[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”125621″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]07/13/2021 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – When Weza first joined Hope House over two years ago, her life looked drastically different. The Egyptian public schools were insufficient to teach Weza all she needed to know, and her Christian family suffered to find work and sustain themselves. Weza and her family left the village towards the end of 2019, seeking a better life in Cairo. When the pandemic hit and job shortages were exacerbated, the family moved back home to their village where Hope House is.
Weza, who will celebrate her 14th birthday at the end of August, is the fourth youngest of five children. Her older sister is married, and she has three brothers. As the only female child remaining in the home, Weza bears the burden of helping at home. She told ICC, “I do the housework because my mom has a herniated disc and my sister is married. I’m the only girl in the house so I’m making lunch and dinner.” And yet, Weza tries to not let her home responsibilities affect her education.
“I love English and mathematics, I dream of being a doctor,” she said. Despite the schooling restrictions as a result of COVID-19, Weza has flourished in Hope House and continues to excel in school. Her Arabic and Math scores far exceed those of her peers, indicating her hard work and effort put into her education.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”“I love English and mathematics. I dream of being a doctor.”” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1626108451606{margin-top: 50px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1626108493333{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
Weza’s parents commented on the difference between the public schools and Hope House. “At the center, children learn to read and study together. At school, they didn’t learn anything. It’s not good enough, the teachers don’t teach the kids well. It’s a year gone with the wind. May next year be better,” her mother said. Even Weza recognized the difference between the two schooling methods and expressed her preference for the center education.
Even with Weza’s desire to pursue becoming a doctor and her good grades, her responsibilities at home continue to loom in the background, threatening to pull her back into the way of life for many poorer, Christian women in Egypt. Hope House seeks to equip her to be able to fight the systemic and generational persecution that would otherwise keep her in the home, preparing food and cleaning.
Would you consider partnering with ICC to help a girl like Weza achieve her educational and career dreams?
To learn more about ICC’s Hope House or provide a financial gift, visit this page. To inquire about sponsoring a child, contact ICC at icc@persecution.org.
For interviews please contact Adison Parker: press@persecution.org
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