Name: Shai Fund, Inc.
Price range: $

Project Overview

The Need

Women that have been raped, kidnapped or fled forced marriages and conversions are often seen as outcasts, not marriageable material and are deeply humiliated by this traumatic experience. They are stigmatized and relegated to the fringes of society. Condemned to a life of isolation or hiding because of what has happened to them, they suffer from PTSD and are afraid to ask for support for fear of further condemnation. As a woman without any support in this society it is hard to survive. They are forced to rely on the compassion of family or the church, and many live in poverty making them vulnerable to further abuse. In addition, the constant threats of poverty and persecution greatly affect their ability to go to school or participate in normal life.

The Solution

This transformational small business project to combat poverty and persecution benefits minority women and girls who are at risk or have been either kidnapped, raped, forced into marriages and/or to convert and leave their faith. The project has been running since 2019 and continues into 2021, in parts of Egypt where the levels of persecution are some of the highest in the country.

Livelihoods enable these women and girls to combat poverty and have a degree of autonomy. This in turns decreases the risk associated with poverty, and vulnerability to further abuse. Women trained to work in business are equipped with valuable and sustainable skills. These skills are a vital resource, providing and empowering security for their lives, health, education and employment. In turn this makes them less vulnerable due to dependency on others to further abuse.

Women are given a grant opportunity to start a small business. The businesses range from livestock rearing, kiosk markets, sheet making, bakeries, salons and similar. They will receive livestock or produce/supplies to get the business up and running and training & support; which will include practical transferable business skills. The project works in close cooperation with local faith-based community-based organizations to mobilize support and encourage cultural changes in societal thinking toward abuse survivors.

Project Details

Between 2019-2020, the livelihood project empowered 60 women and girls who have suffered from persecution, including kidnapping, forced marriages, and religious conversion in Egypt. Each of them received grants to set up small businesses of their own. In addition to this, Shai Fund provided workshops for 417 women and girls on preventing kidnapping and abuse.

By collaborating with local faith-based organisations, the project also sought to foster a supportive community environment that encouraged societal change and reduced the stigma surrounding survivors of abuse. The impact of this project was significant, not only in providing economic opportunities but also in promoting sustainable skill development and community support. The women involved were trained in practical business management skills, equipping them with valuable tools for long-term success.

The project helped to build community networks through local churches, offering ongoing support and raising awareness about the persecution faced by minority women in Egypt. Through this holistic approach, the Shai Fund's initiative made strides in transforming the lives of these vulnerable women, turning them from victims into empowered entrepreneurs.