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Latest
Urgent Need
Karim*
and his family suffered a terrible loss when his father, who suffered
from diabetes, died in 2006 of a heart attack. His mother also lives
with many medical problems including bronchial asthma, colon and kidney
infections as well as mild osteoporosis. The family has not yet received
any sort of government aid and the medical expenses are a great weight
on the family.
Over
and above the daily struggle with medical expenses, Karim’s home is
falling apart. The walls and ceilings of their flat are cracked and
slowly falling apart.
A
local engineering committee has been urged to carry out immediate
restorations and Karim’s relatives has pledged some aid. However,
it is not enough. Coptic Orphans wants to help support Karim and his
family by donating $900 for repairs and for his mother’s medical expenses.
We
cannot do it without you.
Donate
Now for Karim
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Salwa,*
her 4 siblings, and her mother live in a state of constant fear. Their
small unfinished house, lacking a wall and a door, was broken into,
greatly frightening the mother and the children. The mother’s screaming
caught the neighbors’ attention and they hurried to find help. Thankfully,
her call and their help saved Salwa and her family, but fear lingers
in her house that this could happen again at any time.
Salwa’s
family does not have the money to help build a wall that is needed
to complete their house because Salwa’s father died suddenly and the
family no longer has a stable income.
Coptic
Orphans wants to provide Salwa and her family with safety and security
that should be guaranteed to everyone. Help us by donating $273 to
help rebuild their house and eradicate the state of fear in which
the family now lives.
July
1 Update: a generous contribute from Texas has covered this need.
Thank you!
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When Kamel’s*
father was alive, he had no trouble supporting them. He was a weaver
and was given a decent salary from the factory in which he worked.
But disaster strick when Kamel’s father was diagnosed with cancer
in his urinary tract and the life of the family was drastically changed.
When Kamel’s father died in 1998, the family was left destitute.
Kamel and his
four siblings along with their mother live in a small interior room
that is in danger of collapsing because of a leakage of subterranean
water. The family cannot afford to pay for its rebuilding or the concrete
that is needed to support the small house and stop the leak. The grandmother
also lives with them and the whole family sleeps in one small rickety
bed together.
Coptic Orphans
is partnering with the St Augustine Organization to contribute money
to pay for the rebuilding of their roof and to also provide the children
with clothes, blankets, and a place to sleep. We ask for a generous
donation from you in order to raise the $455 that we need to change
Kamel’s life for the better.
June
28 Update: a generous contributor from Virginia has paid the entire
amount for kamel. Thank you!
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Meena,* lives
with his widowed mother and two sisters on the ground floor of a building,
the roof of which is made out of ruined wooden sheets threatening
to collapse. Every strong wind reminds them of the imminent threat
that their unstable roof makes every day.
Meena and his
family were left under the care of their uncle who does not have the
capacity to support them. The only source of income they receive is
a meager stipend from the government which is not enough to support
this family of four and definitely not enough to replace their ruined
roof.
Coptic Orphans is contributing
$365 for Meena and his family to rebuild their roof and provide them
shelter and security. We can’t do this without you.
June
23 Update: a generous contributor from Virginia has given $65. Thank
you!
June
24 Update: another generous contributor from Illinois has completely
paid the rest of this urgent need. Thank you for your support of Meena!
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In
the US, Canada, and other places, water fountains are located in almost
every building. Being thirsty is a problem that is easily solved.
This is not the case for Sarah* and her mother.
Since
Sarah’s* father, a farmer, died of heart of disease in 2007, her family
has been left to live in a small windowless room without any sort
of water supply at all.
This
small dark room also lacks any kind of sanitary bathroom facility.
We need all of this to change.
Coptic
Orphans is partnering with Sarah's local parish, the Church of the
Apostles, Ashroba, to give Sarah and her mother hospitable living
conditions including running water, a window, and bathroom facilities.
We need your generosity to raise $290 to improve the living conditions
of Sarah and her mother. With your help, we can make it happen.
June
17 Update: a generous contributor from Arkansas has again paid the
entire amount. Many thanks!
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Samuel’s*
father died after suffering for five years of leprosy. In order to
pay for his treatments, the family sold all of their belongings and
have been left with no stable form of income.
