Ramadan is the best time to revive our compassion to give back to the community, so we can feel the solace and joy in giving and participating in acts of charity. In Egypt, the holy month of Ramadan sees a rise in philanthropic activities and an influx of donations, as charity is one of the pillars of Islam.
Giving all year round, an abundance of Egyptian charities and organizations have been working around the clock to provide relief for those in need. And they are in constant need of volunteers as well as donations.
Here are a few organizations and initiatives to take part in this Ramadan.
BANATI FOUNDATION
Women, globally, are affected by disparities in wages, with 20% less than Egypt on average. In Egypt, while there has been some progress in the fight for gender equality, the unemployment rate for women remains higher than for men, as per a report released by UN Women in 2021.
However, in recent years, there has been an active effort to promote the education of women and their inclusion in various fields by both governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Banati Foundation is a local center that provides children at risk with the necessary psychological and emotional support to rehabilitate them either back into society, or within their families. Working with children that are living on the sidelines of society, and oftentimes in dangerous situations, Banati’s programs aim to provide girls with the keys to financial sustainability, among other things. They achieve this through income-centered workshops, donations, and grants. Their activities include social and psychological aid, as well as access to education, and a safe space.
The organization accepts volunteers and donations. You can donate via Vodafone cash, Fawry, or bank transfer.
As of 2023, Egypt has registered over 291,578 refugees living within its borders, some of whom are unaccompanied children. Save the Children (STC) Egypt is a branch of the eponymous international non-profit organization that has been working with children in the country since 1982. STC grants marginalized children access to education and health services and protects them from abuse and exploitation. Since 2000, the charity has registered a 53% reduction in Egypt’s child mortality rate as a result of the initiatives they’ve set in place.
With headquarters in 30 governorates including Cairo, Alexandria, Sohag, Beheira, and Assiut, STC Egypt is continuously working towards improving the lives of the most vulnerable by partnering with government entities and international organizations.
Running for over 15 years, the Egyptian food bank (EFB) is the first institution erected in Egypt to combat hunger. Doing so through funds raised by Zakat (mandatory annual donation for Muslims), handouts (voluntary charity decided at the giver’s discretion), and donations, the organization also aids in disaster relief and actively raises awareness on food waste. Every Ramadan, the organization sets up options for providing food for those fasting and lacking the means to buy it themselves. The food packages the EFB distributes start from EGP 35 and go up to EGP 5000 with options ranging from a simple meal to 350 KG worth of food.
You can donate via Fawry, InstaPay, Talabat, or their website.
SAINT ANDREWS REFUGEE SERVICES
Egypt is currently hosting 146,630 Syrian refugees, 59,896 Sudanese refugees, and about 64,035 marginalized individuals from South Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Saint Andrews Refugee Services (StARS), which was founded in 1979, helps integrate incoming refugees within the community through programs that tackle education and provide mental health services and support.
To donate, visit the headquarters. To volunteer, email them at volunteer@stars-egypt.org.
CARITAS EGYPT
Caritas Egypt provides relief for the vulnerable and the displaced at a large scope. The organization works within several sectors including handling the refugee crisis and aiding children at risk. For refugees, they work in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Caritas Egypt integrates refugees and migrants into their host society by providing them with vocational training, emergency grants, and medical services.
The organization is currently looking for volunteers to help with one of their programs, and they are raising funds for a project for children’s education in Al-Minya.
STREET-CHILD.ORG
For those looking to reach communities on a global scale, Street Child is an international organization based in the United Kingdom. It assists children all over Africa and Asia to gain access to education. For the holy month, they have launched the Ramadan Appeal where you can give “Zakat Mal” or a “Sadaka” that goes towards supporting marginalized children.
You can donate through their website.
HONOURABLE MENTION
And because we haven’t forgotten about man’s best friend, animal shelters get a special mention as they survive mainly on donations and volunteers to keep up with the cases received daily.
UNLEASHED EGYPT
Unleashed is a dog shelter in Sakkara that rescues and rehabilitates stray and abused dogs. You can donate via Paypal, Vodafone, or bank transfer.
