For 15 years … Sanad has been supporting the ecosystem of alternative parental care through its innovative solutions, its community awareness initiatives, and the services it provides for the rehabilitation of orphaned youth. The community evolved, and so did Sanad’s vision; it’s not anymore limited to providing a dignified life for every orphan. Sanad contributes to a world where these young people can actually be change makers and shape their own future.
For 15 years … Sanad has been embracing and supporting gifted youth whose talents and capabilities were not recognized or acknowledged. They all have their own visions, dreams, and the strength it takes to face every challenge and turn reality upside down. Five years ago Sanad featured a group of these young people including Reda, Nahla, and Ibraheem. Each of them had their own story and their own challenge. Let’s find out together where life has taken them on their separate journeys. Let’s see how they have achieved their dreams and how they themselves became an assistance to their younger peers.
Reda Ali
Read started his journey with Sanad through Forsa (meaning: an opportunity) a program for youth development. Throughout the program he was able to develop a vision for his future and to realize that he has a role to play in the community. He wanted to achieve his dreams and benefit other people through volunteer work, so he taught himself, he studied and worked hard till he graduated as a Quality Engineer. Then, he volunteered at Sanad and took part in its exterior relations activities and awareness campaigns. This led him to be the coordinator of Sanad’s social media platforms and website. Reda learnt graphic design, videography, and film editing to become the maker of most of Sanad’s short documentaries discussing the cause of alternative care. In 2015, Reda was granted an award from the United Nations’ office in Egypt as one of the three most impactful volunteering experiences for that year. Reda joined Sanad’s General Assembly, which is an honorary position, to represent the voice of youth and communicate their challenges and opportunities. He is also a member of the international union of the former youth in care. In 2023, he joined the committee of alternative care in Egypt which includes various organizations and civil society foundations specialized in enhancing the alternative care system. He also participated in and won the Arab Competition for the preparation of young leaders. Reda is currently one of Sanad’s specialists in marketing and awareness, he is also a part of the “Gaylak Men Henak” (meaning: I’ve been there); the first platform established by orphaned youth to their peers. The platform then developed into a podcast hosting young people, advisors, and specialists, with an aim to share their experiences and stories highlighting the hardships and the opportunities with their younger peers. Reda has become in every way a support for others, spreading awareness and clearing the way for his brothers and sisters.
Nahla Elnemr
Nahla was a special student, distinguished for her academic excellence and her ethics. She was confident enough to challenge everyone and enrol in a General Secondary school, which was unlikely in her care home. She succeeded and graduated from the Higher Institute for Social Work in Cairo University. She was longing for a different life, distant as much as possible from the field of alternative care. Then … she was invited by a friend to attend a session held by Sanad to discuss quality standards of care homes. At first she said no, then she hesitated, then she changed her mind and attended the session. Following that session, Nahla became an active member of Sanad’s discussion circles on developing after care. She could feel a sense of duty toward her own cause and her peers who’ve been through the same circumstances. Nahla then joined our team to contribute to most of Sanad’s decisions related to orphaned youth and children. She worked on herself and earned a certificate in child development from Aman Center for Learning and Development, which is associated with Sanad and is accredited by the British Pearson Foundation. Nahla took the Vocational Assessor training and climbed her way up the ladder to become the team leader of Institutional Assessment in Sanad. Nahla was invited by Tedx Cairo Women and Wikistage as a speaker to share her story with others. She also earned an honorary title as the ambassador of the Ministry of Social Solidarity in Communal Supervision on care homes. Nahla is now a member in Sanad’s general assembly and in the foundational committee for orphaned youth in the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Through her direct discussions with the ministry and other related parties she is taking part in the drafting of the new alternative care law that is expected to be issued this year, 2024. Nahla is a big sister, being of such impact in the ministry of social solidarity, she facilitates the needs of her peers regarding their aftercare official and legal procedures.
Ibraheem Salama
Ibraheem is a dedicated, determined artist, who had loved singing and painting since childhood. He studied visual arts in the Faculty of Fine Arts - Open Education Department. Since his early years, he has been known for his perseverance and love of experimentation. He was always supported by his family in his care home, as they helped him discover his talents and achieve his potential. He graduated from the Faculty of Media and Communications in Misr University for Science and Technology with a clear interest in sound engineering, which pushed him to assist his colleagues through their assignments and graduation projects. Ibraheem went through a journey of self development till he became the youngest sound engineer in the fields of art and media. Lead by a sense of gratitude and responsibility, Ibraheem never left his care home, he remained to support younger orphans as a bigger brother who’s been through a colorful journey or experiences and challenges. Besides his role as an advisor for the youth in Sanad, Ibraheem is also a research assistant working on The Map of Aftercare Services Project, one of Sanad’s projects that is expected to launch soon. In one way or another, Ibraheem is there for his younger peers guiding them through the governmental services they might need to become fully independent.
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