Left
behind, with his three siblings and his mother, Samuel now resides
in a small rural house, on a miniscule piece of land, built of dried
palm reeds. Only one room is well roofed and this is where the family
spends their nights asleep on the ground.
Coptic
Orphans is building a sturdy roof over the entire house, but we need
your help to raise the $708 USD we need to make security a reality
for Samuel and his family.
June
15 Update: a generous contributor from Arkansas has paid the entire
amount for this need. Thank you!
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In
1993, Samir* and his siblings were left fatherless after their father,
a grocer, died of liver complications. Without a steady income, the
family began to rent out the bottom floor of their house in order
to make ends meet. Because their tenants turned out to be extremely
unreliable with rent payments, Samir and his family had not been able
to pay their own monthly rent for over five months.
Then, another disaster struck. their house collapsed and the family
had no choice but to relocate and live with their relatives. Sleeping,
studying and basic life functions have become unnecessarily difficult
for this small family of four.
Coptic
Orphans is partnering with The Shepherd and the Mother of the Light
and the St George Organzation to provide Samir and his family with
a place to live. Coptic Orphans asks for your support of $363 for
its contribution toward a home for Samir.
June
4 Update: a contributor from the UK has covered this need. Thank you!
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Martha’s*
father struggled with kidney failure for two years before his death,
forcing him to sell his land and cattle and leaving his family destitute
at his death. Today, 4 year old Martha and her little brother sleep
on the ground and must share a small mud brick home with other people.
Coptic
Orphans has partnered with Martha’s family to construct a new room
that they can have all to their own, along with a badly needed roof.
Now,
we only need $635 to finish the project.
June
4 Update: Two generous contributors, one from Finland and one from
Australia, have covered this project. the amount over and above what
we needed for Martha will be used to cover similar needs. Many thanks!
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Every
time Girgis,* his mother, or his two sisters need to use the bathroom,
they risk being seen by their neighbors from the upper floors of neighboring
buildings.
Girgis’
father worked as a driver in Iraq until he got cancer. Then, he returned
to Egypt and worked as a security guard while building this house
for his family. Unfortunately, he couldn’t finish building it before
he died, leaving the house without a staircase or a roof over the
bathroom.
Girgis’
mother is chronically ill and in constant need of medication, so they
are unable to contribute to the finishing of their bathroom as desperately
as they want the safety of a private place. The total amount that
Girgis’ family needs for their home is $205.
June
2 Update: Contributors from Washington, Virginia, and New Jersey have
completely covered Girgis' home. The remaining amount will be used
to cover similar needs. Thank you!
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Mina*
has lived with a prosthetic leg after he lost his leg in an accident.
Now, Mina has gone through growth spurts and needs to be fitted with
a new prosthetic leg.
With $400,
Coptic Orphans can help Mina get a new leg and continue to walk freely.
May
13 Update: A contributor from Arkansas has donated the $185 for Mina's
new leg. Thank you!
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Bessem*
lives with his mother at his grandfather’s two-room house with seven
other people. Bessam finds it hard to study in cramped quarters with
so many people, so his Coptic Orphans volunteer decided to help Bessam’s
mother build an apartment on top of their grandfather’s house.
Bessem’s
mother or church is unable to contribute towards their new home, something
we encourage so that a family has a sense of ownership over their
new home, so we have partnered with the local St. Augustine organization
to cover part of the cost and coordinate some of the construction.
The
remaining amount that we need from a generous contributor is $185
USD.
May
7 Update: A contributor from Ontario, Canada has donated the $185
for Bessem's home.
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Maha*
and her mother travel between relatives’ homes, staying a little while
here and a little while there. Her father died suddenly in 1997 and
left his wife and daughter without a home of their own. Maha's mother
encourages her daughter very strongly to continue with her education,
but depending on the hospitality of various relatives and move around
often makes it harder for Maha.
Maha’s
uncle has offered to let her and her mother build another flat on
top of his house. Without any resources to contribute from Maha’s
family or church, Coptic Orphans needs $2,404 USD to build the house
for Maha and her mother.
Already,
contributions above and beyond what we needed for Marielle's urgent
need below bring what we need for this urgent need down to $1,049.
April
28 Update: A contributor from California has donated $200 towards
Maha's home. Only $849 to go.
April
29 Update: A contributor from Finland has just contributed $200 for
Mina. Thank you! Only $649 left.
