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Success Story
Disabled child leads
mother to volunteer at
USAID-supported center
Inspired Through the Magic of a Child
Photo: Caritas Seti Center\Hanan Nicola
George and his mother work together
on specialized learning activities at the
Caritas center.
The parents now credit
George as the reason
they are still together and
describe him as “God’s gift”
rather than a burden.
Any parent will tell you that raising children is hard work, but
rewarding. Some children, however, have a special ability to change
those around them. Despite his Down’s Syndrome, George was not
only able to bring his family together, but he also inspired his mother
to become a volunteer at a USAID-supported organization that helps
other families of children with disabilities.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of USAID and the National Council
on Childhood and Motherhood, organizations like Caritas provide
much-needed support services for families in crisis. George’s parents
knew about his Down’s Syndrome before his birth, but they remained
in denial about it until he was almost a year old. His father blamed
the mother, became depressed, and was unable to assist in the care
of the young child. As a result, the family suffered many conflicts and
problems and was almost torn apart.
The family’s pediatrician referred the mother to Caritas, a USAIDsupported
organization that provides support to disabled children and
families. George attended workshops and diligently worked on his
activities at home with great success. George’s capacity to succeed
changed his father’s attitude and encouraged him to be more
involved in the young boy’s life.
The parents now credit George as the reason they are still
together and describe him as “God’s gift” rather than a burden. The
specialized services provided by Caritas allowed George’s mother
to improve her son’s quality of life and keep the family together.
As a result of her experience with Caritas, George’s mother was
inspired to help others. She is now an active volunteer. Caritas trains
volunteers to support other families as they face the challenges of
their child’s special needs; volunteers help organizations like Caritas
continue activities regardless of funding.
More than 2.5 million people are disabled in Egypt, approximately 40
percent of whom are children; disability is a major source of family
conflicts. The support provided by Caritas helps to make the lives of
these families and children a little easier. Caritas is a grant recipient
of a USAID project which works to strengthen access to justice,
enhance family stability, and protect the rights of children. The USAID
project has awarded more than $2 million in grants to Egyptian
organizations that work to promote family justice. Utilizing volunteers,
like George’s mother, these organizations can continue to inspire
children and improve the situation for many Egyptian families. Like
the Egyptians who worked their magic to build the pyramids, George
and his mother are making a new kind of Egyptian magic.
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