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Proactive Disclosure

Proactive Disclosure

Egyptian Women Reborn Through Projects

Each in its own way, Canadian projects in Egypt help give girls and women their rightful place in all spheres of life: at school, in the job market, and in the community.

At the community school in the city of Abu Teeg, girls outnumber boys; in Egypt as a whole, however, the reverse is true. In Abu Teeg, a great deal of thought went into finding ways of attracting girls to school. As a result, a flexible schedule was set up so girls could find time for their household chores while also attending school. Through UNICEF, Canada is funding 300 establishments that will welcome 7,500 students, 70 percent of them girls.

In the village of Qena, Nashwa obtained a loan so she could buy a sewing machine. Now she is turning out school bags. Thanks to the Women's Initiative Fund, scores of Egypt's low-income women have been able to open a bakery, craft workshop, or grocery store. With CIDA's help, these women are now making a living. And as one thing often leads to another, they have begun to take an active interest in all aspects of the community. And in the town of Salaa, there are some new residents on the roster. The local legal aid centre, which is funded by the government of Canada through CIDA, has just issued birth certificates to 3,500 women, so they now officially exist!

According to an assessment by the United Nations Development Programme, Canada is the only donor country in Egypt to have successfully integrated equality between women and men into all its activities.
The proposed objective for the new program in Egypt is to support the country in its efforts to reduce poverty among its marginalized groups, particularly women, children, and youth.
The Women's Initiative Fund, which was created by CIDA, the Foundation for International Training, and Egypt's Department of Social Affairs, is now managed by two independent non-governmental organizations in Qena.

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