On
Friday July 24th , His Grace Bishop Angelos of the United Kingdom
visited a young boy in the Not Alone program and his mother at their
home in El Minya. Bishop Angelos was accompanying a sponsor from his
diocese who travelled to Egypt to visit her sponsored child. His Grace
was interested in experiencing the work of Coptic Orphans first-hand,
wanted to meet with a family who participate in the program.
 |
“I
know [executive director] Nermien very well, and everything
is extremely organized."- Bishop
Angelos of the U.K.
(photo
courtesy of St-takla.org) |
Zaher’s*
father supported his family by working as a driver. He died on the
job in a fatal car accident at only 35 years old in 2005, leaving
two-year old Zaher to grow up without a memory of his father, or his
protection and provision.
Though
Zaher’s mother worked in a nursery for a very modest wage equivalent
to US$13 a month, she told Bishop Angelos that she found herself overwhelmed
with the financial burdens of being the primary provider for herself
and her son. “It was impossible to afford even the books and uniforms
that Zaher needed to stay in school,” she said. Joining the Not Alone
program helped the family not only meet their financial needs, but
also gave them the benefit of a supportive Rep who encourages Zaher
to meet his unique potential.
Zaher’s
mother could hardly believe it when the Rep told her that Bishop Angelos
wanted to visit. “I couldn’t sleep the night before, I was so excited,”
she said. “A meeting with a bishop is of course a great honor for
a family no matter what their status,” explained the Rep, who accompanied
the Bishop and sponsor on their visit. “For Zaher and his mother,
who might sometimes feel invisible like so many of Egypt’s poor—even
to the parish priests, the opportunity to host not only a visitor
from another country but a Bishop, too, was especially uplifting.”
Asked
about how she benefits from her son’s participation in the Not Alone
program, Zaher’s mother was quick to speak about her Coptic Orphans
volunteer Rep. “He is always there for us. I always know I can call
him in whatever situation I need support, whatever I need,” she said.
She added that attending workshops offered in the Not Alone program
had proved to be one of the most valuable experiences, and had opened
many doors for her and her son. “At workshops, I learned to budget
and to manage the household. I can now plan based on what we have
coming in so we always have enough for school.”
Bishop
Angelos commended the efficiency of Coptic Orphans upon hearing about
the system of paid field staff who are able to give themselves full-time
to the management of close to 300 volunteers. “I called last night
at 11:30 pm, and because Michael [the field worker who coordinates
the work of the local network of Reps] is full-time, he answered the
phone even at that hour and managed to make all preparations, even
with such a narrow time limit for the next morning.” He added, “I
know [executive director] Nermien very well, and everything is extremely
organized."
For
much of the 35-minute visit, His Grace watched Zaher playing with
a new coloring set with the sponsor. Five-year old Zaher surprised
Bishop Angelos by identifying the relationships of colors on the color
wheel. “[The Rep] showed me about that,” Zaher’s mother responded.
Both
Bishop Angelos and Zaher’s sponsor blessed the family further with
gifts, including clothing, school supplies, and the coloring set.
Bishop
Angelos told the field staff that the child looks well-cared for.
He said that in 2010, he plans to recruit 35 volunteers from the U.K.
for a special service project in Egypt.
