President Introduction

Message of CEOSS Director

Since the fifties of the last century, the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services has been seeking to improve the quality of life for the poor and marginalized citizen, whoever he is and wherever he is, while working to provide decent and sustainable living opportunities for the people of the country within the poorest villages and slums, with a focus on the most needy groups such as women, youth, people with disabilities and children.

In order to achieve its mission, the organization works by developing executive plans for the various units and programs, which are prepared in a scientific manner that suits the needs of the work communities. In the past year, the organization was able to reach many achievements, that contributed to the delivery of its message to more than two million Egyptian citizens in villages, slums and disadvantaged areas, regardless of gender, religion or doctrine.

It also works through mechanisms and models aimed at building poor societies, institutions and individuals, to increase their readiness and enhance their cohesion, so that they can develop effective mechanisms that contribute to the societal resilience and strength to face current and potential risks, threats and changes in all respects.

The Coptic Evangelical Organization has also complemented its strategy by establishing a full partnership with the state institutions in all its sectors; whether the government sector, civil society sector, the private sector, research centers or the media, in order to maximize the impact and the return on the targeted groups.

Here, I would like to point out the important role of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, which, since its foundation in the 1960s, has been implementing comprehensive developmental programs in the areas of public health, children’s health, education and agriculture, improving housing for the poor and improving the environment, combating blindness, working in the field of persons with disabilities, and the issues of family planning and reproductive health, as well as the field of the economic development in all its dimensions, such as:

  • Professional and administrative training, and skills development for young people, to be able to obtain suitable job opportunities.
  • Being the link between job seekers and job providers.
  • Implementing and participating in entrepreneurship forums, recruitment and exhibitions.
  • Providing services, support and counsel to owners of small and micro enterprises, through centers for providing entrepreneurship development services.

This is implemented in rural and urban areas, in the various governorates of Egypt, with the aim of combating poverty, improving the quality of life for the most-needy and the citizens that need care the most, and contributing to them enjoying a decent human life. The Organization provides its work to all citizens, without any discrimination based on gender, religion or belief. In partnership with different effective actors, we serve 2.5 to 3 million citizens annually, in cooperation with nearly 400 grassroots associations and 5,000 volunteers.

The Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services has actively participated in the implementation of the presidential initiatives, such as the “Decent Life” initiative to provide decent housing and medical convoys, as well as to provide wheelchairs for people with disabilities in the governorates of: Beheira, Dakahlia, and Sohag.

CEOSS is also participating in the second phase of the Decent Life Initiative “Developing the Egyptian Rural Areas” in the governorates of Beheira and Beni Suef.

The organization also participates with the “Tahya Misr” fund in implementing the “Nour Hayat” initiative for the prevention and treatment of diseases that cause weakened sight or blindness, as well as in implementing charity convoys and in supporting and social protection initiatives carried out by the “Tahya Misr” fund, in the governorates of: Sohag, Minya, Beni Suef, Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia, and Beheira.

Finally, I stress that our goal and endeavor will always be to participate actively and positively in achieving the basic goal that unites us, which is the growth and prosperity of the Egyptian citizen, and the development, construction and growth of our country, Egypt.

Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki