BLESS aims to improve the public health aspects of marginalized members of Egyptian society.
The Primary Health Care program seeks to improve health conditions for 50% of the target participants.
The program offers:
- Awareness courses on communicable and non-communicable diseases: to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases to men and women (aged 18 and above).
- First aid course: to train local cadres (aged 20-35) with first aid skills in order to attend to emergency cases as a means of serving their community.
- Mobile health clinics: to provide primary medical care to men and women (aged 18 and above) in marginalized communities deprived of medical services.
- Upgrading health care facilities: to improve medical services in underserved communities by supplying established healthcare units with equipment according to their needs based on an assessment of the application.
- Medical campaigns: to conduct campaigns for early detection of chronic diseases and disabilities, including but not limited to hypertension, diabetes, thyroid diseases, breast cancer and visual disability to name some of the addressed health problems.
- Children nutrition courses: to address issues of malnourishment among children aged 2-6 years and raise awareness about the importance of a healthy meals and how to prepare it.
- The first 1000 days’ campaign: to raise the awareness of parents about the most important feeding practices in the pregnant mothers and the child’s life.
In 2024, the Primary Health Care program focuses on three main aspects: prevention, symptoms, and treatment. The prevention aspect includes 458 awareness courses on communicable and non-communicable diseases (such as dermatological, respiratory, digestive, ophthalmological diseases, blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney diseases) for 23,679 participants. The symptoms aspect covers 158 medical campaigns on early detection of breast tumors, thyroid diseases, and visual impairments for 9,210 participants. The treatment aspect involves upgrading two healthcare facilities and implementing 104 mobile health clinics for 8,620 participants.
BLESS aims to strengthen adults and the upcoming generation by teaching skills and personal development.
The Adult Education program seeks to support adult learners into continuing their education and aims that 75% of the targeted adult learners pass the course exam.
The program offers:
- Public meetings about the importance of education and lifelong learning to raise awareness to parents, particularly mothers, about the importance of continuing education and encourage illiterate individuals to attend adult literacy courses.
- Adult literacy courses to provide participants with improved reading, writing, and mathematic skills.
- Continuing education supports school dropouts and graduates of BLESS literacy courses to continue their formal education.
In 2024, the Adult Education program reached a total number of 6,938 participants in 40 communities. The program transferred the knowledge to 5,557 community members about the importance of education. The program supported 1,381 adult learners, including 1,214 women through 94 adult literacy courses. As a result, 82% of adult learners passed the course exam and 850 adult learners obtained literacy certificates, including 280 Sudanese learners. Moreover, 588 learners continued their formal education; higher or intermediate levels.
Improving the Standard of Education program seeks to support school students in their academic education and aims that 75% of the targeted students pass their course exams.
The program offers:
- Student study aid support aims to improve the educational capabilities of students and enhance their knowledge of school subjects and tutor them to pass their school exams.
- Reading and writing skill improvement courses aim to improve the reading, writing, and basic mathematics skills of children who lack academic basics.
- ICT knowledge courses for children and adults aim to target school students and adults to educate them with the capabilities of basic computer skills.
Unleashing the Potential of the New Generation program seeks to support children’s skills and personal development, and aims for 75% of the targeted children to increase their self-confidence, articulate their ideas, or participate in environmentally friendly actions.
The program offers:
- Early childhood play centers to enhance the mental and physical capabilities of children between through establishing and furnishing centers and providing healthy meals for children and medical services.
- Talent and character-building summer programs aim to develop and enhance the talents of children and unleash their creativity as a form of enjoyment.
- Summer school aims to invest and explore the potentials of young people and their time during the summer vacation, through implementing the summer schools in churches.
In 2024, Unleashing the Potential of the New Generation program reached a total number of 6,638 children in 22 communities. The program established 11 early childhood play centers, conducted medical tests for 604 children, provided medical examinations for 705 children and delivered healthy nutrition to 829 children. The program supported 3,534 children in eight summer schools and enhanced the skills of 1,156 children through talent and character-building summer activities. As a result, 83% of the targeted children have increased their self-confidence, in articulating their ideas. Additionally, the program incorporated an educational subject related to artificial intelligence (AI) and basic programming languages.
