by Nermien Riad | Nov 7, 2014 | Approaches to Charity and Development, Issues: The Girl Child, Valuable Girl Project
Paper crowns and graduation caps — bright orange and red, they decorate this airy, sunlit room overlooking the dusty streets of Upper Egypt. Hand-written on each, in black marker with silver flourishes, are the words “Valuable Girl!” I’m back...
by Nermien Riad | Oct 29, 2014 | Issues: The Girl Child, Issues:Education, Valuable Girl Project
Did you know that a Coptic pope was responsible for the first modern-day steps to educate women in Egypt? The first instance of modern female education in Egypt came about “not by the efforts of a secular ruler,” but through the vision of His Holiness Pope...
by Nermien Riad | Oct 8, 2014 | 25th Anniversary, Issues: The Girl Child, Serve To Learn, TAMKEEN
Dear Friends, The big day — the Coptic Orphans 25th Anniversary Gala in the U.S. — is just hours away! I hope to see you all in Reston, VA on Oct. 11! (Tickets are still available here.) By now, you’ve probably seen the Gala’s slogan, “25th...
by Nermien Riad | Sep 2, 2014 | Issues: The Girl Child, TAMKEEN
Dear Friends, Today, I’m glad to share the thoughts of Magda Abdelmalak, who directs the Coptic Orphans office in Egypt. And I’m excited that we’ll be doing more work with these young women! — Nermien Riad Can you imagine an Egypt where young women...
by Nermien Riad | Aug 19, 2014 | Issues: The Girl Child
I’m in a huge, sunlit room, and all around me, pairs of girls are busy with markers, scissors, and construction paper. There’s a buzz in the air as they assemble models of Egypt’s greatest engineering feat, the Pyramids. Don’t worry –...
by Nermien Riad | Nov 13, 2012 | Issues: The Girl Child, Issues:Education
Basma ran home to her mother crying. On her way back from school, she ran into two bearded men who shouted: “Cover your hair,” attached to other things I can’t mention here. This wasn’t the first time Basma got intimidated going to school. So, her mother tried a...
