Basic Services in Rural Areas
2016 Annual Progress Report
Outcome Area 3: Improve Basic/Public Service in Upper Egypt
Preschool:
- To ensure health safety and promote health awareness, numerous medical check-ups have been implemented, in February and March 2016, for 109 children in Abbassa, Gezeret Mattera, Gezeret Al-Hamoudy, Al-Awsat Kamoula and El-Ramla villages.
- In April 2016, 132 children graduated from six batches of preschool classes that were opened in the aforementioned five villages in 2015. Statistically speaking, 60 children graduated from three KG1 classes. Meanwhile, 72 children graduated from three KG2 classes.
- Prior opening new preschool classes for the academic year 2016-2017, ENID team has appointed seven new preschool teachers.
- To enhance the educational skills and improve the teaching methodologies of 21 preschool teachers, TOT workshops have been carried out. As a result of participating in eight-day training, the 21 preschool teachers have learned how to deal with children. They also trained on the UNICEF curriculum.
- Since August 15, 2016, eight preschool classes – four KG1 and four KG2 – have become operational in Abassa, Gezeret Mattera, Gezeret Al-Hamoudy and Al-Awsat Kamoula. Currently, 188 children are enrolled in preschool classes.
- Along with the project team, a preschool consultant carried out a plethora of follow-up visits to monitor and assess the educational process, on a regular basis.
Literacy:
- ENID conducted several fellow-up visits for monitoring and evaluating the educational process as a whole.
- 121 females graduated from ENID-GALAE joint literacy classes which were opened in Gezeret Mattera, Gezeret Al-Hamoudy, Al-Marashada and Abassa. As a consequence, 58 percent of the females have passed the exam.
- Regarding ENID’s literacy classes which were opened in Gezeret Mattera, Al-Awsat Kamoula, Al-Makhazan, Al-Marashada and Gezeret Al-Hamoudy, 133 females graduated in July 2016.
- The total number of female’s literacy classes amounted to nine batches.
- In response to the new partnership between ENID and “The Big Heart Foundation”, based in United Arab Emirates, two new literacy classes have become operative in Al-Kharanka and Al-Herageya villages since the mid of October and the first of December, respectively.
Vocational training:
- Vocational consultants, recruited by ENID, have designed a training curriculum by which the beneficiaries have learned sewing skills. They have also gained knowledge about different types of sewing machines and their uses; other sewing tools, as well as, different types of fabrics. To this end, seven TVET teachers from Qena were selected to carry out the training.
- 137 graduates of Literacy classes, which were opened in Al-Makhazan, Gezeret Mattera, Gezeret Al-Hamoudy, Al-Marashada, Abassa and Al-Awsat Kamoula, have joined the six vocational training workshops which were started in January 2016 and ended in September 2016.
- In February, March, April, May and October 2016, approximately, 23 subsequent trainings have been implemented in seven villages – Abassa, Al-Masrashada, Gezeret Mattera, Al-Makhazan, Gezeret Al-Hamoudy, Al-Rezka and Al-Awsat Kamoula. In these training sessions, the beneficiaries have learned to create some products, inter alia, embroidered pillows, prayer dresses, patchwork quilt covers, ready-made Garments (RMG), bags, crochet, embroidered bags, beaded scarves and wool embroidered curtains.
Awareness-sessions:
- In August, September and October 2016, 24 awareness sessions were implemented in six villages – Gezeret Mattera, Abassa, Al-Makhazan, Al-Awsat Kamoula, Al-Marashada and Gezeret Al-Hamoudy. At the outset, 12 sessions covered citizenship and identity documents, as well as, local governments and municipalities. While, the reminder covered feasibility studies for small businesses and decision-making.
- The number of females attended the awareness sessions amounted to 176 attendees.
Healthcare Unit:
- In response to the joint partnership between ENID and “The Big Heart Foundation” (TBHF) which has entered into force since July 2016, ENID has carried out a new intervention in the health sector. In this regard, ENID will renovate two healthcare facilities; upgrade medical equipment and supplies; train medical staff, and raise health awareness.
- The project team organized a two-day field visit to Qena in July 2016 in order to identify healthcare units in need of renovation and upgrading. To make ENID activities in line with the government plan, a meeting with both Mr. Abdel Hamid Al-Hagan; the governor of Qena and Dr. Ayman Khodeir; the undersecretary of Ministry of Health, was held. Eventually, it has been agreed on upgrading and renovating Al-Marashada healthcare unit.
- Qena team visited Luxor to scale up the activities of ENID in other Upper Egypt’s governorates. Eventually, Al-Nagoh Bahry healthcare unit in Isna district has been selected.
- Qena team produced two documentary films prior renovation.
- ENID has undertaken several steps, such as signing two cooperation protocols to start renovation in Al-Marashada and Al-Nagoh Bahry healthcare units.
Youth:
- In October, certain youth, who previously received training by ENID, participated in TOT workshop. ENID has undertaken this step not only to build future leaders but to enhance their roles in rural communities and raise their skills.
