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Egypt National Child Rights Observatory (ENCRO) is a tri-partite initiative aiming to put the bases for a scientific research mechanism

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Street Children Programs

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The Strategy for Protection and Rehabilitation of Street children In Egypt

Goal

Implement the objectives of the National Strategy for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Street Children in Egypt that was launched in 2003 by Egypt’s First Lady, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak.

Objectives of the National Strategy for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Street Children in Egypt

Change the negative attitude of the society towards street children,
Consider street children as victims not criminals,
Build the capacity of the personnel working in the field,
Establish a database,
Mobilize financial resources in programs related to the field,
Remove the child from the streets and build his capacities to be better integrated.

Time Span

Programs on street children have been implemented since 2003.

Geographical Scope

All over Egypt.

Target Group(s)

Street children (girls and boys), street young mothers, street leaders, and all organizations and institutions working in the field of street children (NGOs, governmental organizations, etc.).

Achievements (Since 2003)

All programs on street children implemented by NCCM aim at achieving objectives of the National Strategy on Street Children. Following are the different programs having been implemented by NCCM:

1. Protecting Street Children from Drugs Project(2003-2006:

This pilot project was implemented in cooperation with the UNODC (with a Danish Fund).

Objectives:

Build the capacity of workers in the field of street children from social care institutions, police entities, and NGOs.
Devise a training manual for workers in the field of street children.
Provide technical and financial support to assist in developing social institutions and NGOs in the field of street children care and the services offered.

Achievements:

Devised, printed, and distributed a training manual (practical and theoretical) for workers in the field of street children.
Trained 180 policemen (from various governorates) on the principles of child rights and on the way to deal with street children.
Trained 250 social and psychological specialists working in NGOs and in social defense institutions on the way to deal with street children and the danger of drugs and the way to prevent children from being addicted to it.
A training workshop for media persons on the issue of street children and the problems faced by the children looking at the role of the media in solving these problems.
Provided technical and financial support to 6 NGOs working in street children care (in Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria).
Developed the training room in the social defense institute so that it becomes a place specific to trainings workers in the field of street children.

2. Building the Capacity of NGOs in the Field of Street Children (Since 2007):

This project is implemented in cooperation with UNICEF.

Objectives:

Report and analyze the NGOs capacities.
Determine the project’s needs.

Based on this, was devised the project’s action plan to build the capacity of the NGOs according to three themes:

- Determine the means to communicate and assist a large number of street children

- Renew education activities and active education tools

- Monitor the cases and support policies on child rights protection

Achievements:

Devised an analytical study on the NGOs’ capacities (in the field of street children) in Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria (2008).
3 training workshops for 60 street children and 30 community leaders. Topics tackled: Trafficking in children, problems, danger, and discrimination faced by street children.
7 training workshops to NGOs (102 trainees). Topics tackled: The way to work in the street and reach the street children, the way to renew education activities, and monitor the cases and support policies on the protection of child rights.

3. Building the Capacity of Workers in Social Institutions in the Field of Street Children - Ministry of Social Solidarity (Since 2008):

This project is implemented in cooperation with the Arab Council for Childhood and Development.

Objectives:

Raise the capacity of workers from the Ministry of Social Solidarity dealing with street children forming a group of trainers through: identifying problems in care centers, obstacles faced, new programs to rehabilitate social and psychological specialists, raising their awareness on the Child Law and the child helpline.

Achievements:

6 training workshops
120 social and psychological specialists trained
33 directors from social defense institutions
Coordination with the Combating Violence Against Women and Children project(implemented by NCCM with a USAID fund) to develop the institutions and provide some of the basic needs

4. Building the Capacity of Workers in Social Institutions in the Field of Street Children - Ministry of Interior (Since 2008):

Objectives:

Raise the capacity of workers in the Juvenile Department - Ministry of Interior (on the national level).

Achievements:

4 training workshops to police men, police researchers, and police detective (120 trainees)

Children at Risk Programme (2005-2009):

The street children component from the Children at Risk Programme is implemented in cooperation with NGOs and with a fund from the European Commission.

Objectives:

Raise awareness of persons working with street children on the dangers they face
Provide medical and health services to street children and train them (especially street girls and mothers)
Establish a number of residential, reception centers, and mobile unit for the street children in Cairo
Integrate street children in their families and in the society
Income raising of street children

Achievements:

3 reception centers for street children in Sayeda Zeinab, Ibageya, and Imbaba.
Equip a residential center for young street mothers and their children in Mokattam.
Equip a mobile unit for street children providing them with health care.
A training workshop to 400 social and psychological specialists on the way to deal with street children.
Raise the awareness of 493 women on reproductive and primary health issues.
Provide health care to 3258 street children.
Raise awareness of 2143 street children on child rights, the danger of living in the streets, and the danger of drugs.
Provide assistance to street children in obtaining official documents.
Vocational trainings to street children.
Integrate 289 street children in communal activities.
Cooperation of street children in devising a theatrical play portraying the conditions and problems they face.
Devise and print medical manuals (in English and in Arabic) to be used in mobile units and reception and residential centers - training doctors, nurses, and children on them.
Provide first aid kits children care centers and training on how to use them.
Network between the NGOs working in the field of street children - meeting on a regular basis.

5. Street Children Survey - Cairo, Giza, Qalyoubia, Alexandria (2007:

The survey was conducted in Alexandria on Wednesday 12 Dec. 07 and conducted in Cairo, Giza, and Qalyoubia on Thursday 13 Dec. 07.

Objectives:

Identify the number of street children in the target governorates and their demographical aspect
Identify the main reasons pushing children to go in the street and the services provided by NGOs to the children in the street
Identify the problems faced by the street children
Determine the main needs to rehabilitate and integrate the street children

Survey Results:

Identified the problems faced by the street children and the demographical division.
Identified the services offered to the street children.
Identified the street children education level and their families’ economic conditions.
Violence is the main cause pushing children to go in the streets.
Most of the children have not finished their primary education.
Most of the street children families suffer from poverty and family separation.
Number of street children: 9111

Street Children Survey - Cairo (2009):

The survey was conducted in Cairo in May 2009 as a continuation to the survey that was conducted in 2007. The 2009 survey was conducted as per a new methodology: capture and recapture; it was made in cooperation with the World Bank and the Arab Urban Development Institute.

Objectives:

Identify the number of street children in Cairo
Identify the importance of the phenomenon in Cairo
Identify the problems and dangers faced by the street children
Identify the extent to which the street children are subject to abuse in the streets
Identify the extent to which the street children benefit from the assistance provided by the NGOs in the field
Identify the family conditions of the street children

Survey Results:

Number of street children in Cairo: 5299

Non-Implementing Partner(s)

UNICEF
The Arab Council for Childhood and Development
The European Commission
World Bank
The Arab Urban Development Institute
UNODC

Implementing partner(s)

NGOs all over Egypt

NCCM in the program

It is the project’s main implementing agency and is responsible for the programs’ administration, technical direction, and coordination. NCCM is also responsible for conducting trainings, building capacities, and monitoring the NGOs’ work.

Challenges

The negative attitude of the society towards street children.
Shortage in specialized personnel.
Weak interest from concerned parties.
Lack of a strong support from the media.
Shortage of NGOs in the field.
Lack of financial resources.
NGOs focus more on rehabilitation activities and less on re-integration and income generating activities.

Related Programs

NCCM’s Child Helpline
Combating Violence Against Women and Children Project