10,190 orphans receive school bags as 200 mothers get income-generating tools.
Sharjah: For children in Egypt living with serious heart conditions and mothers caring for orphaned children, a recent humanitarian mission by Sharjah Charity International (SCI) provided support ranging from specialised medical treatment to equipment to help families earn a livelihood.
As part of the mission, the charity carried out 34 cardiac catheterisation and open-heart procedures on children, distributed 1,000 food baskets and provided 200 pieces of income-generating equipment to mothers of orphans — including 100 sewing machines and 100 ovens.
The charity also distributed school bags to 10,190 sponsored children and announced plans to take 40 mothers of orphans on Umrah as part of its “Ideal Mothers’ Umrah” initiative.
The programmes were carried out during a field visit to Egypt aimed at assessing beneficiaries’ needs, following up on existing projects and launching new initiatives.
Heart care for children
One of the key activities was SCI’s “Little Hearts” campaign, which provided cardiac treatment to children at Nile of Hope Hospital in Alexandria Governorate.
A medical team led by Dr Ahmed Al Kamali, Consultant in the Paediatrics and Obstetrics Department at Al Qassimi Hospital in the UAE, performed 34 cardiac catheterisation and open-heart operations.
Dr Saeed Musabbeh Al Kaabi, a member of the SCI Board of Directors, said providing medical care to people in need is among the charity’s leading priorities because of its direct impact on patients and their families.
The procedures were a key part of the field mission, which also included programmes focused on improving household incomes and supporting children’s education.
Helping mothers build an income
For mothers of orphans, SCI provided equipment designed to help them generate a sustainable income.
The charity distributed 100 sewing machines to mothers involved in embroidery and 100 ovens to help mothers produce and sell baked goods.
The projects are designed to give mothers practical tools to establish sources of income, support their families’ needs and strengthen their ability to become financially self-reliant.
The initiative forms part of the charity’s wider economic empowerment efforts, complementing direct assistance such as food and educational support.
School bags for 10,190 children
SCI also distributed 1,000 food baskets to beneficiary families, helping them meet essential household needs.
At the same time, 10,190 sponsored children registered with the charity in Egypt received school bags as the new academic year began.
The school support is intended to help families meet the cost of educational supplies and ensure sponsored children have essential items for the start of the school year.
Al Kaabi said the range of initiatives reflects SCI’s integrated approach to addressing beneficiaries’ needs, covering healthcare, economic empowerment, food assistance and education.
Umrah for mothers of orphans
As part of its support for orphaned families, SCI is also preparing to implement its “Ideal Mothers’ Umrah” initiative, which will benefit 40 mothers of orphans.
Al Kaabi said the initiative recognises the efforts of mothers in caring for their children and reflects the charity’s commitment to providing both material and moral support to orphan families.
Beneficiaries and their mothers expressed their appreciation for the initiatives during the visit, thanking the charity and its donors for their support.
Ensuring projects remain sustainable
The field mission went beyond distributing new assistance.
The delegation also inspected several projects previously implemented by SCI in Egypt to ensure they were continuing to serve their intended purpose and that beneficiaries were still benefiting from them.
The delegation also checked whether the organisations responsible for the projects were carrying out regular maintenance, with the aim of ensuring their long-term sustainability.
Al Kaabi said the field visits form part of SCI’s efforts to monitor projects on the ground, identify beneficiaries’ needs, launch new initiatives and assess the impact of programmes implemented during previous periods.
During the tour, the delegation also met several sponsored beneficiaries, learned about their circumstances and followed up on the impact of the assistance and initiatives provided to them.
The SCI delegation was headed by Dr Saeed Musabbeh Al Kaabi, a member of the Board of Directors, and included Ali Mohammed Al Rashidi, Head of the External Projects and Aid Sector at the charity.