BLESS aims at strengthening the economic livelihoods and environmental sustainability of marginalized members of Egyptian society.
The Economic Development Program seeks to ensure that women and men have a periodic income, which they did not have before or have increased their income by at least 20%.
The program offers:
- Vocational training and skill-building programs: to provide beneficiaries with vocational skills and abilities to qualify them to join the labor market.
- Entrepreneurship promotion workshops: to provide knowledge on how to start a project, including information about feasibility studies for projects, market study, and project management for both men and women.
- Financial literacy (FL) courses: to equip beneficiaries with the skills and abilities to manage personal finance effectively. Topics in these courses will include making personal finance choices, savings, budgeting, and retirement plans.
- Small and micro-loans for business startup and growth: to work on financing micro-projects through the revolving loan system to improve the income of target groups.
- Green economic activities: the program encourages the targeting group of youth, women and men by providing loans to start a project that contributes to protecting the environment.
- Job placement unit: to communicate with individuals and companies to find decent work opportunities for job seekers with a particular focus on disadvantaged groups such as women and people with disabilities.
In 2024, the Economic Development program facilitated income generation for 674 individuals, including 297 who started new businesses and 377 who expanded existing ventures, increasing their income by 24%. Key interventions included microloans, vocational training, entrepreneurship workshops, and job placement services. To meet growing demand, the program expanded nationally, with a particular focus on Greater Cairo.
The Rural Development Program: seeks to ensure that rural men and women increase their income by at least 20% through agricultural productivity or protecting livestock.
The program offers:
- Sessional agriculture courses: to provide farmers with various knowledge to help them solve the problems they currently or potentially face in agriculture.
- Follow-up visits for agricultural fields: to provide technical support to farmers to educate and equip them with the latest recommendations and technical methods in agriculture to increase production.
- Farmer field school: to guide farmers with a set of recommendations about taking the necessary measures to combat climate change and the methods of detecting and removing any disease or insect phenomena.
- Care & Management of Livestock course (including livestock insurance and animal vaccination): This course aims to raise awareness about the correct methods of veterinary care for animals (including poultry) and the importance of vaccinating their animals against epidemic diseases. This course also emphasizes the importance of livestock insurance.
- Practical application of sustainable food production methods: This activity aims to provide rural women with the necessary skills to improve their efficiency in modern food industries.
- Agricultural services: to provide farmers with agricultural machines and materials and create project models to aid in their agricultural and animal production, including fertilizers, seeds, fodder, medicines, and veterinary tools, and more.
In 2024, The Rural Development program improved agricultural productivity and boosted the income of 1,075 farmers, including 192 rural women, by 23%. This was achieved through 162 sessional agriculture courses, 133 follow-up visits to agricultural fields, and the establishment of five farmer field schools. Additionally, the program encouraged approximately 1,764 farmers to protect their livestock, further enhancing their income. As part of these efforts, 13,854 livestock were vaccinated, and 395 livestock were insured. The program also adopted eco-friendly techniques by implementing 13 composting applications for 421 farmers, providing them with natural fertilization for their lands.
Environmental Development program: encourages people to adopt eco-friendly techniques (rationalizing consumption of natural resources, biological pest control, agri-recycling management)
The program offers:
- Applied solar water heater samples
- Street lighting campaigns and Interior lightning campaigns with the use of LED technology, which is more rational in energy consumption than traditional lamps.
- Workshops for recycling management and energy rationalization: water consumption rationalization workshops, LED lamp repair workshops - practical applications (compost) – and recycling classes.
In 2024, Seventy-seven interior lighting campaigns were conducted for 13,967 participants and 27 street lighting campaigns for 84,858 participants, thirteen composting applications were implemented for 421 farmers, providing them with natural fertilization for their lands.
