Report: UNESCO's Efforts for Empowering Marginalized Gilrs in Egypt

Egypt and UNESCO have a strong and long history of cooperation and coordination. Also, Egypt is one of the most significant state members in the activities of the international organization.

One of the promising projects between UNESCO and the Egyptian authorities is the initiative of empowering and educating marginalized girls in Egypt by using technological methods under the theme of "Advancing Mobil Literacy Learning in Egypt - Project."

The program consists of various partners including UNESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Education, the Egyptian General Authority for Literacy and Adult Education, and Microsoft Corporation.

It targets empowering the marginalized girls by educating them through using technological tools such as how to deal with the internet, smartphones, browsing, computers, and tablets.

In addition, it provides them with essential skills and knowledge they need in topics related to women's issues, business, marketing, and administration, alongside enhancing their talents. The educational process took place in several community schools.

Until now more than 600 girls were educated through the program. Each girl feels more confident, more empowered. Moreover, they become more aware of their stand in community, and how to deal with the surrounded issues related to society, and the market.

Basma, one of the project beneficiaries, said: "I went to school but never liked it, so I did not want to continue. However, when I saw how others became different and that education is good and good for them in everyway. I wanted to be like them, and learn like them."

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She continued: "People tell me, "You have become better than us." They talk to me over the phone or WhatsApp; they tell me, "You now write better than us, faster than us. Now, as I walk and see my sign, any writing, I read it to know where I am."

Basma concluded: "I can walk anywhere with my head up high."

In this regard, UNESCO's Education office members in the Middle East highlighted that the organization successfully ended two phases of the program, adding that they are working on launching the third phase in several governorates including Upper Egypt. They added that Egypt is one of only four countries that joined the initiative of educating marginalized girls by technology.