A Time for Giving

A roundup of organizations in need of your time and money

As thoughts turn to zakat (charity) for the Holy Month, the question becomes who to support. Sometimes the answer is in your own neighborhood, with projects sponsored by a local mosque. If you’re hoping to help on a larger scale, Egypt Today has compiled a list of well-established organizations addressing social and cultural needs across the country. Not sure of how much zakat you should personally give? The international charity Islamic Relief has an online zakat calculator (www.islamic-relief.com/zakat/calculator.aspx) that allows you to enter your assets and liabilities to determine your minimum donation. Orphanages and Social Development Alashanek Ya Balady works for education and economic development. Accepts donations and volunteers. Villa 20, Rd. 106, Maadi Tel: +2 (02) 2525-3213 info@ayb-sd.org www.ayb-sd.org Alwafa2 Wal Amal was created to help integrate people with disabilities into the community and provide them with a chance to lead better lives. Accepts donations and volunteers. Ahmed El Zomor St., Nasr City Tel: +2 (02) 2274-6839, 2274-6965 Amalna Home for Girls is not just an orphanage in Nasr City, but a warm home that provides abandoned girls with care and love. Accepts donations and volunteers. Tel: +2 (02) 2402-6429 Awlady Orphanage provides a home for children, with an emphasis on education and vocational training to ensure that they become productive members of society. It also paves the way for employment opportunities for children by providing them with marketable skills. Accepts donations and volunteers. Tel: +2 (02) 2521-2700/659 The Association Village of Hope for Development and Rehabilitation of the Disabled in Alexandria provides an integrated system of rehabilitation and integration programs for people with disabilities. omr_ashour@alamalvillage.org www.alamalvillage.org Dar Al-Orman has several projects to promote the social, educational and economic development of poor communities. It also supports cancer patients. Accepts donations. Tel: 19455 / +2 (02) 33831189 / +2 (02) 33831185 www.dar-alorman.com The Egyptian Autistic Society is the only society in Egypt addressing the issues of children with autism and their parents. The organization is currently seeking to expand its facilities. Tel: +2 (02) 2521-6960 autismegypt@yahoo.com www.egyptautism.com Egyptian Food Bank addresses the issue of hunger and malnourishment all around Egypt. Accepts donations (through the A/C #: 888777) and volunteers. Tel: 16060 / +2 (02) 2508-0000 www.egyptianfoodbank.com Establ Antar Organization helps underprivileged children in an illegal housing settlement near Duweika, in the shadow of the Muqattam cliffs. Residents rarely have access to running water, proper waste disposal facilities, public transportation or public schools. Tel: +2 (010) 0547-0806 ghada.gabr@gmail.com Helwan Orphanage for Boys’ sole purpose is helping the children of Egypt improve their quality of life. With the rising number of children, the demands for basic needs are always on the rise, and the organization is in need of funding. They must also manage to expand their facility to accommodate the children they have as well as receive new ones. boosamsr001@comcast.net Lillian Trasher Orphanage, nestled in the heart of Upper Egypt in Assiut, is one of Egypt’s largest orphanages, as well as one of the first. It offers a safe and loving haven for children. Accepts donations (through the Cairo Bank A/C #: 06404030000013) and volunteers. Tel: +2 (088) 240-0145 gfassad@hotmail.com www.ltochildren.org Masr el Kheir is a charity organization that works on health, scientific research, charity and economic development, with offices in Cairo, Giza, Qena, Assiut, Aswan, Sohag, Menia, Beni Sueif and Fayyoum. Tel: 16140 www.misrelkheir.com Masr el Mahrousa Balady specializes in children’s rights and economic development in multiple governorates including Sohag, Helwan, Cairo and Aswan. Accepts donations and volunteers. 72 Nasr St., New Maadi Tel: +2 (02) 2516-8605 / 2519-7247 / 2517-4438 / 2517-4439 www.masrelmahrousa.org Nahdet El-Mahrousa works on social development by engaging Egyptian youth. 