Finding affordable housing with a basic standard of living is a difficult task for many Egyptians, especially in Upper Egypt. Many live in shacks or basic homes made of mud bricks and other materials found in streets. Egyptian statistics from last year state that 38.6% of inhabited areas across Egyptian cities are slums.
On Sunday, the Misr El Kheir Foundation and El Waleed Philanthropies announced the completion of the first phase of their collaborated project, Sotra. Aimed at “human development,” Sotra is a housing project that aims to improve the housing environments and standards of 10,000 families.
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Improving the standards of living
Considered one of the largest development projects in Egypt, the project is all about helping improve the standards of living for those living in poverty.
Slum housing standards usually mean a house made of mud bricks or mud, with wooden roofs, all threatening to fall down on the family living inside it. The Misr El Kheir Foundation and El Waleed Philanthropies want to change that.
By destroying those unsafe and dangerous homes, the united philanthropic organizations build new homes for its inhabitants. From dirt floors and plastic window coverings with no windows, homes are rebuilt with tiled floors and shuttered windows.
Many of the people who had their homes transformed felt as if they never really lived before, that they took their life and home for granted. They felt like their lives had changed for the better, and they would have better luck in life. Their views on what they believed were the standards of living changed.
Continuing the changes in life
The Sotra housing project’s first phase has already impacted and changed the lives of over 1 thousand families in the areas of Menya, Suhag and Beni Sweif. The philanthropic project has currently covered over 35 villages.
Dr Ali Gomaa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Misr El Kheir Foundation, stated that the project’s objective is to develop Egyptians through rehabilitating their houses to provide them with basic and essential elements. They also support and assist them with accessing services such as educational opportunities, vocational training programs and adequate health services. All these elements come together to provide the people with a decent and healthy life with a good standard of living.
The Misr El Kheir Foundation and El Waleed Philanthropies hope to provide better housing to over 10,000 families by the end of 10 years.
The project has affected many people already, and it has only started its 2nd phase. It has changed many lives and the views of what the basic standard of living should be. The combination of these two large philanthropic entities show us how CSR and charity should look like, making people happy and providing them with better opportunities with no profit in sight.
Where do you believe the standard of living should start? Let us know in the comments below.
