Recognizing the importance of the childhood stage, the New Horizons Foundation is implementing this program to deal with the rights and needs of the child and is based on the necessity of adopting standards for the quality of services and looking in-depth at the issue of quality of life for the child and the family in general, especially the mother.
The program also addresses the family and raises awareness of the proper upbringing of the child, and that the child is raised in a safe and sound environment.
The program took into account working with Egyptian and non-Egyptian immigrant children residing in Egypt.
The program worked in three categories:
Refugee Children
Since the onset of the Arab political crises in 2012, New Horizon Association has addressed the major issues of social and economic integration for refugees in Egypt. The program focuses on supporting and protecting children, improving the living conditions of their families. NHASD has operated 80 educational classes for refugee children in Egypt before school age, assisting them in early childhood education and providing them with proper living conditions and livelihoods. Additionally, 2,000 refugee children aged 3 to 5 years were enrolled in pre-school education through collaboration with 9 local NGOs in targeted areas, ensuring access to education for refugee children. NHASD also provides psychological support and healthcare for these children and creates employment opportunities for Syrian refugee teachers. The economic well-being of refugee children’s families is also supported by providing job opportunities and developing small projects.
Child Labor
New Horizon Association is actively addressing the issue of child labor, particularly in Old Cairo, where children are often employed in traditional industries like leatherwork, pottery, metalwork, marble, and blacksmithing due to their low cost. NHASD intervenes through programs that help 300 child laborers through three main approaches:
- Removing children from dangerous professions and ensuring their safety.
- Preventing school dropouts and reintegrating children into the education system.
- Supporting the families of working children by increasing household income and paying school fees.
Children Released from Detention Centers
New Horizon Association has also worked with children released from Al-Marj Juvenile Care Institution, helping to reintegrate 248 children aged 15 and above into society to improve their social and economic status. NHASD implemented several interventions:
- Legal Interventions (within the institution): Providing education, public and mental healthcare, and social and economic skill development. NHASD also worked on training social workers at the institution and assisting with the issuance of legal documents and personal identification for the children.
- Post-Release Care (outside the institution): Organizing group meetings for released children, conducting home visits, offering awareness sessions for families to help them reintegrate their children into family life, providing job opportunities, supporting micro-projects, improving family housing, and encouraging the continuation of education.