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Cairo, Egypt - Sudanese
One of the oldest cities in the world, Cairo, Egypt, has a rich history and culture that dates back to Biblical times. Whereas the pyramids, the Nile and the rich culture may appeal to foreigners, such romanticism may not be prevalent among the nearly 12 million people who live in Cairo.
Every ten months, the country’s population grows by a million and every day, this capital city sees an influx of 1000 new residents. Fifteen percent of the city’s population do not have access to potable water, 4.2 million residents live without access to a sewage system, and Cairo’s poor air quality will account to over two percent of all deaths. Cairo boasts to have one of the poorest air pollution levels in the world.
Often considered the “Jewel of the Nile,” Cairo may preach elegance to the world. But for the millions who live in abject poverty and in wretched conditions, Cairo is less of a gem and more of a rock.
According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is any person who, “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
People fleeing the decades-long civil war in the Sudan make their way to Cairo to apply for refugee status with the United Nations or at various embassies, hoping to be resettled in the U.S., Britian, or Australia. But asylum is not guaranteed, and their time in Cairo is marked by a lack of access to necessary resources such as health care, education, and legal assistance, and they often face harassment and persecution. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) claims that there are 20,000 Sudanese refugees currently living in Egypt, but estimates range up to 500,000 people, mainly from the southern and western parts of the Sudan.
Here are some of the ministries where we will be volunteering this summer. Know that things are always subject to change, so hold loosely to this schedule, but here’s the basic idea.
- Sudanese Summer Schools: Sudanese are not allowed to attend Egyptian schools. Instead, they have established their own schools that run year round. They receive their funding by generous outside donations, as well as a small entrance fee that each individual family pays. Some are operated by ex-pats. Others are entirely Sudanese run. During the summer, the schools are not as academically challenging as the rest of the school year, but they keep the children occupied in healthy ways while their parents work. The students are ages 5-15.
The classes during summer course include Art, Sports, Drama, Music and English. Our job is to aid the Sudanese teachers in their classrooms, and we often are asked teach these classes by ourselves. We are there to help in whatever way the teachers prefer. They may ask us to teach a song or game, create a skit for the children to act out, or devise an art project. Spontaneity and flexibility are our modus operandi. Each school operates a little differently. Some have a well-established curriculum. Other schools have nothing. We will volunteer for four weeks, Monday-Thursday, 8am-1pm.
- Adult English Education: Egypt is not the final destination for many of the Sudanese who find themselves refugees there. Most hope to either return to Sudan or to be sent to another county that is more prepared to receive and assist them. Often this is an English-speaking country such as Australia, Canada and the United States. Egypt is often just a temporary home, as they wait for the UNHCR to help them find asylum in other places around the world. The Sudanese want to be as prepared for their new life as possible. This means that they are interested in learning English so they will have an easier time getting around and finding work when they are relocated.
We get the opportunity to teach English to these Sudanese brothers and sisters four evenings a week. Often the classes take place in the same schools where we teach children during the day. Often it is the Sudanese teachers and parents of the students who attend these English classes.
Additional Items on the Schedule:
- We will be studying the book of Amos once a week.
- We will spend time praying for our Sudanese friends and the city of Cairo.
- We will have a weekly Sabbath including reflection, worship and prayer.
- We will attend local church services.
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