Egypt
Ibtisam Gamal, age 24, helped establish a new health clinic in Cairo after participating in a CRS program called Egyptian Youth Take Action. Photo by Emily Ardell/CRS
The winds of change that have swept through the Middle East since the end of 2010 led to historic changes in Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world. For 18 tumultuous days in January and February, the world's attention was focused on Tahrir Square in Cairo, where massive protests led to the stunning overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak's regime, ending 30 years of autocratic rule. Not only did protesters demand political change, they also demanded an end to widespread corruption, more just social and economic policies, greater political participation and truly representative government. A new chapter in Egypt's extraordinary history is being written, and Catholic Relief Services is committed to playing a significant role in supporting Egypt's transition and the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people.
CRS' Commitment to Catholic Teaching
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Stats
| Population: | 82,079,636 (July 2011 est.) |
| Size: | 386,662 sq. mi.; slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico |
| People Served: | 230,940 (2011 est.) |
History
In 1956, at the invitation of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Catholic Relief Services began providing relief assistance in Egypt to people affected by the Suez War. During the decades that followed, CRS Egypt moved from large-scale food relief to long-term poverty alleviation and development programs.
Currently, CRS Egypt supports civic engagement activities for young people and creates economic opportunities for women and other marginalized groups. CRS Egypt also offers education assistance to refugees from Africa and Iraq and provides protection to female victims of trafficking and forces labor in Alexandria. CRS works closely with Egyptian organizations to carry out these programs, supporting each organization to become more effective, efficient and responsive—creating lasting positive change as this age-old society goes about reinventing itself.