When three-year-old Somia joined Refuge Egypt’s preschool, she would often scream for no apparent reason. It wasn’t helping her to communicate and get what she wanted and the other children and teachers at the preschool found it increasingly difficult to deal with. 

Many of the 55 children at Refuge Egypt’s preschool come from families experiencing major disruption. The ministry run by All Saints Cathedral, Cairo serves people from Sudan and other African countries, living in Cairo, who have fled their original country of nationality due to war or disaster. Mothers often work in jobs cleaning houses that take them away from their children for months at a time. From a very young age, children may be cared for by older siblings or their father. 

The Refuge Egypt teachers talked with Somia’s father and tried explaining to Somia that yelling wasn’t helping her to get what she wanted but she continued. Then they tried a different approach. They showed her cartoons that taught the difference between positive and negative behaviours. She was given two cards with a tick and cross and used them as she watched the videos to indicate which behaviours were positive and helpful and which weren’t. She came to learn the difference and over time, her screaming stopped and she found more helpful ways to communicate. The Refuge Egypt preschool gives refugee children like Somia tools to prepare them for primary school, helping them to learn in a group as well as teaching them Arabic, English, Maths, a Bible curriculum and art. 

At Anglican Aid, we praise God for the way Refuge Egypt has helped children and adults settle into their new home. The generosity of Australian Christians, in partnership with the care and compassion of All Saints Cathedral, Cairo, is showing God’s goodness and mercy to many.

1 John 5:14 reminds us: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Join us as we pray for Refuge Egypt by sharing these prayer points with your churches and Bible studies:

• Give thanks that Somia has learned and grown through the Refuge Egypt preschool.
• The new school year has just started. Pray for new students and staff settling in and ask that teachers will share God’s love as they prepare children for primary school.
• Pray for refugees in Cairo to find work opportunities to provide for their families and allow them to stay together.

Refuge Egypt (RE) is a Christian agency that seeks to reflect Jesus’ compassion and concern for those who are in need. Through humanitarian assistance, adult education support, pre-school facilities the needy are prepared for repatriation, resettlement or integration into Egyptian society. Learn More.