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The Refuge-Egypt education system consists of three programmes: Happy Child Preschool, Primary Education Programme and Adult English Education.

Adult English Education

The programme has been of great value to hundreds of students looking to bolster their chances of economic stability and, subsequently, resettlement. These classes are taught by teams from around the world who volunteer their time on a weekly basis.

The focus is on comprehension, rather than the standard Egyptian educational focus on rote learning. This gives students greater confidence and competence in the language, a greater interest in learning and a lot of fun in the exchanges of conversation.

Primary Education Programme

Last year, five children enrolled. This year, thirty and growing! The facilities are limited. Space is provided for classrooms in the Cathedral compound. The ‘fee’ to cover all costs is kept low at 50LE ($10) a year, this is to enable the refugees facing greatest economic difficulties to be included but it means heavy subsidy from well-wishers.

The school functions Monday to Thursday, 8am to 2.30pm. It covers English, maths, music, good playground behaviour and prayer. Refuge-Egypt director Jonathan Lee identifies English teaching as the most attractive quality of the programme. One current student, Tito, disagrees. His favourite part of the program is outdoor game time!

The principal teacher is eager to emphasize, the education program is much different from standard Egyptian schools. “We teach for understanding,” he said, “not rote memorization.” In addition, the programme encourages creativity and self-discovery in its students. One technique he describes involves having the students inventively construct objects. Once finished, the students are then asked to take them apart and build something entirely different. Besides the uniqueness of this approach, compared to most Egyptian schools, the evidence is that the children love it! Homework is only given before the weekend, so that students will have plenty of time to devote to it and will have the opportunity to ask parents for help if needed (students do not have books that they can bring home with them). The teaching principle is that parent involvement is where the programme begins, continues, and ends.

Unfortunately, fees can never meet the costs. Rooms need renovating, expansion is necessary, there are only two teachers and no books. With increased resources and support, within Egypt and abroad, further expansion of this exciting programme could be possible in future school years.

The relief work of the Episcopal Church among refugees has grown

The figures for 2009 available to the end of September show: 396 new refugees have been registered with the Emergency Team, 80% of them Sudanese. 1,049 people have received urgently needed clothing. 5,515 people have received much-needed food packages. 164 trainees have completed the Domestic Cleaning Training Programme. 364 people, 80% of them women, have found work through the Employment Centre. 1,726 infants have been monitored at the Well Baby Clinic. 275 new clients have enrolled at the Well Baby Clinic. 228 clients have enrolled at the Well Child Clinic which only opened in July. 3000 consultations have been completed at the Refuge-Egypt’s clinic in Arbaa W Nus. 7140 consultations have taken place at the Zamalek Clinic. The Youth Department has hosted a conference for teens and youth. Registration at the Happy Child Preschool has increased to 60 children.