These achievements exemplify our commitment to sustainable rural development. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to fostering resilient communities, nurturing the land, and creating a brighter future for all.
BLESS aims at developing the capacities of local community members and BLESS staff to be capable of leading change to achieve sustainable development.
The capacity development aims to ensure that at least 20% of the targeted youth, volunteers, community leaders, and servants of people with disabilities take on a leading role in the developmental process within their communities.
The program offers:
Recruitment and Volunteer Mobilization: through Engaging community members through outreach events to recruit volunteers for planning and implementing local development activities.
Capacity Building of Religious and Community Leaders: to train Christian religious leaders on social issues, encouraging them to disseminate messages through church services.
Support to Community Initiatives: to provide technical and logistical support for community-led initiatives addressing climate change effects, such as cleaning and planting campaigns.
Program Monitoring and Evaluation: through conducting community visits to enhance staff and volunteer skills, facilitate cross learning, and assess program impact through pre- and post-intervention data collection.
Capacity Building for BLESS Staff and Volunteers: Offers training on health, education, economic development, agriculture, project monitoring, inclusive outreach, child protection, and community feedback mechanisms.
Leadership and Management Training: to equip 320 youth (18–40) with leadership and decision-making skills through a 4-day workshop at two levels and a 6-week summer course with discussions, exercises, and teamwork.
In 2024, BLESS conducted 21 training courses for 857 participants, including program staff, coordinators, field workers, and volunteers to enhance their skills and capacity to improve program outcomes. As a result of the dedicated efforts of volunteers, field workers, and program staff, 11 initiatives were implemented, and 29 networking with official governorates and national universities were held, promoting sustainable community development. Additionally, volunteers showcased community leadership by actively participating in seven campaigns, engaging 281 participants.
The program aims at raising awareness about the importance of accepting and respecting others regardless their religion, culture, social status, or education level through engaging beneficiaries in interactive activities.
The program offers:
Peacemakers Competition: Engaging youth (18–25) from Egyptian dioceses in community initiatives based on local needs, such as awareness campaigns, orphanage support, and school beautification. A competition committee selects the most impactful initiative annually.
Arts and Creativity Course: to enhance the artistic and creative skills of youth (18–25) through courses in literature, poetry, choir, painting, role-playing, musical instruments, and sports, held once a week.
The Peacebuilding program reached to a total number of 3209 (1102 non-Christians) participants in community peacebuilding, raising their awareness about the importance of accepting and respecting others regardless of their religion, culture, social status, or education level through engaging them in interactive activities.
Creating Dialogue. Empowering Communities. Building Peace.
At BLESS, we believe that lasting peace begins with education, awareness, and compassion. Through our peacebuilding initiatives, we empower communities to resolve conflict through non-violent means, while breaking down barriers of race, religion, gender, and social norms.
Our Peacebuilding Projects form a preventative strategy—focusing on empowering women, protecting children, and strengthening community bonds to foster a society rooted in equality, justice, and human dignity.
Peace, Love, and Tolerance Project on Combating Violence against Children
In partnership with: UNICEF
Duration: September 2017 – 2024
Governorates: 10 governorates
Target: Christian clergy, church servants, community members, parents, youth
This initiative combats violence against children by empowering faith leaders and caregivers with tools for positive parenting, conflict prevention, and the promotion of tolerance.
Goals:
- Raise awareness among clergy and Sunday school servants on children’s rights
- Address harmful premarital behaviors
- Promote community dialogue on parenting and non-violence
Impact until 2024:
- 2,667 faith leaders trained on child protection and interfaith dialogue
- 66,889 individuals reached through awareness campaigns, community screenings, and parenting sessions
Collaborators: IICPSR, Ministry of Endowment, Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Health
🌍 Why It Matters
By uniting faith leaders, educators, youth, and parents, we build bridges that strengthen our communities from within. Our peacebuilding programs transform everyday citizens into agents of peace, guiding their communities toward equality, nonviolence, and resilience.