May
4 Update: A generous contributor from Maryland has just donated $500.
Then, another contributor from Arkansas covered the remaining $150.
Thank You!
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Marielle*
lives with her mother, grandmother, and three sisters in a rural mudbrick
house. Merielle’s father provided for his family by farming until
he died after a struggle with prolonged illness that exhausted his
family’s savings. Now, the walls of Marielle’s mudbrick
home threaten to cave in, and the decayed wooden beams of their roof
can't hold it up much longer.
Coptic
Orphans has partnered with Marielle’s family to cover a portion of
the repairs, as well as a local Egyptian organization, St. Augustine.
their volunteer Coptic Orphans Rep has provided another portion from
his own personal funds. We now only need $455 to
cover the entire amount.
April
21 Update: Generous contributors from Arkansas, Virginia, California,
and Texas have responded to this need. The amount above and beyond
what Marielle needs will be applied to another pressing need. Thank
you!
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| March
10, 2009: Special Urgent Need - Shriners
Hospital is helping. Will you?
April,
6 - Everything that Dolagy needs financially is now taken care
of. If you are a Philadelphian and would still like to offer
hospitality, do call us at 703-641-8910.
Ten-year-old
Dolagy desperately needs our help to have surgery to relieve
her severely twisted limbs which have left her bed-ridden her
whole life.
Ten-year-old
Dolagy has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a birth defect
which leaves her with severely contorted joints. One of the
disfigurements affects her knees, resulting in her feet resting
on top of her hips. The little girl has never had any medical
treatment, as her family is destitute. Dolagy has lived in a
windowless bedroom for 10 years. She has no friends, and on
the rare occasions she leaves the house, she is pushed in a
baby stroller, and other children laugh at her.
In December
2008, Shriners Hospital, in Philadelphia, miraculously
accepted Dolagy for surgery . The surgeon is Dr. van
Bosse, a highly respected pediatric orthopedic surgeon who specializes
in spinal deformity, upper and lower deformities, hip problems
and neuromuscular diseases.
However,
the following related expenses—totalling $25,186, will not be
covered by the hospital:
Overseas air transport for Dolagy, her mother, and an escort/translator:
$6033
Food, housing and local transport for up to six months: $11,850.
Articulated HKAFO leg braces: $1154
Wheelchair and accessories: $2277
Hydraulic lift and sling: $649
Raised toilet/adaptive clothing, misc.: $1520
Shipping equipment back to Egypt: $500
Sales tax for purchases (7%): $1103
To help
Dolagy, specify in the comments section of the online donation
form that the donation is “for Dolagy.” Together, we can give
Dolagy the chance at leading a life of dignity, respect, and
hope.
Update,
3/30/2009:
CO
contributors have donated $1,150 (Thank you!), and a number
of other organizations have raised a combined $13,750.
Bottom
line, Dolagy still needs an additional $10,286 in cash to cover
the remaining estimated costs. Also, we're looking for housing
arrangements for Dolagy and her mother for some weeks or months
at a time during recovery between surgeries if people can
offer their homes or know of low cost facilities in the Philadelphia
area.
April
6th Update: the entire amount for Dolagy has been paid by an
extremely generous contributor from Massachussetts. May God
reward you!
|
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Yacoub’s* father struggled
to eke out a living from washing cars before he died of throat cancer,
leaving Yacoub and his siblings with nothing but a small plot of land.
Today, Yacoub lives in a crowded one-room home with his mother, grandmother,
and five siblings.
Yacoub’s
family can live in better conditions if only they can build on the
small plot of land that they own. So Coptic Orphans has partnered
with a family members who has come forward to help with a modest amount,
along with Yacoub’s local church and St. Augustine Organziation, another
Egyptian organization in Yacoub’s area that helps build houses.
With these partners,
Coptic Orphans will build a two bedroom house for Yacoub with a kitchen
and a bathroom. With only $546, Coptic Orphans can complete the project.
April
13th Update: We have received much more than what we need for this
appeal from very generous contributors from Arkansas, New Jersey,
Virginia, and Texas. May God reward you! We will use the amount above
and beyond what's needed for similar needs.
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Nancy*
and her three siblings live in a one-room house with a roof made of
wood and palm fronds. Insects and mice have eaten their way through
the roof, however, and now it threatens to collapse at any time.
