Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State officiated the opening of the newly renovated St. Mina Orphanage in Ismailia, Egypt. The ceremony took place in the presence of HG Seraphim, Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Ismailia.
As part of the restoration work carried out and funded by the United Arab Emirates, the building has been furnished and equipped with supplies and materials needed to ensure the maximum level of social and educational care for orphans until their graduation from university.
Commenting on the reopening of the orphanage, Dr. Al Jaber said: "The directives of the UAE leadership clearly focus on providing support to the people of Egypt across all sects through spearheading worthy humanitarian initiatives. Today, we are pleased to reopen the St. Mina Orphanage. We are confident the newly restored premises will provide social and educational care under appropriate conditions to help children build their future and achieve their dreams and goals." He added: "During our meetings with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Cathedral, we agreed to support a number of projects developed by the Coptic Orthodox Church. This orphanage that has just been opened is an example of our efforts to help and support those who have lost their parents and enable them to build a happy life. We are confident this new home will help children to become vital members of mainstream society." For his part, HG Bishop Seraphim thanked the UAE government and praised its pivotal role in supporting Egypt at all levels, especially in its engagement with socially-driven projects.
He said: "Today we witness the opening of St. Mina orphanage and we sincerely thank those who helped build something tangible that will benefit a number of children in time of need. Through giving back to the community, we are truly contributing to building a better tomorrow as children hold the key for the future." He added: "The orphanage, managed by the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Ismailia, is built on an area of 600 meters to ensure the provision of adequate accommodation, care and services." The building consists of a ground plus three floors. Including 35 rooms, four halls, and a main dining hall that can accommodate up to 120 people, the orphanage accommodates about 104 students providing them with social and educational care until university graduation.
The development work was carried out as part of the UAE's support on a range of projects for the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. In addition to the St. Mina orphanage, work is ongoing on the establishment of medical clinics, a school and a heritage centre.
Work on the medical centre began in October 2014 and is expected to conclude in June 2015, while the Coptic Heritage Centre project is also underway and planned for completion in August 2015. Meanwhile, work on the Abu Gergas School is expected to be completed in May 2015.
In addition to the development projects in the housing, education, food security, health care, infrastructure and energy sectors, the UAE provides support to the Egyptian people through cultural, academic and social institutions that serve all segments of the society.