💬 Be a Peacemaker
Together, we can:
- Break cycles of violence
- Empower women and children
- Bridge divides across faiths and generations
✨ Join us in creating a future where peace is not just a dream—but a shared reality.
👉 [Support Our Work] 👉 [Partner With Us] 👉 [Explore More Programs]
BLESS takes a holistic approach to peace. We pray for the peace of the world, peace between nations, communities and within families.
BLESS support to the Sudanese refugees in Egypt
There are 800,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Egypt; the Sudanese are the largest group.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan and the influx of refugees from Sudan to Egypt, BLESS has provided immediate, multi-sectoral assistance to people from Sudan.
BLESS interventions in 2024:
- Distributed food items to 1,000 families.
- Distributed non-food items, including providing furniture and kitchenware to 174 families, clothing distribution to 98 families and providing calculators for 900 children.
- Conducting psychological support awareness sessions for 920 families.
Our focus on people with disabilities "Rise up and Walk"
Rise Up and Walk Interventions
"Rise Up and Walk" is a pioneering organization committed to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities through comprehensive support and innovative services. Our mission is to empower those facing physical challenges by providing access to adaptive technologies, rehabilitation programs, and community resources that promote independence and mobility. We believe in fostering an inclusive society where every individual can achieve their fullest potential. Through our dedicated team of professionals and advocates, we offer personalized services designed to inspire confidence, enhance quality of life, and facilitate meaningful participation in all aspects of community life. Join us in our commitment to creating a world where everyone can rise up and walk towards a brighter future.
BLESS is dedicated to combating climate change and promoting sustainable practices for a healthier planet. Our organization brings together passionate individuals, communities, and stakeholders to drive meaningful action against the climate crisis.
The Environmental Development program seeks to ensure that the participants adopt methods to protect the environment.
The program offers:
- Awareness of climate change adverse effects through home visits, educational environmental games, visiting reserves, interactive environmental theater, environmental awareness courses, or environmental festivals.
- Green economic activities with the coordination of an Economic Development program to encourage the targeting group of youth, women and men by providing loans to start a project that contributes to protecting the environment.
- Support to Community initiatives: The purpose is to support the community initiatives, which are proposed by the community to mitigate the climate change health effects, such as cleaning and planting campaigns.
In 2024, Around Fifteen thousand trees were planted across 13 governorates, involving 40,378 participants, and contributing to the national "Planting a Hundred Million Trees" campaign to expand green spaces and mitigate the thermal effect. Additionally, 37 cleaning campaigns were conducted in 18 communities in collaboration with local councils, promoting positive environmental behaviors and societal engagement in building sustainable cities
Join us in our mission to protect our planet and create a sustainable future for all. Together, we can make a difference.
Aghapy is one of the departments under BLESS. The program aims to support the needs of underprivileged families by covering costs related to girls' marriages, various types of surgeries, addiction recovery services, treatment of chronic diseases, provision of prosthetics, and care for widows. The department prioritizes collaboration and partnership with specialized doctors and hospitals to perform high-quality surgical operations for those we serve. Additionally, we ensure post-treatment follow-up to guarantee complete safety and recovery. The program also coordinates with our dioceses abroad for financial assistance when needed.
Total number of support in 2024:
1,337 brides supported with marriage costs
1,403 individuals treated for immune, blood, bone, rheumatoid, liver diseases, and addiction
1,176 individuals received healthcare
104 victims of events assisted
2,466 emergency relief support provided
118 students received educational expense assistance
57 refugees supported through medical treatment assistance
Your support is crucial in this fight against poverty. By donating to our cause, you are not just contributing to immediate relief efforts; you are investing in long-term solutions that empower individuals and transform communities. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant impact and helps us continue our vital work.
Join us in our mission to end poverty and injustice. Together, we can offer hope and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
“Community Consensus against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices (HPs), with a Focus on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage” Program
In partnership with the Norwegian Embassy, BLESS is implementing a program that seeks to improve the lives of girls and women by addressing and eradicating violence against women (EVAW/G). The program specifically targets harmful practices such as FGM, early marriage, sexual harassment (SH), and domestic violence (DV). Through a community-driven approach, the program fosters consensus and local engagement to combat these issues, ultimately working toward the protection of women's rights and gender equality.