Coptic
Orphans has partnered with the St. Augustine organization to construct
a new roof. While we normally also partner with a family for emergency
housing renovations so that a family can have a sense of ownership
over the result, it is beyond the means of Nancy’s family to contribute
even a small amount. Coptic Orphans needs a generous contributor for
the $730 USD that we need to cover the project.
April
6th Update: a contributor from New York has paid the entire amount
and more.
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After Basem’s* father
died, his mother was able to buy a simple house for Basem and his
three siblings with the help of the Church. As the years went by,
however, the simple palm-leaf roof wore out from the seasons.
Now, it can
collapse at any time. Fearing for her children’s safety, Basem’s mother
moved them to their grandmother’s home until their own house becomes
safe again.
Basem needs
a new roof of re-enforced concrete so that he can once again be in
his own home. Coptic Orphans has partnered with Basem’s family, his
local parish, and the St. Mary and St. Augustine organization to share
the cost of renovations on the ground in Egypt. To finish the renovations,
Coptic Orphans needs a generous contributor to cover the remaining
US $455.
March
31st Update: This need has been covered by a generous contributor
from Virginia, USA. Thank you!
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Hanan's* father
abandoned her family, who now must live on meager church support inadequate
even for their rent. Hanan's mother suffers from chronic anxiety attacks
made worse by constant threats from their landlord to kick them out
of their rented mud-brick flat. Coptic Orphans has partnered with
Hanan's family and their local church to purchase a small piece of
land for Hanan and build a house for her and her family.
After contributions
for the project from Hanan's family and her local church, Coptic Orphans
needs an especially generous donor or group of donors to contribute
a total of $3,320 to give Hanan her own home and ease the pressure
on her mother.
February
24th Update: A generous contributor
from California has paid $275 towards the total. With a few more contributors,
we can easily cover this together.
February
25th Update: Three more generous contributors, three from
Virginia, have contributed a total of $350. We're moving towards our
goal!
February 26th:
Another contributor from Texas has given $150 towards the total needed.
Thank you!
March
2nd: Two contributors, one from Canada and another from New
York, have contributed $280. Thank you.
March
3rd: Another generous contributor from Toronto, Canada has
just dedicated $500 to the cause, and another contributor
from Pennsylvania has contributed $50!
March
6th: Three contributors accross three nations have dedicated
a total of $550 from Japan, Pennsylvania, and Canada.
March
17th Update: This need has been covered by another $75 contribution
from New Jersey and the rest from a very generous contributor from
Massachussets. Thank you to everyone who contributed to cover this
need!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Nancy*
lives in a one room house with her brother, her mother, and a cow.
The cow was very helpful to Nancy’s family after her father’s mental
awareness deteriorated because of illness to the point where he no
longer recognized Nancy. But despite the blessings that the cow brings,
it is not healthy for Nancy to share her home with an animal. Coptic
Orphans has partnered with her local diocese to build a two rooms
and a toilette for Nancy and her family so that they can have their
own healthy space to live.
We
have accounted for more than half of the total amount needed: the
remaining cost that Coptic Orphans needs to raise for Nancy is $600,
whether through one contributor or a few people pitching in together.
February
17th Update: This need has been covered by three generous
contributors from New York, Virginia, and California, each of whom
contributed a portion of the total. There was a little left over,
and that will be dedicated to similar needs just like this one. Thank
you!
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Since Michael’s* father
died seven years ago, he has lived in his grandparent’s house with
his mother and older brother. While his father gave it modest furniture
before he passed away, Michael has to use a pit dug in the corner
of his house for a toilette.
Also, Michael’s
mother has no kitchen, and uses the floor as a countertop for utensils
and the food that she cooks on a portable stove.
While Michael's
mother is still paying off debts associated with her late husband's
passing and cannot contribute financially to the project, Coptic Orphans
has partnered with another local Coptic charity in Michael's village
to build Michael's family a kitchen and a toilette together.
We only need $185 from
a generous sponsor to completely cover the cost.
