A former street girl starts a new life
Cairo, 27 September, 2006: A new chapter in 18-year old Marwa’s life has begun. A former street child, Marwa now runs her own business in a residential district of Giza Governorate on the outskirts of Cairo. Her small shop sells everything from clothing accessories to toys to kitchen wear, each product for the price of LE 2.50 (or about 0.45 USD). The crowded streets of the Egyptian capital became Marwa’s home as a result of problems with her family. She survived by cleaning car windscreens at traffic lights. It was a harsh existence, but one that got even tougher when she became pregnant. Exploitation, abuse and violence are the daily lot of all Egypt’s street children, boys and girls alike. But street girls are particularly vulnerable, and the risk of them becoming pregnant is high. “These young street mothers face all kinds of physical and sexual abuse on the streets,” says Nadra Zaki, UNICEF Child Protection Officer. “Because of the social stigma and discrimination they are subjected to, these women and their babies are in desperate need of special attention and care”. Marwa was one of the luckier ones. Last year, she found a safe haven in a residential centre for young street mothers and pregnant girls in the desert city of 10th Ramadan. The centre -- established in 2005 with a grant from Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, UNICEF Foundation in Germany -- is the first of its kind in Egypt and is operated by Hope Village Society, an Egyptian NGO working extensively in support of street children. The Young Street Mother Centre provides young street mothers and pregnant girls with medical care, education, and recreation as well as vocational training, with the ultimate aim of reintegrating them into society.
“We aim to keep girls away from the streets and to help them start a stable and independent life”, said Ashraf Mohammed, Project Manager at Hope Village Society. During her stay at the Centre, Marwa learned how to weave carpets and make candles. She also received the loan which helped her start her own shop. “There are no words to describe the happiness I feel today”, said a smiling Marwa on the day her shop opened for business. “I hope that one year from now I will have a bigger shop, so that I can provide my son with the kind of life that I was deprived of”. On this special day, Marwa’s friends from the centre, whom she calls “my sisters”, have come to share Marwa’s joy and to help her manage her first day at work. “I am very happy that Marwa started her own business”, said Mariam, a 16 year-old girl who lives in the Centre with her baby son. “I love working with animals, so some day, I want to run my own farm and breed rabbits”. Marwa is the first of the “graduates” from the centre for young street mothers to stand on her own feet. But her story of success has already started to inspire other girls in similar circumstances. (The names in this article have been changed) For more information on the centre for young street mothers please visit the following URL: For more information please contact: Simon Ingram
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