The Miracle in Maadi (Egypt): Where Every Inch is a Blessing

Reflections from Oriel Hosford’s placement in Province Of Alexandria - visiting a school for refugee children run by the Diocese. Notes complied by Gillian Maganda - CMSI Personnel Manager.

What does it look like to give your "second life" to others?

After surviving a broken back, Rasha, the principal of Happy Child Nursery, made a promise: to spend her life serving. Today, in the heart of Maadi, she and her husband (a priest and engineer who fixes every broken desk and door) are turning that promise into a sanctuary for children.

The space is tight, but the heart is wide. Every corner counts - they’ve turned balconies, cupboards, and even the kitchen into classrooms to make room for students from Nursery to 5th Grade. They are a global family - on any given day, you’ll hear the laughter of children from Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria, and Libya. They demostrate resilience in action - from Sudanese mothers working tirelessly to provide for their families to teachers training all summer long to sharpen their skills—this is a community that refuses to quit.

The reality is that the school is so crowded that children sometimes have to stand on tables just to get out of their seats. There is no kitchen and no playground, but there is an abundance of hope.

They dream of a bigger premises where these children can finally have the room to run, play, and grow.

Rasha and her team are stretching every pound and every square inch to ensure no child is left behind. It’s not just a school; it’s a second chance.