February
9th, 2009 Update: The response
has been overwhelming. Contributors from several states have responded
to this appeal. As a result, we are able to pay the entire amount,
and another urgent need of the same amount in order to rennovate the
home of a girl who shares her small rural home with seven other strangers.Any
additional amount will go to other similar needs in Egypt for housing
and water. Thank you!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Nabil* lives with his
three siblings and mother in an urban flat, where they have lived
since Nabil's father, a shoemaker, died five years ago.
Nabil’s water
pipes and plumbing connections are old and ruined, and because they
do not work properly whenever Nabil’s family uses them it causes tremendous
conflict with their neighbors.
Coptic Orphans
has made arrangements to change the pipes, fix the floor and wall
tiles, and install a new toilette. We have partnered with the family
to cover as much as they are able, and the remaining amount we need
to finish it is $190.
January
29th, 2009 Update: Three generous
contributors, one from New Jersey, one from California, and one from
Ottawa, Canada have responded to this appeal. We are able to pay the
entire amount, and we'll dedicate the additional amount to other similar
needs in Egypt for housing and water. Thank you!
______________________________________________________________________________
Marian’s* father worked
as a grain miller who travelled throughout the Middle East to support
his nine children. He developed lung cancer, and after a long battle
that drained the family’s savings, passed away.
Most of Marian’s
siblings have now left home and live elsewhere. Marian lives with
her mother and her brother in a home with no water supply.
Instead, Marian’s
mother has to get water every day from neighbors. Coptic Orphans has
made arrangements to construct pipes and pumps in Marian’s home so
that she can have water in her own home.
We need $152 to
finish the arrangements and provide Marian with water.
January
26th, 2009 Update: The response
has been overwhelming. Generous contributors from Australia, New Jersey,
and Texas have responded to this appeal, and the amount you have contributed
above the amount needed we will apply to other similar needs in Egypt
for housing and water. Thank you!
______________________________________________________________________________
Kyrolos*
and his five siblings live in a partially collapsed one-room house
in a rural village. Because the roof has partially caved in, Kyrolos
and his family only spend the day in the house. They sleep at a relative’s
home. During the day, Kyrolos’ family is afraid of the roof collapsing
totally on them.
Coptic
Orphans has partnered with Kyrolos’ family, their local church, and
a child sponsor for Kyrolos’ family to cover the renovation of the
home. We intend to pull down the house and rebuild it with two rooms,
a reinforced concrete ceiling, a bathroom, public utilities including
water and electric, windows, and doors.
Coptic
Orphans only needs $188 to finish the renovation for the entire house
so that Kyrolos can be safe and secure in a home all his own.
January
21st, 2009 Update: A generous
contributor from Australia has covered this need. Thank you!
______________________________________________________________________________
Samira’s* mother and
two siblings share a tiny two-bedroom home with another family. The
house has a dirt floor and the walls are moldy and unhealthy. Both
mothers constantly fear that their children will fall seriously ill
at any time.
Coptic Orphans
has determined to repair, seal, and paint the walls, and provide a
cement floor in place of the dirt one.
While Coptic Orphans
usually partners with the family and their local church to cover part
of the cost so that the family can have a sense of dignity in helping
themselves, in this case neither the family nor their church can contribute.
Instead, we need a generous contributor to cover the entire cost of
$145.
January
20th, 2009 Update: A generous
contributor from California has covered this need. Thank you!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Mary,* her
mother and three siblings have few furniture. The most important article
of furniture that they have is an old gas stove that allows them to
cook their daily meals. But despite being fixed several times, the
stove frequently leaks gas and is an urgent danger to Mary: any night
it could leak enough gas to suffocate Mary and her family in their
sleep or cause an explosion.
Coptic Orphans
has partnered with Mary’s family and local church to get rid of the
old, dangerous stove and get a new one. Both Mary’s family and her
church have contributed amounts as they are able.
With the help of a generous
donor we can cover the rest with $121.
January
16th, 2009 Update: A generous
contributor from New York has covered this need. Thank you!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Kyrolos* lives with his
three brothers and mothers in a rural home in Southern Egypt that
lacks an electrical connection. They use contaminated water from their
well for their daily needs because the subterranean water on their
property is mixed with sewage.
Coptic Orphans
has partnered with Kyrolos’ mother and their local church to thread
water pipes with clean water to their house and install wiring and
an electrical meter.
We need a generous
donor to help us with the remaining amount so that Kyrolos and his
family can have clean and safe water. We only need $127 to complete
the project.
