by Nermien Riad | Jun 26, 2015 | Egypt Church-Based Volunteers, Issues That Impact Children in Egypt, Issues: The Girl Child, Valuable Girl Project
A new campaign to stop female genital mutilation (FGM) in Egypt is adding urgency to our efforts to stop this lethal and barbaric practice. The government is enlisting doctors and judges in a “National FGM Strategy” with the aim of reducing FGM by 10-15%...
by Nermien Riad | Jan 30, 2015 | Valuable Girl Project
I’m in Mattay today, watching a puppet show with a crowd of girls. They’re Big and Little Sisters in our Valuable Girl Project, and they’re doing normal girl things: A couple are giggling, and one is filming the puppets with her smart phone....
by Nermien Riad | Jan 27, 2015 | Issues That Impact Children in Egypt, Valuable Girl Project
I awoke yesterday to good news: In Egypt, a doctor was sentenced to prison for carrying out female genital mutilation (FGM) that resulted in a girl’s death. It was a historic moment when the court said, essentially: “Stop killing Egyptian girls! Enough is...
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...