Update

The Gugu Community Development and Building Association has been able to continue its programs into 2008. We have seen growth in our existing programs and an addition of some new programs. The school has undergone classroom makeovers, including new white boards, and this new look is symbolic of our success this year.

However, we have faced many challenges as well. The center, especially the school, is facing financial difficulties, as there is an extreme lack of funding and donations. Teachers have not received their salaries and it is a struggle to meet the demands of rent for our building each month. We are looking for ways to continue financing our programs. Despite these programs, we have been able to have the following programs:

Kindergarten- Our kindergarten program has been continuing successfully. We have 45 young children, ages 3 to 6 years old, attending from 8:00 to 1:00 every day except Friday and Sunday.

Gugu Learning Center- We are still providing education to our many students in grades 1 to 5. To improve our program, we have shifted all of the classes to the morning session. Fourteen staff members help administrate the school and teach the children.

Sports Program – Our sports program has been an exciting new addition to our programs. We are renting a playground at a local Egyptian school twice a week to allow approximately 75 children to play and exercise while receiving sports instruction.

After School Program- We have been having an academic based after school program for children on Monday afternoons. The children were chosen based on behavior and academic performance to attend. They have an English lesson, sing songs, make a craft, and play games. Beginning next month, we will have a separate program for girls only to discuss issues and have fun at the same time.

Reading Program- We are fortunate to have some volunteers who will begin an after school reading program next month. The volunteers will come once a week to sit and read with the students and also have the students read to them.

Adult Education- The adult education program is expanding rapidly. The first term of the English courses has recently finished. There were over 40 students in classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours. These students come from Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Algeria, and Egypt. On our first day of placement testing for the next term, 46 students came to register for the next term. We expect to have over 100 students in two different sessions for the next 10-week term.

The Gugu Center has also been hosting Arabic courses twice a week for two hours in conjunction with AMERA. This provides an opportunity for refugees, especially from Ethiopia and Eritrea, to learn Arabic.

Computer Lab- We have been able to utilize our computer lab in a more efficient and beneficial way. We have started an Internet café which is open everyday from 1:00pm to late evening for members of the community. We also have an international calling center.

Music Program- 15 people have been meeting every Friday to learn the basics of music, including how to play the piano and guitar.

Training with CEOSS- There are four students ready to begin training with CEOSS for 2008.

Computer Maintenance Course- We will have 10 students take a computer maintenance course at our center beginning next month.

Prayer Group- Gugu has opened our center to allow 25 people to use our space for prayer group. This gives an opportunity for fellowship for those who usually work during church services.

Goals for 2008

We hope to continue the current projects as well as expand our services to better meet the needs of the community. GuGu Learning center wants to improve the school through consistent teachers, better books, and more learning materials. We are also hoping to establish a children’s sports program in 2008 that will provide a place for children to play while giving them an opportunity to exercise and eat nutritional snacks regularly. The changes in the Adult Education Program will prove to be fundamental steps for providing quality educational services. There will be emphasis on obtaining donors to supply the funds necessary for our upcoming budget. There is always a need for growth and improvement. We have advanced our services since the beginning of this year and we hope to continue this progress into the new year.

Current Programs

Gugu Learning Center- Kindergarten and Primary School
The Learning Center is the largest program of our organization. In our community, there are few affordable educational alternatives, so we place great importance on serving as many refugee children as possible. Without the GuGu Learning Center, many refugee children would grow up without ever attending school. This is the main reason that the founding members were interested in creating a school—to give children a chance at a better future and way of life. Our primary school currently provides education to 106 students in levels 1 through 5, divided among a morning and an afternoon shift. The kindergarten program serves 40 lovable kids. Our teachers come from many different African cultures, but the majority of our teachers are Sudanese refugees and the staff is supplemented by volunteers mainly from the United States. Subjects include Arabic, English, religion, mathematics, history, and science. There is a breakfast program that gives the students the food they need to have a productive day. Overall, the school is giving educational opportunities to these students in a positive environment.

Adult Education Program
The Adult Education Program began its foundational stages in 2007, providing English training to youth and adults in three different levels, including an advanced level program that also instructs students in mathematics, social studies, and science. Each week the program continuously grows through the addition of new students, more teachers, and better curricula. The restructuring of the program basics and a new curriculum for all levels will enhance the educational experience of the already 30 students and the expected newcomers. There are seven volunteer teachers for the program from Sudan, Uganda, Canada and the United States. With the close of this year, there is much hope for the program in 2008.

Computer Training Classes
To meet the technological advances and needs of our quickly growing society, Gugu provides computer training classes for refugees for a minimal fee. Students learn the basics of Microsoft Office, the Internet, and other useful programs that provide them with practical computer skills to use at work or at home. Throughout the year, there have been over 50 computer students that attend the different sessions. These sessions meet three times a week for a one-month period, giving students and intensive program.

Vocational Training
In order to provide job opportunities and qualifications, GCDBA coordinates vocational training through the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS). This training equips students with skills needed to obtain employment here in Egypt. For example, trainees are instructed in large machinery usage. The program has been effective in facilitating jobs for members of the community.

Gugu Community Association

Welcome to our school! Please visit!

Here is a clue about The Gugu Community Development and Building Association, in Cairo, Egypt.

The GCDBA (established in 2003) is a non-political association. It is a grassroots community association run by refugees for refugees.

The town of Maadi (about 30 minutes outsideof Cairo) has a population of approximately 4,000 Sudanese refugees. From these 4,000, about 45% are children from 1 to 17 years old. We are eager to solve the education problem facing our community. Our school is now serving about 285 children school-aged children from our community.

GCDBA has three main objectives:
* improving education for refugee children
* eradicating childhood illiteracy
* improving adult education, women’s activities and cultural events for refugees.

GuGu Learning center is designed for daycare, KG, primary school, adult education and women’s activities.

There are many single mothers in our community that require daycare. Our
daycare center was created to give mothers (and families) a safe & educational alternative to leaving their children at home. At daycare, we provide children with basic education so that they will be ready for primary school.

In our community, there are few affordable, educational alternatives, so we place great importance on serving as many refugee children as possible. Without GCDBA, many refugee children would grow up without ever attending school. This is the main reason that the founding members were interested in creating a school—to give children a chance at a better future and way of life.

We find beginning the day with a healthy meal gives everyone a good start to the day. So, each morning at 8 a.m., the GCDBA’s morning-shift students (grades 1 to 3) walk to school and enjoy breakfast together.

When GCDBA first began, in 2003, we only offered daycare and kindergarten, but starting in 2005, we opened our school. The school’s popularity within the community was unbelievable! Our first year, we were able to serve 285 students. Due to our limited size, we serve the younger children in the morning shift and the older children (grades 4-7) in the afternoon shift. This allows us to make the best use of our facility and serve the most children possible. Without our teachers, we would not be able to take such good care of our students.

Our teachers come from many different African cultures, but the majority of our teachers are Sudanese refugees.

As we are a school working with a very small budget, we also rely heavily on our volunteers, donations (financially or in-kind) and other forms of aid. If you are able to assist us in any way, please get in touch with us. We would love to show you around our school!

Even if you have just an hour a week, you can make a difference! We hope to see you soon!