January
9th Update: A generous contributor
from Texas has covered the entire amount. Thank you!
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Abanoub’s* father married
his mother when she was still very young. His father died when Abanoub
was just in preschool, leaving Abanoub, his mother, and his three
siblings. Since becoming part of the Not Alone program, Abanoub’s
future has been far brighter; however, his family currently faces
an urgent housing situation.
The
wall of their house that they share with their neighbors has
been cracking as subterranean water tries to force its way through.
The wall now threatens to collapse, taking their whole house with
it. Coptic Orphans has worked with Abanoub’s family, local church,
and community to find a way to reconstruct the wall and put a door
on the second floor of their house to protect them from the elements.
We need a generous
sponsor to help with the remaining fraction of the total cost and
completely cover the project: $270
Update:
January 7th: a generous contributor
from Texas has paid the full amount. Thank you! Stay posted for more
urgent needs as we receive them.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Aida*
lives in a mud-brick house roofed with palm branches and without a
bathroom.
Instead, Aida has to go outdoors, unsafe and vulnerable. Coptic Orphans
wants to rebuild the rooms of their house so that they will be more
healthy and fit the house with a roof and toilet so Aida can be safer
and more secure.
We
have already raised most of the funds ourselves by partnering with
Aida’s family and their local church. We only need $250 more to finish
the house.
January
5th Update: a generous contributor from Texas has paid this
amount. Thank you! Stay posted for more urgent needs.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Several years
ago, Christina’s* mother took Christina* with her to a larger city
to visit relatives where her mother could receive medical treatment
for an illness. When they came back home, they were confused and alarmed
when their landlord tried to stop them from entering their own apartment
by force. They soon learned that while they were gone, Christina’s
father sold the apartment and all their possessions, changed his religion,
and disappeared.
Coptic Orphans
helped Christina and her family find a new home and start a new life,
but now they urgently need new plumbing for their house. Her bathroom
leaks water onto their neighbors through the ceiling of the flat below
them, which causes a lot of trouble for Christina’s family. If the
plumbing goes unfixed it will cause problems not only for Christina’s
relationship with her neighbors, but will destroy their bathroom.
They already need new plumbing and floor tiles.
With $645, Coptic Orphans
can help Christine’s family renovate their bathroom and plumbing,
even making it better than it was before.
December
8th Update: a generous contributor has paid $25 towards Christine's
renovations. We just need $620 more to cover it. Thank you!
December
19th Update: three generous contributers from California, New Jersey,
and New York have each contributed amounts totalling $350.
December
30th Uodate: Two generous contributors from New Jersey have just given
$100 and $25.
January
2nd Update: a generous contributor from Massachussetts has
paid the remaining amount. Thank you! Stay posted for more urgent
needs.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Danielle’s* father sold
poultry until his death from liver failure several years ago. Since
then, her mother has struggled to support Danielle on her meager widow’s
pension and on the proceeds from raising poultry in their home. Their
house is roofed with metal sheets and constructed from limestone.
The limestone has been cracking and disintegrating bit by bit and
now one wall, which she shares with the neighbors, is leaning heavily
and threatens to collapse at any time. Danielle needs this wall reconstructed
and a new, more adequate roof put over her head.
Coptic Orphans
needs $797 to build a new wall and put a new safe roof up that won’t
be a constant danger for Danielle.
December
3rd, 2008 - UPDATE: a generous contributor has paid the entire
amount to finish Danielle's roof. We've received more from the field
that we will share above.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sara*
lives in the garbage district of a major city and her family's house
is poorly ventilated.
Because
of their unhealthy environment, Sara and her little brother both suffer
from eye infections and her mother suffers from bronchial asthma.
The family needs a wall with a window to increase ventilation and
close the house to pollution, a new door, manual cleaning appliances
to keep their clothes and house clean and healthy, and a bed with
a mattress so they do not have to sleep on the dirty floor. Sara’s
family is contributing a small amount and Coptic Orphans has partnered
with their local church to provide another portion.
We
need only $445 to finish the work. These changes will make a big difference
towards making Sara’s house much healthier.
