Cairo  – Scholars in the Leadership for Education and Development (LEAD) program at the American University in Cairo (AUC), whose studies are paid for by the U.S. Government, launched an initiative at the ninth annual LEAD conference to address the issues of street children in Egypt. 

“In an environment of transition, when economic and political concerns take the forefront of a country’s attention, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people in society can be overshadowed by other priorities,” noted Mary C. Ott, Egypt Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which sponsors the LEAD program.  “I congratulate the LEAD scholars for their excellent work in examining a very critical topic and for actively involving their civil society colleagues in these activities.” 

The conference is the final event in a series of workshops in which LEAD has joined forces with a number of NGOs and initiatives to address the issue of street children.  In the workshops, the organizations have discussed challenges that NGOs in this field face and identified ways to coordinate in order to overcome those challenges.  Many of the participating NGOs will join forces to support twenty street children and their families with rehabilitation and reunification within the coming year.

“Being part of something that would help solve one of the core problems in the Egyptian society is definitely a life-changing experience," Said Enjy Zaher, Conference Chairperson and one of the LEAD Scholars.

LEAD is a joint effort of AUC, USAID, and the Government of Egypt that provides scholarships to university students to study at AUC and provides them with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and commitment necessary to develop their potential as future leaders of Egypt.