Addressing local issues through partnerships in Egypt

With almost half of its fast-growing population under 20 years of age, a high rate (28%) of infant mortality and 4% of the total population undernourished, Egypt faces a tremendous challenge. Significant efforts have been made to identify the benefits of education in fighting hunger. It is in this context that TITAN launched a new initiative in the country, developed in cooperation with the U.N. World Food Program in Egypt.

The project was launched in the Beni Suef region near Cairo, one of the poorest in the country, under the moto “Feed Minds, Change Lives”, in June 2009.

An innovative approach was followed so as to “adopt” 2,019 children and their families in the region. The “adoption” program gives incentives to keep children at school and receive an education instead of leaving school early to work and support their families. Throughout school year 2009-2010 the children that attend classes are offered daily a special nutritional meal. This meal is designed to cover 25% of their daily nutrition needs and when children attend 80% of monthly school days, their families are given 10 kilos of rice, which is considered the equivalent of 15% of a family’s monthly nutrition needs.

The program is implemented in cooperation with local NGOs and TITAN employees who participate as volunteers in delivering goods to the families involved. 

Distribution of goods in Beni Suef, Egypt in the framework of “Feeds Minds, Change Lives” program.