17 Kasr El Nil St., Talaat Harb Sq., Downtown Tel: +2 (02) 2239-0808 www.nahdetmasr.org Resala is heavily involved in education, health and economic development all around Egypt, with branches in 26 governorates. Accepts donations and volunteers. Tel: 19450 www.resala.org The Spirit of Youth Association, located in the heart of Mokkattam, provides underprivileged children and adolescents with opportunities to receive an education while earning an income and to improve their living environment. Tel: +2 (02) 2343-4851 Email: spirit.ofyouth@hotmail.com Sunshine Project Luxor was founded in response to the desperate needs of orphaned and impoverished children, and provides a special home to both children and its establishers. Tel: +2 (095) 228-3498 sunshineproject@btconnect.com Gannat El-Khulood was established 10 years ago and focuses on providing employment, educational opportunities and financial assistance to families in Duweika and Manshiyat Nasser. Accepts donations and volunteers, and funding a Ramadan food bag costs 120 LE. Administrative Building, # 208, El-Rehab City, Cairo-Suez Road Tel: +2 (02) 2607-3226 / (011) 1760-2078 Wataneya Society for the Development of Orphanages focuses on the development of orphanages and educating the caregivers. Accepts donations and volunteers. They hold a contest where each group of kids makes one big fanoos and the best one wins. 30 Omar Zaafan St., Nasr City Tel: +2 (02) 2262-0339 wataneya@amaanegypt.org, www.amaanegypt.org Wayana International Foundation focuses on mainstreaming people with disabilities into the community. 6 Abdallah Ben Taher St., Nasr City Tel: +2 (02) 2290-2670 info@wayana.org www.wayana.org Cultural Organizations Located in historic Old Cairo, Darb 1718 is a contemporary art center and gathering point for all types of art events, which often do not get attention or funding. Accepts volunteers. Tel: +2 (02) 2361-0511 info@darb1718.com www.darb1718.com The Egyptian Center for Culture and Art (Makan) located on Cairo’s Saad Zaghloul Street encourages the diversity and vibrancy of Egypt’s cultural scene by recording, documenting and archiving Egyptian music to make it available to an increasingly wide range of audiences. It also provides opportunities for rising artists. Tel: +2 (02) 2279 2087 makan@egyptmusic.org www.egyptmusic.org I-Act, a non-profit organization in Alexandria, works in the fields of theater creativity. Through informal education, it has strived to support and strengthen the role of the theater as a tool of social and cultural development and target middle-class individuals and groups. Email: info@iact-eg.org www.iact-eg.org El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music in Abdin Square works to raise the status of traditional and folk musicians, whose music and creativity have been marginalized and compromised. By introducing the music to a wide range of audiences, it attempts to raise the genre’s profile and help performers gain the respect and recognition they deserve from society. Accepts donations and volunteers. Tel: +2 (02) 2392-6768 info@elmastaba.org elmastaba.weebly.com Hospitals and Medical Centers   The Children’s Cancer Hospital accepts monetary donations (can be made to all banks) and volunteers, as well as donations for Ramadan food bags. 1 Seket Al-Emam Street, El-Madbah El-Kadeem Yard, El-Saida Zenab. Tel: + 2 (02) 2535-1500 or 19057 (inside Egypt) info@57357.com, beta.57357.com The National Cancer Institute accepts monetary donations to National Bank A/C # 777 or 500500. Kasr El Eini St, Cairo Tel: +2 (02) 2368-9711, 2366-4690, 2365-1894/5 and 2364-3661 www.nci.cu.edu.eg The Magdy Yaccoub Heart Foundation (Aswan Heart Center) accepts monetary donations to cover the costs of medical procedures, equipment and supplies needed to care for indigent patients. 7 Aziz Abaza, Off 26th of July St., Zamalek, Cairo Tel: +2 (010) 0002-4611 / (010) 0002-4622 www.myf-egypt.org   Youth and Community Service    Interact (Rotary International) is an international community service foundation has more than 34,000 clubs across the world working to help the underprivileged with projects targeting the needs of their communities. To find Egyptian clubs, visit the website and use the club locator tool. www.rotaryd2450.org Through its Facebook page, I-Volunteer is a far-reaching online platform and idea bank for all the volunteer seekers in Egypt. It offers opportunities, internships and contests in the community, and volunteers of all ages are accepted and matched with willing organizations. Accept donations and volunteers. Tel: (010) 9264-5995 ivolunteer2013@gmail.com www.facebook.com/IVolunteerteam