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!