How one initiative aims to help Egypt's most vulnerable women
A new initiative called “Belonging to Egypt” hopes to improve conditions in the country’s slums by focusing on improving the situation for women in these areas.
CAIRO — Nadia Zakhary, a member of Egypt’s National Council for Women and former minister of scientific research, launched an initiative last month called “Belonging to Egypt.” The project is aimed at using scientific research studies to develop slum areas and advance the status of women in slums, who are responsible for the upbringing of millions of Egyptian youths.
According to statements by former Minister of Urban Development Laila Iskander, as many as 40 million Egyptians live in slums.
Despite the importance of the efforts made by those involved in the initiative, the Egyptian government continues to bear the full responsibility of improving conditions in the slums, according to those interviewed by Al-Monitor.
Zakhary said the main goal of the initiative is “to take advantage of scientific research in order to safeguard health and the environment [in the slums], in addition to using sociological research to promote principles and ethics.” She told Al-Monitor that women and families are the primary target groups of “Belonging to Egypt.”
