Financial Inclusion in Egypt - Empower 8000 women

Dear friends,

In many areas in Egypt widowed women do not enjoy unlimited mobility in their communities. Conversely, they can leave their houses to run the family’s errands for only specific reasons. Some in Egypt see a woman without a husband as available for inappropriate relationships. Nonetheless, some wives avoid friendships with widowed women fearing the chances that their husbands might cheat on them with a widowed woman.

Safya put on her black gown for the first time after she lost her husband. It was a public signal that she was a widow. In the eyes of other wives, she was now dangerous. But Safya soon discovered another reason that Egypt’s widows often confine themselves within the walls of their homes -- harassment.

One evening while she was at the ATM to withdraw her pension, she was looking for someone to help her access her money.

The 30-something mother of three realized that the man who offered to help her wanted to harass her. The man approached her inappropriately and bothered her.

But Safya was smart and pretended to forget her information to leave the place and stop the man from following her.  

With the help of her local volunteer Rep, Safya enrolled in a Coptic Orphans’ training workshop about financial literacy. She began learning skills that everyone in the village needed. Soon, other women stopped avoiding her. Instead, they asked for her help and advice on managing their families’ expenses. She is no longer isolated. Not only that, but harassment ceased as she earned the trust of the villagers.

While Safya still wears the black garb of a widow when she is at home, she no longer bears a widow’s pall of shame. Her daughters, too, will grow up in the dignity and respect she emanates.

There are some in every village or neighborhood who are like vultures eyeing the vulnerable. The best defense for families like Safya’s is financial independence and social dignity.

We help widowed mothers learn budget management and use banking services to protect their finances.

In 2024, around 8000 widowed mothers received financial literacy training to help their families stand on their own two feet.

Your support helps many like Safya reclaim their dignity and set the record straight.