- Sustainability:
- Program A has embarked on the sustainability process in both the sewing workshops and the preschool classes. To this end, several steps have been taken:-
- Regarding preschool classes, Qena team has agreed with the leaders of local NGOs on opening separate banks accounts; hiring one preschool teacher instead of two, and increasing monthly registration and fees. In addition, all rural NGOs provided furniture – 25 chairs and two tables for each class – to all KG2 preschool classes.
- Concerning vocational training workshops, several steps have been undertaken:-
- ENID team has selected the most six qualified and skillful instructors to manage the six sewing workshops.
- 60 females in every village have learned to cut and sew, along with learning how to differentiate between single sewing machines and Overlock sewing machines. In response, the beneficiaries’ sewing skills have been enhanced, thereby having the opportunity to startup small enterprises in their homes.
- ENID has organized a plethora of training programs for both instructors and trainees. These training programs have given both instructors and trainees the opportunity to learn how to manufacture embroidered curtains, prayer dress, bags and etc.
- 60 qualified and skillful females from Gezeret Mattera, Abasssa, Al-Makhazan, Al-Awsat Kamoula, Gezeret Al-Hamoudy and Al-Marashada have received extra training courses. In Gezeret Mattera and Abassa, for instance, 20 females have trained to make cut and sew both pillows and bedcovers, in addition to embroider pillows.
- Leaders of CDAs have been assigned to oversee and manage the sewing workshops independently.
- ENID has agreed to buy products made in these sewing workshops only if they meet high quality standards.
- ENID has agreed to adopt both the piece work and the made-to-order production systems. Since October, for example, the piece work system has been implemented in several sewing workshops, namely Gezeret Mattera and Abassa.
- ENID has also provided support to the beneficiaries and the CDAs by helping them to access local market.
- ENID encouraged CDAs to conduct simplified feasibility studies for the local market, in an attempt to evaluate local markets and identify purchasable products.
- ENID has provided training programs for building the administrative capacities of the board of directors and staff of CDAs. Apparently, ENID has organized a twenty-day workshop which was subdivided into five workshops. These five workshops covered development concepts; participatory development, volunteers management and human rights-based approach to development; development project management and report writing; communication and advocacy, and sustainability. The leaders of CDAs have learned how to mobilize resources; write proposals and documentary reports; conduct needs assessment; manage financial affairs, and design development projects.
- ENID has backed NGOs networking between Plan International in Qena and the CDAs in Abassa, Al-Marashada and Al-Awsat Kamoula.
- Apparently, such a process has proved to be successful in several sewing workshops, thanks to ENID’s outstanding efforts. The role of ENID is, currently, confined to the provision of skillful instructors and trainers. The sewing workshops in Gezeret Mattera, Abassa, Al-Makhazan, Al-Awsat kamoula and Al-Marashada have produced various products, namely curtains, bed sheets, school uniform, bridal bed covers and bridal dresses. Therefore, they are able to marketer their products to the local market. Adding to this, these CDAs have been empowered financially and administratively.
- In Gezeret Mattera, for instance, the CDA has the ability to marketer bridal curtains, as well as, producing 171 pillows.
- In Gezeret Al-Hamoudy sewing workshop, the board of directors has allocated L.E.1800 for the sewing workshop. Further, it has been agreed on distributing products in Nag Hamady district, Qena. In addition, the CDA will produce and sell school uniform to the local market, on an annual basis.
- In Al-Marashada sewing workshop, the CDA created an advertisement in order to marketer their products. Likewise, the board of directors has granted LE 100 in an effort to generate financial resources. Significantly, the girls created several products, inter alia, bedsheets; fiber-filled pillows, laptop bags and bridal curtains.
- In Abassa sewing workshop, the CDA produced 20 school uniforms and nine fiber-filled bed quilts.
- In Al-Makhazan sewing workshop, the girls fabricated five curtains.
- In Al-Awsat Kamoula sewing workshop, the girls produced handmade bridal bedcovers, bedsheets and bath mat set.
Challenges and Lessons Learnt:
- Challenges:
- Bureaucracy poses a great challenge to development. Apparently, the GALAE was non-cooperative regarding the selection of illiterate females. It chose females who belong to an age group other than the targeted one.
- The absence of qualified applicants who applied for preschool teacher jobs in certain villages, notably Abassa and Gezeret Mattera.
- Lessons:
- Sustainability is an integral part of sustainable development and economic empowerment. That’s why, NGOs/CDAs capacity-building is a milestone for implementing the sustainability process.
- Many CDAs’ leaders are cooperative, as well as, having a strong will to promote community-participation and play active roles in their rural communities. In addition, they have demonstrated their eagerness to provide good services.
- Myriad of norms and traditions have been changed due to the active role played by ENID.
Future Plan:
- ENID will focus more on building the capacities of grassroots NGOs/CDAs.
- ENID will renovate the two healthcare units.
- ENID will organized myriad of awareness-sessions on various issues.
Team Leader: Dr. Howaida Roman