Shajarat Maryam Library Development Project and the Promotion of Informal Learning for Children and Youth
The National Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights implemented a project to develop Shajarat Maryam Library in Matariya, which is affiliated with the Matariya District Presidency, aiming to transform it into a community center for learning, culture, and creativity. The center provides a safe and stimulating educational environment for children, youth, and women, contributing to the promotion of informal learning, skills development, and the establishment of a culture of reading and innovation.
The project included the rehabilitation of the library, equipping it with modern devices and equipment, establishing an information technology center, and preparing reading and learning spaces for all groups, while ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities. This helps provide an inclusive educational environment that meets the needs of different segments of the community.
To enhance access to the library’s services, the Foundation obtained approval from the Ministry of Education to organize school trips to the library, giving children the opportunity to benefit from the educational, cultural, recreational, and practical activities offered following its development. This also aimed to strengthen students’ connection with public libraries as platforms for lifelong learning and skills development.
The project also worked to attract children and students back to the library through an integrated program of cultural and educational activities. These included competitions on climate change, science, arts, and reading, alongside workshops and interactive activities that contribute to developing creative thinking, environmental awareness, and learning skills among children and youth.
To ensure the sustainability and quality of services, the project also included capacity-building for library staff in library management, organizing educational and cultural activities, and interacting with children and different community groups. This strengthens the library’s role as a community center for learning and development.
The project targeted 250 children, 80 young men and women, and 250 women and girls. It contributed to providing a safe educational and cultural space that supports lifelong learning, strengthens community participation, and ensures equal opportunities for all members of society to access knowledge.
The project contributed to addressing irregular migration issues in Toukh District over a period of 18 months through the implementation of an education and awareness-raising component. The project aimed to provide temporary employment opportunities for young people by employing them in educational programs as teachers to provide literacy education to 600 learners and prepare them to obtain literacy certificates as one of the employment opportunities available to them.
A total of 1,451 individuals received literacy education, and 880 learners successfully passed, exceeding the target by more than 30% due to the high rates of illiteracy in the district, particularly among young people.
The project also conducted field visits through its community awareness component. A total of 5,844 families across 12 villages were made aware of irregular migration issues, with efforts to change prevailing attitudes and discourage individuals from pursuing irregular migration.
In addition, 14 awareness seminars and events were organized, reaching 520 beneficiaries, with the support and participation of religious and community leaders.
The National Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights implemented the “My Dear Daughter” project in Cairo Governorate in partnership with Coptic Orphans, aiming to empower girls socially and educationally and strengthen their personal and leadership capacities. This contributes to ensuring the continuity of their education, increasing their self-confidence, and promoting their positive participation in society.
The project focused on developing life and leadership skills and promoting the values of peace, mutual respect, cooperation, acceptance of others, tolerance, citizenship, equality, and teamwork. It also aimed to raise awareness of girls’ rights and the importance of education as one of the most important tools for empowerment and sustainable development.
The project also included capacity-building programs, interactive workshops, cultural, artistic, and sports activities, and community initiatives that contributed to developing communication, leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Safe spaces for learning and dialogue were also provided, fostering a culture of peaceful coexistence and rejecting discrimination and violence. These efforts contributed to preparing a generation of girls capable of leading positive change and actively participating in building more peaceful, cohesive, and sustainable communities.
The “Haqqi” Initiative to Support the Right to Education and Reduce School Dropout Rates
The National Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights implemented the “Haqqi” (My Right) initiative to support the right to education and reduce school dropout rates, targeting 9,533 primary and preparatory school students in the most underserved public schools with the highest absenteeism rates in the areas of Matariya, Ain Shams, and El-Maasara.
The initiative adopted an innovative approach to encouraging regular school attendance by announcing the distribution of gifts and school supplies on a school day to be selected without prior notice. This encouraged children to attend school daily and avoid absenteeism, increasing their chances of receiving incentives.
This approach contributed to a noticeable improvement in school attendance and regularity during periods that typically experience repeated increases in absenteeism. It also strengthened children’s motivation to attend the full school day and reinforced the importance of consistent school attendance.
In addition to educational incentives, the initiative provided school tools and supplies to students with regular attendance, helping ease the financial burden on the most vulnerable families. These efforts contributed to supporting educational continuity, reducing school dropout rates, and creating a more attractive and supportive learning environment for children.
The initiative seeks to promote accurate knowledge and understanding of girls’ rights and gender equality, with the aim of breaking the cycles of misconceptions and harmful behaviors among boys acquired through improper upbringing within family and community environments characterized by violence against females.
This is achieved through purposeful recreational and sports activities that promote accurate knowledge, understanding, and respect for girls’ rights among boys, with a particular focus on ensuring male participation at a rate of 75%, compared to at least 25% female participation, through joint activities implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
