The European Union and the United Nations World Food Program have launched in Egypt a 60 million Euro project to combat child labour. The project is under the auspices of Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab.
“We look forward to working closely with the Egyptian government, civil society organisations and local communities in this field,” said EU Ambassador to Egypt James Moran. “It is extremely vital for the future development of the country.” The project, which will be implemented over four years in 16 governorates, mostly in Upper Egypt,” would help 100,000 children every year, Mr Moran said. A majority of those helped will be girls at risk.
As per the project, the children will receive a snack of date bars at school every day with vitamins to help reduce hunger and provide 25 per cent of their daily nutritional needs.
Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali who participated in the launching ceremony warned of the high rate of malnourished children in Egypt, which stands at a staggering 29 per cent.
“Not only does this affect their health but also their ability to learn, which increases school dropout rates,” she said. “We have another program to support poor mothers, provided that their children attend school.”
Minister of Education Mahmoud Abul-Nasr said the slogan of the program is ‘Yes We Can’.
Attending the launching ceremony were Minister of Solidarity Ghada Wali, Minister of International Cooperation Nagla al-Ahwany, Minister of Education Mahmoud-Abul Nasr, Minister of Manpower Nahed al-Ashry, EU Ambassador to Egypt James Moran, World Food Program Director Lobna Alaman and a number of governors.
The idea behind the project is to encourage families to enrol their children in school instead of letting them work to support their families. The school meal will take that expense off the family budget.
Watani International
26 September 2014