Coptic Orphans
This years marks the 20th Anniversary of Coptic Orphans, an award winning international Christian development organisation that works with vulnerable children in Egypt to transform their local communities by breaking the cycle of poverty and injustice through literacy, education, advocacy, mentoring and providing basic needs. It works with vulnerable children in Egypt regardless of their religion.
Rev the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC is proud to host the Coptic Orphans Public Forum to celebrate their 20th anniversary here in Parliament House. The guest speaker of the forum is Nermien Riad, Founder and Executive Director, Coptic Orphans. Nermien Riad founded the organisation in 1988, which has since benefited over 15,000 children, initiated programs to attack illiteracy, spearheaded a grassroots network of nearly 300 volunteer child advocates, and mobilised thousands of donors and supporters internationally through awareness campaigns.
The details of the event are as follows:
Date: Tuesday 28 October from 1.15pm to 2.30pm
Venue: The Jubilee Room, Parliament of New South Wales, Macquarie Street, Sydney
RSVP: Maria Silos on 02 9230 3340 or maria.silos@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Light refreshments to be served. There is no cost involved in attending this event.
Coptic Orphans focuses on the long-term needs of the children – spiritual, physical, economic and social – through programs that provide both tangible and intangible benefits. Their programs are as follows:
Not Alone – Since its inception, Coptic Orphans has assisted over 15,000 children through the Not Alone program, bringing educational, nutritional, and social support. Children remain in the program until they graduate from high school or university, for which they are also given different forms of assistance.
Emergency Housing –There is an urgent and immediate need for emergency housing as most children and their families are living in inhumane conditions. Coptic Orphans rely on donations to support families with adequate housing.
The Valuable Girl Project – This program empowers girls and young women through the creation and provision of role models. The program focuses on high poverty areas of Egypt, where girls of all ages face a high risk of dropping out of school due to poverty and discrimination against girls. Coptic Orphans has actively campaigned against the practice of female circumcision.
The Rosetta Program – This is a child literacy program that finds illiterate children in schools, teaches them to read, and then finally enter them in the Child Assistance program.
Serve to Learn – This program allows volunteers from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia to serve in high-poverty areas of Egypt such as Beni-suef, Matay, King Mariut, Qus/Nekada by volunteering to teach English summer courses to children.
We strongly encourage you to attend this event and hear first-hand the great difference Coptic Orphans make to thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable children and their local communities by breaking the cycle of poverty. The work of Coptic Orphans has allowed children to confidently face the future with a renewed sense of hope and a life enriched with education, health and equality. We look forward to welcoming you on the 28th of October.