1. Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services

2. 
“To what extent has the 2011 Revolution and
subsequent political developments affected the
mission of CEOSS?”

3. 
Roots in 19th century Presbyterian missionary movement
◦ Also founded: American University in Cairo

Independent church in 1958


Egypt: 95% Muslim, 4-5% Christian
90% of Egyptian Christians are Coptic Orthodox

Small percentage of Catholics & Protestants

Evangelicals/Presbyterians are a small subset

4. 
Established in 1960 to combat illiteracy among
poor in Upper Egypt

Today, one of Egypt’s largest domestic
development organizations

Three main areas:
◦ Intercultural Dialogue and Peace Building
◦ Traditional Development Programs
◦ Educational Resource Development

5. 
“Rights-Based” Development:
◦ Empower poor and marginalized to demand and
secure their rights
◦ Participation in decision-making
◦ Lobbying, civil rights training
◦ Emphasize equality and democratic participation of the
disabled, women, children, poor

9. 
Key areas:
◦ Education
 Girls from poor families,
 School enrollment for kids at risk of child labor
 Re-integrate street children with family members
◦ Health
 Particular emphasis on women (FGC, maternity care, etc.)
 Educate Egyptians about their rights to better care
 Address malnutrition in children
◦ Housing, Agribusiness, Livestock & Fishing

10. 
Economic Trends: 2010 ➔ 2012
◦ Drop in tourism: 4.2m ➔ 1.8m visitors
◦ Drop in foreign investment: $3.5b ➔ $1.4b
◦ Foreign Reserves: $35b ➔ $15.1b (58% drop)
◦ Unemployment: 11.8% ➔ 12.6%

11. 
Social Impact
◦ 24% in poverty, 4.5% in extreme poverty
 2000: 16.7%
◦ Two-thirds of impoverished families in Upper Egypt

12. 
Agriculture
◦ 55% of Egyptian workforce
◦ Generates 13% of GDP
◦ Revolution’s Impact: Increased fuel prices, decreased
crop value, difficulty getting produce to market

13. Ongoing political turmoil
 Escalated inter-religious
violence

◦ Recent street fighting
◦ Coptic Cathedral attacked
April 7th
◦ Increased human rights
concerns

14. 
Civil Society Organizations were heavily regulated
by Mubarak regime before revolution

Post-revolution CSO crackdowns

Civil Society Draft Laws threaten human rights
and status of CSOs & NGOs.

15. 
President Morsi at CEOSS Pavilion

16. 
New NGO Law – March 26, 2013
“Most foreign NGOs in Egypt are, in fact,
espionage cells spying on Egypt for the US and
Israel … I see this new law as crucial to Egypt
for eliminating the spies who have infiltrated the
country under the cover of foreign 'NGOs'.“
-Nagi El-Shehabi
Democratic Generation Party

17. 
New NGO Law
◦ Gives Muslim Brotherhood legal standing as a social
service organization
◦ Restricts foreign funding for registered domestic NGOs
◦ NGOs must give detailed accounts of where their
funding comes from and how it is spent
◦ Tighter restrictions on all NGOs operating in Egypt

18. 
New NGO Law:
“There's no hope for those that work in human rights or
criticize the government on human rights to obtain
foreign funding,”
Mohamed Zaree,
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

19. 
New NGO Law - CEOSS Concerns:
◦ Overly restrictive grant approval process
◦ Heavy government oversight and restrictions on how
funds are spent
◦ Prison sentences for violations of new NGO law
◦ Suspicion of key foreign funding sources (i.e. Bill and
Melinda Gates Fdn., USAID, etc.)

20. 
New NGO Law - CEOSS Concerns:
◦ CEOSS projects with foreign funding sources :
 Cell phone-based job matching service
 Rights-based programs for people with disabilities
 Girls’ education (scholarships, transportation, etc.)

21. Dr. Andrea Zaki, CEOSS General Director:
“I
think that this law would be a ‘leap’ in civil
society.” (March 25, 2013)
“I
am convinced that the picture is not all bleak, and
hope develops if everyone carries the responsibility.”
(March 26, 2013)

22. “A
general positive shift in mission has come over
civil society organizations in Egypt since the
revolution began, and CEOSS is not excluded from
this.”
“Our
focus on development has been shifted to
empowerment and protection of human rights.”
(April 8, 2013)

23. 
Annual Staff Meeting – April 12th, 2013
◦ 500 Staff Attended
◦ Theme: “I am Free”
 Freedom & Spiritual Transparency




Concept of freedom
Different forms of freedom
Personal freedom vs. civil liberties
Honesty

24. 
“To what extent has the 2011 revolution and
subsequent political developments affected the
mission of CEOSS?”

25. 
“To what extent has the 2011 revolution and
subsequent political developments affected the
mission of CEOSS?”

26. 
“To what extent has the 2011 revolution and subsequent
political developments affected the mission of CEOSS?”
◦ Worsened economic conditions have created a greater need in
areas they offer services.
◦ It has focused CEOSS’s mission re: human rights.
◦ It has forced CEOSS to tailor their public rhetoric with regard to
the current political climate.
◦ Organization is taking an inward look at civil freedoms and
personal roles/responsibility.

27. Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services