200 "One Baby Boxes" for low-income parents

It’s always our pleasure to share with you, our bigger family, our news and updates!

This time, we are bringing to you the latest fundraising event done for One Baby Box in Egypt. We constantly work on making what we offer innovative, attractive, and special.

In December 2022, we held a networking event gathering all the interested stakeholders to make One Baby Box a part of the national initiatives currently ongoing in Egypt to ensure an equal childhood for all children in different governorates.

We took the fundraising efforts for One Baby Box to a whole new creative level. We kicked off the fundraising efforts by organising an art exhibition with a twist. The event was in collaboration with amazing up and coming artists who got their inspiration from the children of Qena.

Through our last visit to the Qena governorate, we got introduced to some very simple yet meaningful pieces of art drawn by kids in Qena to express their feelings about the population growth. With the launch of the One Baby Box project, we used the opportunity of the exhibition to network with the most influential partners and stakeholders. Stakeholders represented multiple funding agencies, government entities, and private and development sectors. Guests got their instant portraits caricatured by the super-talented @kotbdraw.

Attended the event key stakeholders and decision makers on both national and international levels: John Snow Incorporation, Global Compact, Representatives from the Ministry of Health and Population, Generation for Health, Pathfinder and others. 

We want to thank you for your constant support enabling us to provide Equal childhood for more newborns out there. 

Stay tuned for some very interesting news soon! 

Our big family, our consistent and constant supporters, allow us to take you on an explorative journey of One Baby Box to show you what makes it so special. 

One Baby Box is a concept based on an 80 years old Finnish model that believes in an equal start of life for all babies; a model that has gone on to spread to over 80 different countries around the world. Our project took inspiration from this successful model and reshaped it to fit the Egyptian demographic, in terms of needs and challenges. 

One Baby Box contains everything new or expectant parents could possibly need for the first 6 months of the tumultuous journey of introducing their precious babies to the world. 46 essential items that were carefully handpicked, designed, and included in the box to ensure families have all the support they need to provide their newborns with healthy, happy and equitable “babyhood”s, all while upholding the three key principles of safety, elegance and comfort. 

The box itself has at least 3 uses:

1. The box can be used as a sturdy storage container for children’s toys and belongings as they grow up

2. The box is also designed to serve as the baby’s first bed! Newborns only need a cozy enclosed space to sleep in for the first 6 months of their lives. With its own custom made mattress and bed cover, this sleeping space reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by protecting the baby from the risks of accidental asphyxia that could result from sharing a bed with parents. This actually accounts for 80% of all sudden and unexpected deaths among infants. 

3. The box itself constitutes a painting canvas as it’s covered with doodles that could be colored in and painted over by the baby’s siblings and family members in a fun activity celebrating the family’s newest addition! 

One Baby Box also includes a nursing cover and a breast pump as well as bottles and ziplock bags to store the breast milk in. The stored breast milk can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours or in the freezer for up to 6 months. You will also find a special brush in the box to wash milk bottles before boiling them for safety. We have also included a feeding bib to protect babies’ clothes from any accidental spills. 

One Baby Box has also got everything from diaper changing, clothing, bathing and hygiene covered! The contents of the box include a changing mat, rash cream, essential bath-time items and various clothing articles suitable for all seasons. 

We also consider the mental and physical development of babies a priority. As such, we have provided a set of tools, such as a wooden baby gym, to entertain babies and promote their growth and development.

Last but not least, One Baby Box includes a “memory book” which we consider a specially designed gift for families, to document their newborns’ every milestone. They can write, paint, and paste pictures on any of the book’s pages to commemorate special moments and tell a story.

One Baby Box acts as an “Equitable Childhood Starter Kit"and with your continuous support and endorsement, we will be able to provide +100 One baby Boxes for newborns in marginalized areas from all over Egypt with the start of life they deserve, regardless of their families’ socioeconomic backgrounds or geographic locations.

In a very short time from being launched, “One Baby Box” succeeded in attracting the eyes of International organizations, local ones and social investors. Based on the Finnish model for the box, Shamseya created this one-of-a-kind Egyptian “social equity childhood starter kit”, with  its 46 essential items that were specifically designed, built and selected to give each newborn a fair equal chance in life, health and wellbeing. 

After being introduced to the Embassy of Finland in Egypt, UNICEF and more than 30 supporters, “One Baby Box” has taken shape in a very short time. Now, to obtain the box, parents will have to pass the Positive Parenting Training provided by UNICEF in light of the “Golden 1000 days” campaign  encouraging parents to focus more on the quality of life of their children, the good nutrition and the well-being of their babies. 

To be able to show this unique model, Shameya was delighted to be invited to attend the Sweden day on the 14th of June, which made a great opportunity to explain and exchange with a wide variety of participants the concept of “One Baby Box”. Embassies, enterprises, local community agents and government actors were attracted to the idea which has driven to fruitful discussions with these entities after the event. 

Also,”One Baby Box” is collaborating with influencers and social media activists to promote its innovative idea among online and offline platforms.

In its near future plans, “One Baby Box” is preparing to include, in parallel with the box, a full training on the Good Nutrition for mothers and their babies as well as including materials and trainings for the father as well, encouraging both parents to have a positive role in raising their children offering them equal opportunities and a healthy childhood. 

By supporting this project you will enable us to make it possible for more low-income families to offer equal chances for their children. 

Also, you can explore our two other projects on GlobalGiving via these links: 

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/make-2000-egyptian-families-access-health-coverage/ 

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/create-10-women-friendly-public-health-centers/ 

Thank you for your continuous support and stay tuned for big news soon!