Youth Education & Literacy

“I Am a Genuine Egyptian”

Starting in 2020, The Michelle Sous Foundation donors have been supporting the “I Am a Genuine Egyptian” program. In partnership with Haddouta Mesreya, a non-governmental organization in Egypt, the project promotes leadership, responsibility, and a sense of belonging for college-aged Egyptian girls who could not pursue a college education due to economic hardship. They, in turn, mentor younger children who are struggling at school, or at risk of dropping out. With your help, Haddouta expanded its work to an additional 100 participants in 2025.

In addition to all the work done since 2020, the 2024-2025 period witnessed a big expansion. The project successfully reached 176 children, whether through weekly meetings or one time events, and added 29 new volunteers. Regular parenting workshops for the mothers have also cemented and deepened their relationship with the volunteers, which allows them to be more influential and helpful to the children. This period has seen true growth and development in the character and career readiness of the volunteers themselves.

Continued Higher Education for the Zabaleen Women

The Michelle Sous Foundation sponsored the costs of higher education for 5 women in the Mansheyet Nasr Garbage District (Zabaleen) areas of Cairo through ROOTA NGO in 2024-2025. These women had left school at a young age, due to finances, marriage or both. Many of them are now mothers and are seeking support to continue their education. MSF has provided this opportunity for Raouth, Raymonda, Hayat, Hanan and Joyce to continue to secondary and college level education. Joyce is finishing up her secondary education. She hopes to be able to finish her education and become a dentist, and help take care of her family as her father battles cancer.  Hanan started illiterate but was completing the Condensed Literacy Program, and has now transitioned to the regular secondary school. Hanan hopes to become employed, so she can support her 4 children. She also wishes her children would be well educated and not experience the hardships she has experienced.  Hayat’s children are pursuing a college education. She dreams of having a college degree, and no longer being looked down upon as “uneducated.”

The ‘Michelle Sous Paterson Student Scholarship’ is meant to support high performing students in Paterson who struggle financially, In partnership with OASIS, a local organizations in Paterson, NJ. While most of the Paterson community has a high school degree, only 11% of the town population has a bachelor's degree, and 25% of its population is under the poverty line.  This scholarship is an opportunity for the gifted youth of the community to break out of poverty by finishing their high school degree, pursuing an associate degree or attending a trade school. Our candidates for the scholarship are hard working high school students, who already demonstrated commitment to their education. They might be current scholarship recipients who need further support with their living expenses, transportation and education expenses, or computer needs.

Our very first scholarship recipient is Vanessa R., a high achieving high school graduate who is pursuing an associate degree in Radiology. Vanessa dreams of one day becoming a doctor to help the suffering members of her community.

Another amazing student is Claudia O. Despite her challenging circumstances, Claudia graduated from Mary Help of Christians Academy, applied for college, and received an offer of admission from the American University.

Our most recent scholarship recipient, Skyla, is a humble and hardworking rising scholar, who graduated from Mary Help of Christians Academy in June of 2025, where she studied on a full scholarship. She is now pursuing a Nursing degree as a first generation college student at Ramapo College.  Skyla’s dad went missing some years ago in Mexico, and she and her mom are both hard-working and humble.

Pictured from left side right, Kerolos Mousa Agaypi a previous scholarship recipient who is now doing a doctorate at Harvard, board member Phoebe Farag Mikhail , Vanessa, her mother, and Jennifer Brady, director of our partner organization, Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children.