Egypt

SOS Children’s Villages ensures that children grow up with the care, protection and relationships they need to become their strongest selves ( photo: SOS Children’s Villages in Egypt)

With more than 100 million inhabitants, Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa. Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, is home to over 10 million people. Despite efforts to reduce it, multidimensional poverty remains a widespread problem throughout the country. Egypt ranks the highest among countries where female genital mutilation is widespread (in terms of absolute numbers).

SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it in Egypt since the 1970s.

Children are at risk

Although the Egyptian economy has been quickly developing in the past decades, millions of people, especially women and children, wallow in poverty and hunger. Corruption, unequal distribution of wealth and high exposure to climate and environmental shocks threaten the wellbeing of millions of children in Egypt.
35%
Of female Egyptians above 15 cannot read

Education

Egypt has an adult literacy rate of 70 %, showing a clear gap between sexes. While 76.5% of male Egyptians can read, the literacy rate of women is significantly lower (65.5%). Girls who do not receive education are at a higher risk of child marriage and pregnancy and therefore less likely to lead independent lives and breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty, inequality and disadvantage.

87%

Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been banned in Egypt since 2008, yet the country still has some of the highest rates in the world. While FGM is common across Egypt, girls and women from lower socio-economic backgrounds, from rural areas and with lower levels of education are more likely to undergo the harmful practice. FGM is a violation of human rights and an extreme form of violence against girls and women that has severe long-term effects and can even lead to death.

Together we can make a difference for children in Egypt

1634
Children and adults
Are supported in the community
321
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
(photo: SOS Children’s Villages in Egypt)