St Andrew’s Refugee Services
Where are they?
What do they do?
Who benefits?
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Cairo
Provide refugees and displaced people with education, skills and income, alongside renewed self confidence and a sense of community.
180 students in the school, 700 people in the adult education programme. |
More Information:
Founded: 1979
Beginnings:
Many African refugees flee to Cairo to escape persecution, war or disaster in their homelands. There are no refugee camps in Egypt so these displaced people have to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar and often hostile culture. One of the main problems faced by displaced people from Sudan is that they are not legally recognised as refugees, due to the open border. St Andrew’s Refuge Services provides care while their claims are being considered. The refugee ministry works closely with the All Saints’ Cathedral in Cairo, which also supports these displaced Africans.
Activities:
St Andrew’s Refugee Services offers assistance and aid through various programmes including:
- Children’s education for those who are denied access to Egyptian schools and cannot afford private schools. The ministry also runs an Inter-School Summer Programme.
- Adult education ensures people are taught practical skills for future employment in an English speaking environment including classes in English, Business English and Computer Literacy. Around 1,200 adults participate in the scheme each year.
- Woodwork is offered as a two year vocational programme, teaching carpentry skills such as making and repairing furniture. The work produced is very high quality.
- African arts and crafts employ the many skills that the refugees bring with them, as well as giving them the opportunity to learn the principles of a small business, allowing them to generate an additional income. Many of the classes at St Andrew’s Refugee Services are taught by refugees themselves. This improves the morale of the refugee community and encourages self reliance.
Click here for a printable factsheet on St Andrew's Refugee Services
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