Who we are
The Egyptian Society for Culture Development is a private non- profit organization founded in 1999 and registered under no.1084 with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Its program of activities is supported by a variety of organizations and donors, public and private, local and international.
Mission
ESCD's mission is: "to elevate the total welfare of the Egyptian people by enabling them to determine and realize their own socially unique and culturally appropriate development path EESCD has a Comprehensive Approach to Human development. It addresses the social, cultural and economic spheres of life.
ESCD activities
It includes services that are provided with the aim of solving a problem or meeting a perceived need. The three main activities of ESCD are:
Al Mahad: The Institute for Adult Education
Al Mahad adult education program is seen as a response to an existing need for continuing adult education for individuals from the town of Bilbeis and surrounding areas The Mahad offers general consciousness-raising programs in various areas of education . Weekly seminars and lectures are given to help broaden the individuals thinking and understanding. Learning takes place through conventional and non-conventional methods .Traditional classroom comprising, basic skills; computer literacy and English language, is balanced with activities involving participatory activities such as music and drama. In this way the faculties of the individual are developed comprehensively.
Children with special needs
This program encompasses children with all types of disabilities, including sufferers of general physical disabilities, the deaf and dumb, the mentally disabled and those with learning difficulties. Allowing the children to exercise their full rights as a human beings and to achieve independence are the main goals of the program. The program aims not only to improve the quality of the children's lives but also to ensure that each one becomes an integrated member of society to the fullest extent possible. There are already many handicapped individuals that have been successfully integrated into the different activities within the SEKEM Group of companies and the ESCD. ESCD is always working on expanding its activities to serve a larger number of the surrounding villages and to respond to the needs of the community.
Community School (Chamomile children)
The Education and advancement of all is a continuous challenge. Children, who have learned to love learning, will become individuals, capable of directing their own lives. Continuous learning through life enables people to improve their living conditions and contribute to the development of the community and the country. Child labour is a widespread social problem in Egypt and other developing countries. Many poor families cannot afford to live without the income their children bring into the family, and hence, many of those are not able to attend school. To alleviate the child labour problem and to provide these children with the most essential skills, the COMMUNITY School at ESCD was designed to stimulate creativity and thinking as a basis for further basic education and applied vocational training such as carpentry, mechanics and sewing The curricula at the Community School encompass subjects such as English, Mathematics, Arabic and Religion. To improve health care and hygiene the Medical Centre of our sister NGO ,Sekem development foundation, conducts awareness programs and offers medical services free of charge. Warm, nutritious meals and adequate clothing are also provided for the children.