December
2nd, 2008 - UPDATE: This just in, a generous contributor
has paid the entire amount to finish the roof. We've received more
from the field that we will share above.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Mary’s* family
was kicked out of her flat when the landowner sold the building where
they lived. The money they were
paid as compensation was only enough to purchase a brick frame
for their next home. The walls must still
be finished to make the flat livable. In the meantime, the family
has had no choice but to live with Mary’s grandfather in extremely
tight quarters.
Mary’s
family has managed to save money
towards finishing the walls. Their priest and members of the church
and community have also rallied around them, contributing funds to
help get the family back on their own feet.
Coptic Orphans
has promised to find another generous contributor from abroad to join
the many that have already come together around Mary’s family to help
them flourish again in a place to call their own. The amount that
we need to complete this circle of community effort with Mary’s family
is $1,165.
December
2nd, 2008 - UPDATE: This just in, a generous contributor
from Canada has paid the entire amount to finish Mary's new home.
Mary will be delighted. We've received more from the field that we
will share above.
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Michael*
lives with his mother and three siblings in a flat on the roof of
a seven-story building without electricity or furniture.
Coptic
Orphans has already partnered with their local church, which is providing
simple furniture and a gas stove for Michael and his family.
Desperate
for an electrical connection, Michael’s family once tried to solve
their other problem by negotiating an agreement with their neighbors
to unofficially ride their electrical connection; however, when the
utility authorities found out, they took both families to court and
slapped them with a hefty fine.
Now,
Coptic Orphans is looking for a generous contributor to help Michael’s
family gain access to their basic right to electricity the right way
so that they won’t be vulnerable to being disconnected or fined. With
$387, we can make sure that Michael’s family is legally free and clear,
has access to a permanent electrical connection in their home, and
has a meter so that we can assure Michael of having light to study
by and electricity for daily living.
November
20th, 2008 - UPDATE: A generous contributor from Japan has
paid the entire amount for Michael. Thank you! May God reward you
for your generosity. Stay posted for more urgent needs as we receive
them.
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Helmy* lives with his
mother in a one-room home in a small village that has no bathroom.
Water has been seeping in through the mud-brick walls for some time
now, so that the walls are nearly all wet on every side. The water
has been weakening the walls as it forces its way through, and the
room now threatens to collapse.
In most
cases, Coptic Orphans partners with the local Coptic Church and with
families themselves to cover some of the cost of home renovations
so that the family has a greater sense of ownership over the project.
What we usually ask from Coptic Orphans supporters rewards the hard
work and careful saving of the families whose homes we rebuild by
meeting them halfway.
But the
only income that Helmy and his mother have to live on is the 79 Egyptian
Pounds per month (about $14 USD) that his mother receives from her
government widow’s pension. Helmy himself works hard at school despite
the challenge of being nearly blind, and we want to reward Helmy’s
hard work and tenacity in school despite the circumstances of his
home and visual disability.
We need an especially
generous contributor this time to step up and honor the resilient
spirits of Helmy and his mother by covering the entire amount needed
to rebuild Helmy’s home: $2,727.
November
17th, 2008 - UPDATE: A generous contributor from Massachussets
is sending check for the entire amount to cover Helmy's renovations.
The contributor wrote, "I admire Helmy's Not Give Up Spirit,
despite his disability and living conditions..." May God reward
you for your generosity. Stay posted for more urgent needs as we receive
them.
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Azma’s* mother
and two siblings live on the top floor of a house owned by extended
family members who live on other floors of the same house.

Azma’s* house threatens
to collapse as neighbors continue to building additions to their own
house tightly crammed against Azma’s, putting more structural pressure
on her house than it can bear. At any time the house could collapse
under the weight pressed against it, and Azma’s family fears what
their precarious position on the top floor would mean if this happens.
The priest from Azma's
church has come up with a solution. Rather than leaving and buying
another house for 30,000 Egyptian pounds, for half that cost the family
can buy their half of the house, bring down the whole house and rebuild
it again so that it will be structurally sound no matter how their
neighbors build.
With a little
help from Coptic Orphans, the family proved their ownership with a
written contract. Now, Azma's family needs to raise $1,000 after they
and the local church contributed funds for the renovations to cover
the rest of the renovation expenses.
November
7th, 2008 - UPDATE: A generous contributor from Australia
sent a check for the entire amount for Azma's renovations. Thank You!
Stay posted for more urgent needs as we receive them.
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