January 2008

Firstly, a Happy New Year to all.

It was a very interesting end to the old year and start of the New Year, with a lot of things happening at once.

We had a number of discussions and meetings in December with Gamal Ebeid from the Social Services Department based in Cairo. He was extremely helpful and provided us with a local contact to give any further assistance we needed. He did emphasise however that to be able to collect money and have a bank account in Egypt we require a dedicated room to be used as the registered address. To spend Charity money on an “address” and maybe a library/shop had not seemed viable, as we felt it inappropriate to use member’s donations for administration costs. Indeed we have already received a very generous donation specifically to cover the cost of our internet hosting, printing etc. However our new projects by their very nature do need a dedicated space, which will also serve as the “address” required by Social Services. We have therefore been actively looking for suitable premises, with mixed results so far.

Before Christmas we were invited to attend a Craft Fair, arranged by another local Charity, Nour Al Islam. Much of their work is based on the principal of the old Chinese proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. They work with widowed and abandoned women with children, in an attempt to help them become self sufficient, and support their children at home, by producing various goods for sale. The array of items on sale was amazing, from food products, petite fours, cakes, stuffed vegetables and packs of falafel etc through to pottery, hand sewn table linen, beautifully decorated cushions and lamp shades & bins.

The first 2 day sale, having been opened by the Governor, Samir Farag, was such a success that it was extended to a full week and more are planned. Other skills many of the women have are those of soap and candle making and Luxor4Care is looking at ways of encouraging this by paying for the materials so that the ladies can make and sell the finished items at the next Craft Fair.

The first of our new major projects is now also well underway. Some time ago Nour Al Islam started giving individual women a bag of flour to allow them to make products and sell them, to raise money for the family. This was a great success and the next logical stage was to set up a proper kitchen, with larger equipment where the women could work together and produce more items. They had identified a suitable site and Luxor4Care has now paid the rent for this Commercial Unit for the first year. This was made possible largely due to a very generous donation from Kathy and Bob Parker who raised 600 Australian Dollars from the Australian Centre for Egyptology, as well as bringing over a suitcase full of clothes J 

Our second project, and the one that can be combined with the registered address, is for a crèche. This would be used by the children of the women whilst they are working in the kitchen, and also be available to any other women who need the service. Luxor4Care would provide the facilities and Nour Al Islam would staff it, thereby giving other women paid employment.

We intend to use 1 room for the new Luxor4Care library  and maybe a small shop as well, where we will be able to sell some of the wide range of goods made by the women.  Our book collection is growing steadily but if any of you are visiting and have books that you would be willing to donate at the end of your stay we would be extremely grateful.

We are still continuing to provide the monthly food parcels, and one member asked “How can £5 per month make much difference.” In short it can double the supplies a family has for a month, each parcel contains:

1 x chicken or 1kg meat

1 x kg lentils

1 x kg rice

1 x kg sugar

1 x kg fuul beans

1 x kg white beans

1 x litre vegetable oil

1 x kg ghee/simna

1 x bag of pasta

2 x sachets tomato paste

This is often the only meat the family has in the month. As many of you may know prices have risen sharply recently, largely due to reduction in Government subsidies, the food parcels now cost nearer £5.50 per month.

As you can see we have started the year by paying out a lot of money and we now have to start saving again. We do appreciate that all of our members have also just gone through a very expensive period of the year too, but if you can spare any money at all we would be very grateful to receive a donation, no matter how small. The easiest way to make a donation is via CharityChoice , remember a little money goes a long way in Egypt.

Budgeting is obviously difficult but if we know how much money is coming in each month that means that we can commit to additional regular outgoings, like the food parcels, family support etc. If you feel able to commit a fixed amount each month, either for the general fund or for food parcels please either email treasurer@luxor4care.org.uk  or download the Standing Order Form  and send it to your bank. If you are a UK taxpayer do please also consider completing the Gift Aid  form.

As well as money we are very pleased to accept donations of clothing, toys, toiletries etc which can be distributed to needy families. Here is just a sample of some of the goods brought over by our members. 

Thank you all again, we could not do any of this work without your support.

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