Grand Circle Foundation helps 35 women of Bearat, Egypt provide for their families
In the impoverished village of Bearat, on the West Bank of Luxor, a woman named Bataa sews garments by hand to earn an income of 30 Egyptian pounds per month—approximately $5.50 in the United States. Without machinery, it takes her ten days to finish a single garment, and she works seven days a week. Bataa’s seven-year-old son, Karim, has the typical needs of a growing boy his age—like clothing, toys, and books—but Bataa can barely afford even the most basic of these.
“In general, this community lacks funds for necessary needs,” says Salah Badea, OAT’s Area Manager in Egypt, who met Bataa and several women like her during a recent visit to Bearat.
However, through its life-changing Invest in a Village project, Grand Circle Foundation is helping improve the lives of women like Bataa by funding sewing machines, supplies, and training fees that will enable women in Bearat to improve their skills and create more garments than they possibly could sewing by hand—thereby generating more income to help them provide for their families. The Women’s Sewing Workshop will also provide jobs for women who currently have no source of revenue. Thus far, 35 women are being employed at the workshop, creating traditional Egyptian galabeya dresses, school uniforms, and table linens.
Grand Circle Foundation’s Invest in a Village project in Bearat, Egypt provides women with a source of income they might not otherwise have.
“Bearat’s village chief, Mr. Hassany, is so thankful, and he cannot wait to see one of his dreams come true to help his community,” says Salah.
Grand Circle Foundation recently set two fundraising goals for the Women’s Sewing Workshop—the first, $2,000, and the second, $5,000—and thanks to the generosity of 78 donors and a matching gift from Grand Circle Foundation, the Foundation is pleased to report that it surpassed both benchmarks and is now well on its way to meeting its third goal of raising a total of $15,000 for the project.
“All of us at OAT’s Cairo office are thrilled by the generosity of the travelers who are contributing,” says Salah. Together, in just a few short months, the Foundation and its generous travelers have made great strides toward providing the women of Bearat and their families with a sustainable source of income.
Funds donated by OAT travelers will help to purchase sewing machines and supplies, and provide training fees for the project.
Travelers who embark on OAT’s Cairo & the Eternal Nile River Small Ship Adventure have the opportunity to visit the Women’s Sewing Workshop to see the difference this project has made to women like Bataa.
To learn more about the work of Grand Circle Foundation, visit www.grandcirclefoundation.org.