By Hossam Mounier
Banque Misr Foundation for Community Development and Welfare implemented a project for the comprehensive development of Egyptian villages.
The Luxor villages of Tafnis and Asfoon , the Sohag villages of Al-Hamas and Al-Horaizat Al-Gharbia , and four villages in Menouf in the governorate of Menufiya are part of the project, which was implemented in cooperation with the Misr El-Mahrousa Baladi association and the Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development.
The project’s implementation period was from 2012 to 2015. It aimed to improve the quality of life of residents of these villages through education, health, economy and culture.
For education, kindergarten classes were established, as well as parallel classrooms for those with weak comprehension. A training programme for teachers was prepared and illiteracy eradication classrooms were established as well. The educational environment was improved for both teachers and students through the enhancement of four schools and the introduction of educational and cultural activities.
In order to improve health levels of residents of the villages, a Talaat Harb dispensary was established that provided a number of elite professors of medicine from the universities of Assiut, Cairo and South Valley. It contributed to the provision of medical services for residents of villages in the Luxor governorate, in addition to medical examinations for mothers and children, and medical services to residents of the village. This resulted in better health levels, especially amongst mothers, infants and children in primary and preparatory schools.
The economic level of impoverished families was improved through several initiatives, including the breeding and selling of cattle as a source of livelihood, handicraft projects, and the establishment of small businesses, which created real job opportunities with suitable incomes. The project contributed to the improvement of the infrastructure of a number of dilapidated and old houses and the delivery of clean water to others.
The foundation adopted the livestock development project in Meet Kenana, Tersa and Karkashanda in Qaliubiya in cooperation with the Faculty of Agriculture in Benha University. The project aims to raise the living standard of residents of Egyptian villages, as well as provide jobs for graduates and rural girls, assist in the establishment of small businesses, and help create a sufficiency of white meat.
Further, Banque Misr Foundation aims to implement new projects to develop Egyptian villages in the governorates of Fayoum, Luxor and Aswan.