- The 16-day campaign against gender-based violence: to raise awareness about combating violence against women.
- World Girls' Day: to raise the awareness of girls aged 15-25 about their rights and affirm the rejection of the church for any harmful practices towards girls.
- Youth clubs: to create a new generation of young men and women that supports the idea of combating violence against women.
- Men's sessions to combat violence against women: to raise men's awareness about the harmful practices and violence against women and realize the rights of women as laid out in the Egyptian constitution.
- Elderly mother’s group discussions: to review of views in support of harmful practices in order to change these perspectives for mothers, grandmothers, and mothers-in-law.
A father from El Aiaysha village in Qena said: “I used to believe that FGM was a normal practice for all girls. However, after attending this campaign, I came to understand the health and psychological risks my daughter could face. Now, I am committed to protecting her from this harmful practice.”
The Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical and Social Services (BLESS) is a bishopric of the Coptic Orthodox Church which serves all who are in need.
BLESS was established in 1962 to be the social, diaconal, and developmental arm of the Church.
BLESS was established on September 30th, 1962 to provide a wide range of diaconal services to the poorest communities in Egypt. Within the Coptic Orthodox Church, BLESS is viewed as a major social arm which provides its services to all dioceses.
At its establishment, BLESS was assigned to conduct three major roles:
(1) Community development
(2) Charity and financial support
(3) Ecumenical relations
Bishop Samuel was the first bishop who was ordained to oversee BLESS. He paid a great deal of attention to the three areas of service mentioned above. Unfortunately, His Grace was assassinated, and Egypt went through a period of instability and uncertainty. During the interim, Metropolitan Athanasious was assigned to lead the organization and guide it towards safety.
On June 2nd, 1985, Metropolitan Serapion was assigned to lead the organization. He built various systems, recruited professional staff, and performed services in the fields of ecumenical, social, and community development. In early 1996, Bishop Youannes took over. He emphasized charity work and created a new approach called Comprehensive Integrated Development (CID). In July 2015, Bishop Yolios was assigned to lead BLESS. He gave special attention to community development work. He started updating BLESS bylaws, statutes, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He formed an advisory board for BLESS and reignited efforts to reposition BLESS as a faith-based organization serving Egyptian communities in need. In the pursuit to enhance proficiency, BLESS has recruited a team of outstanding professionals (advisory committee) to provide programmatic, management, and administrative advice. In addition, an experienced executive director was assigned to lead the staff and work alongside His Grace Bishop Yolios. The committee was mandated to advise BLESS’ leadership on programmatic, management, and administrative matters. Moreover, a volunteering committee was created which includes Egyptian experts in the areas of program development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, human resources, and financial management.
Our Communities
Since its inception in 1998, our organization has been dedicated to fostering sustainable development and empowering communities through the BLESS initiative. Over the past two decades, we have proudly engaged with 279 diverse communities, each with its unique challenges and aspirations. Our mission has been to create lasting positive change by addressing critical issues such as education, health, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
Through collaborative efforts and innovative programs, we have worked hand-in-hand with community members to identify their needs and harness their strengths. Our approach emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring that every voice is heard and every individual has the opportunity to contribute to their community's growth. As we reflect on our journey from 1998 to 2021, we celebrate the resilience and determination of the communities we serve, and we remain committed to building a brighter future together.
Join us as we continue to empower these communities, fostering hope, resilience, and sustainable development for generations to come.
Map of Activated Communities of ICDP 2021
Our targeted outcomes
Improved health-related outcomes through seminars, home visits, campaigns; training workshops; and health care service support through mobile clinics and the upgrading of health care units.
Promoting positive parenting and combating addiction and violence against women and children.
Housing and environment improvement to ensure healthy living condition.