English. The other 10 schools, referred to as "Arabic Track," vary in the final grade level of education offered.

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Evangelism

Assistance to Developing Churches

The Evangelical Church in Egypt is seeking to expand into new cities the government is building throughout the country. The government will give land to the church if it will build on the land.

Health

Care with Love: Training Program for Home Health Care Providers

Care With Love is a training program for home health-care providers. It is now becoming an NGO for training and employment of all kinds of caregivers. Together with the Friends of the Children with Cancer (FCC), a halfway house for children with cancer will be established on a farm outside Cairo (away from the pollution). Here children from underprivileged families will be taken care of in between treatments to boost their nutrition while providing respite for their mothers and other siblings. The mothers will be educated about proper nutrition and hygiene and will participate in income-generating projects during their stay.

Center for Geriatric Services, Cairo

Egypt 's population is rapidly growing, affecting its economic and social life. The socioeconomic situation is causing steady migration from rural to urban areas, adding to the already existing housing problems. The multi-generational households traditionally known to Egypt are decreasing, leaving an increasing number of aged people living alone. Geared to traditional family life in Egypt , the Center for Geriatric Services works to augment and support families to provide needed care for the elderly. The Center seeks to enhance the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of its clients and to promote a healthy outlook concerning old age.

Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS)

The Community Health Unit of CEOSS (see Self-Development, below) implements a variety of preventative health programs and curative medical activities, at the request of participating communities, that target the priority health needs and education of poor rural and urban populations, especially women and children.

Tanta Hospital

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Hunger

In 2008 the Presbyterian Hunger Program made the following grant:

Together for Family Development Network — $45,000
Combating Poverty in Egypt through Strengthened Child Rights and Economic Development
Campaign work to amend the 1996 Egyptian Child Law so that it extends the right to educate children with disabilities.

Self-Development

In 2007 the PC(USA) Self-Development of People [/sdop] program made the following grant:

Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) $50,000
This organization promotes social justice and enhancing the quality of life in impoverished communities with special emphasis placed on women and handicapped persons in the poorest regions of Cairo and rural Egypt. It provides SDOP funds to groups in these poor, oppressed and disadvantaged communities.