Roundtable Program, Egypt
In 1962, the Coptic Orthodox Church founded the Bishopric of Public Ecumenical & Social Services (BLESS) to take the leading role in achieving development in poor and disadvantaged communities. This work has gone through various phases, the last of which is the Comprehensive Integrated Development (CID) at the community level, in 29 communities, as well as at the national level in the areas of youth and education.
The Roundtable Program of the Bishopric of Public Ecumenical & Social Services (COC-BLESS) directly targets 90,000 individuals – men, women, youth, children, church, and community leaders – in communities of Upper and Lower Egypt. At the national level, BLESS is focusing on one million young people and those unable to read or write through its work in the areas of youth and education. BLESS’s programming is targetting: nine communities in the Upper Egypt Region; nine communities in the Middle Egypt Region; four communities in Cairo and the Beni–Suef Region; and seven communities in the Lower Egypt Region. Two main goals of BLESS’s work include the empowerment of people to discover and develop their potential and to improve the social, cultural, and economic conditions of their communities; and the empowerment of Coptic youth throughout the nation to participate effectively in church and society. Key activities include community organizing, provision of community education in issues of health, hygiene, sanitation, and the environment, and training and support toward economic development.
Specific objectives include, but are not limited to: 1) by the end of the third year of the development process, target communities will be better organized to facilitate the aid process; 2) by the end of 2005, people will have gained health awareness and first aid skills; 3) by 2005, the nutritional status of malnourished children (2-6 years) will be improved; 4) polyclinics and mobile clinics will be established and already existent clinics upgraded; 5) medical care will be provided for pregnant and lactating women; 6) families will be provided with potable water and sewage disposal; 7) environmental conditions will be improved by better disposal of garbage and the planting of trees; 8) the unemployed will be assisted in finding work; and 9) children’s rights will be advocated for, with particular emphasis on education and the environment.
Although BLESS has worked hard to increase its local contributions year by year, the economic situation in Egypt is deteriorating and the inflation rate has tremendously increased – BLESS is still in need of the external support that CWS provides.
The Roundtable Program is covering and fulfilling all aspects of BLESS’s mission, goals, and programmatic focus. BLESS is equipped to address these needs through:
- BLESS’s human resources – 401 central and field staff members
- BLESS’s financial resources (local contributions in cash and in kind); and
- BLESS’s organizational structure:
- a Central Office which coordinates programs;
- a Program Department which manages the community organization, health and environment, economic development, rural development, children’s, education, and youth programs;
- support centers which include the Coptic Center for Human Resources Development, the Coptic Center for Social Studies, and the Coptic Center for Public Relations;
- support departments which include the financial office, administration office, and the planning, monitoring and evaluation office; and
- consultants.
Support for Church World Service helps make this program possible.
Updated 10/19/04
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