Coptic Orphans Founder Nermien Riad Meets with the Minister of Planning and Development
July 27, 2021, FAIRFAX, VA. — Dr. Hala El-Said, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Development, met with Nermien Riad, Founder and Executive Director of Coptic Orphans, on July 13 to discuss cooperation between the ministry’s “Decent Life” initiative and the U.S.-based international development organization.
Dr. Gameel Helmy, the minister’s assistant for monitoring the affairs of the Sustainable Development Plan, and Dr. Heba Mugheeb, head of the Regional Planning Sector, both attended the meeting.
Coptic Orphans’ delegation to the meeting also included Dr. Neveen Waheen, Director of Development and Training, and Dr. Maged Ragaie, Director of Strategic Engagement.
Dr. El-Said informed the Coptic Orphans team that Egypt prioritizes addressing development gaps at the governorate level to eliminate poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
Dr. El-Said further said that Egypt is focusing on improving the quality of life in rural communities for sustainable rural development by supporting “Decent Life,” an unprecedented development project initiated by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Riad said that Coptic Orphans aims to benefit Egyptian families so that they may live better, healthier, more prosperous lives.
Riad said the meeting was also an opportunity “to brief H.E. Dr. El-Said on Coptic Orphans’ mission to harness the loyalty felt by Egyptians in the diaspora, to ensure that the value and dignity of all people in the homeland are respected.“
Riad said: “We are thrilled to hear how “Decent Life” is improving the lives of Egyptians, and excited to learn more about the ministry and Coptic Orphans’ shared goal of providing opportunities for our homeland’s families to live decent lives and with dignity.”
“We are also proud that our work is aligned with the Egypt’s plans for development,” Riad said.
Riad explained how, by visiting the families of widows and orphans in their homes, where their privacy and dignity are respected, Coptic Orphans volunteers work every day to support H.E. President El-Sisi‘s vision for an Egypt where the most vulnerable are appropriately protected.
Coptic Orphans was founded in 1988 and works in over 700 villages across Egypt to unlock the God-given potential of vulnerable children, and so equips them to break the cycle of poverty and become change-makers in their communities. Coptic Orphans works through grassroots partners and volunteer networks to strengthen local communities for sustainable impact. More: www.copticorphans.org