Stephen’s Children | FARAH SCHOOL II
Quality Christ-centered education for underprivileged children ages 5-18
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First high school in a Middle Eastern slum of over 2 million people
Intensive English language
Offering an accredited college-prep curriculum
Enrolling 1,500 students when completed
Emphasizing Christ-honoring character
Self-sustaining through tuition and local support
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TWO MILLION PEOPLE, NO HIGH SCHOOLS
El Khosous is a suburban slum on Cairo’s northern edge. It has
roughly the same number of residents as Austin, Texas or Cleveland,
Ohio, but not a single high school stands inside these five square
miles of urban wasteland.
“Just because a family is poor does not
mean they do not care about education.
It matters more for them because it
could be their only chance at a better
life.”
-Mama Maggie Gobran,
Stephen’s Children Founder
Life in this crowded neighborhood is miserable. The air is thick with
smells of diesel exhaust, dead animals, rotting food, sheesha,
sawdust, and rubbish. Malnourished children wander the streets in a
daze, avoiding mule-drawn carts and tuk-tuks. Addiction rates are
high. Violence and abuse are common. Gangs and terrorist groups
prey on the weak.
Worst of all, there is no way out. Education is the key to
opportunity and improvement, but low expectations are built into
the culture of this slum. Many people go through life here without
hope - without joy. Without a high school, children growing up in
El Khosous are doomed to spend their entire life in the slums.
“In order to get any attention, you have
to pay for the teacher to tutor your
kids. If they don’t take these extra
classes, the teacher will fail them.”
-Egyptian mother (quoted in
Financial Times, 10.20.13)
EGYPT: JOYLESS EDUCATION, HOPELESS POPULATION
Farah means “joy” in Arabic. But for most Egyptian children – even
those outside of El Khosous - going to school brings little joy. Public
schools are crowded – 75 students per class. Teachers are underpaid and
bribery is everywhere. Schools languish with outdated facilities and
methods. Extracurricular activities are unheard of, and college is a
dream for only the most advantaged.
In crowded neighborhoods, school lasts only half a day. One student
body goes home for lunch, and another student body arrives for their
half-day of school. Education is not required past grade 9, so many
Egyptians never set foot in a classroom after age 15.
a crowded Egyptian classroom 2013 (from
Ahram.org, 9.30.13)
“The law requires schools to offer a
separate religion class for Muslims and
Christians, but growing up my school
did not have any Christian teachers. So
our teacher sent the Christian students
outside to wait until religion class was
over. It was embarrassing to do this
every day as a child.”
-current SC leader
El Khosous means “possesions,” as in:
“the king’s possessions.” Egypt’s
pharaohs kept gardens in El Khosous
because of its fertile land.
20 years ago, El Khosous was a lush
farming area
Today, El Khosous is a crowded suburban
slum of 2 million
Religion plays a big part in most Egyptian schools, and the majority
religion of Islam is emphasized at all levels of public school. Even
Christian students are required to learn the Qur’an in Arabic classes.
Teaching Christianity to Muslims is illegal.
Most Egyptian parents have lost faith in public education, but few can
afford a better alternative. In this broken system, literacy hovers
around 75%, and per-capita GDP ranks last among Middle Eastern
nations. Half of Egyptians lives near or below the poverty line.
Not surprisingly, the worst schools are in neighborhoods like El
Khosous – where poverty is already widespread. Students report being
abused by teachers, and many children prefer the chaos of the streets to
the chaos of a school classroom.
Without education and crushed by poverty, boys fall into gangs,
terrorist groups, and addiction. Girls grow depressed and desperate.
They lose their joy. They lose hope.
STEPHEN’S CHILDREN: RETURNING JOY TO EDUCATION
Stephen’s Children is meeting the challenge of educating Egypt’s
poorest children through Farah Schools. Farah Schools offer high
quality, Christ-centered education to children living in slum areas.
Since 1994, Stephen’s Children has opened 95 schools across Egypt with
the goal of improving the quality of education for the poorest of poor
families. Today more than 18,000 children are enrolled in Stephen’s
Children schools.
‫ | فرحة‬farah | joy
The call to joy is found throughout
scripture. It is a defining element of the
Stephen’s Children witness to children
in poverty:
For the kingdom of God is…of
righteousness, peace, and
Holy Spirit.
joy in the
–Romans 14:17
…And do not be grieved, for the joy of
the LORD is your strength.
–Nehemiah 8:10b
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.
–Galatians 5:22-23
Originally Stephen’s Children opened only pre-schools, providing a
Christ-centered foundation for the youngest poor Egyptians. That
changed in 2012 when SC opened its first K-9 school, Farah School I.
Enrolling 700 students from all religious backgrounds (and with a long
waiting list for admission), Farah I is having great success educating
Egypt’s poorest. The secret is a holistic approach based in a Biblical
worldview.
Privately funded, Farah Schools have smaller classes, better facilities,
and more dedicated faculty than government-run schools. Once
constructed, Farah Schools are sustainable through affordable tuition
and local support.
Central to each Farah School is a partnership between the school,
parents, and students. Admission is selective, and families – not just
students – interview for the school. The goal is to create a school
community that pushes back against the lies and low expectations of the
slum culture.
Since Farah School I opened in 2012, many transformations have taken
place in the lives of students, their families, and even the faculty. By
God’s grace, Stephen’s Children is seeing a change in the way
impoverished Egyptians view education.
Now the Stephen’s Children team is prepared to carry the mission and
blessing of Farah Schools to the next level: the K-12 Farah School II.
Located in the same 2 million-person slum as Farah I and other SC preschools, Farah II will deal a sustained blow to the physical and spiritual
poverty that is crushing many Egyptians – for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Farah School I, El Khosous
Plans for Farah II include a large
commons and sports area. Most
children in the neighborhood have very
little place to play, and few schools
even offer a playground
FARAH II: A SCHOOL FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT
Situated on just over an acre of land in El Khosous slum area, Farah
School II will be the only K-12 school in this neighborhood of 2
million.
Farah II will accommodate 1,500 students in a five-story, 42 classroom
building. The secure campus will feature libraries, computer and
science labs, a sport court, and commons area. Smaller classes, dedicated
teachers, and a positive environment will make school a joy to attend.
Language Schools are private schools
accredited by the Egyptian Ministry of
Education. They follow government
curricula and offer additional intensive
language instruction to prepare
students for more advanced education.
…whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable – if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
–Philippians 4:8
This is the motto and vision for a Farah
education. Every student recites these
words each morning at Farah School.
As a “Language School,” Farah II will offer an accredited academic
program designed to prepare students for good jobs and college. Science
and math courses are taught in English. This is the opportunity many
students need to escape poverty.
Unlike public schools, which have no time or resources for nonacademic subjects, Farah II will address the whole child. Students will
discover art, music, and drama. Extra-curricular activities like karate
and soccer will be available.
Farah Schools emphasize good character. The qualities of behavior
revealed through Jesus Christ in the Bible are the basis for Farah
Schools’ character education. These qualities, which are embodied by
Farah School faculty, offer a loving and respectful witness to students
from all backgrounds.
Egyptians are proud of their nation, but many children have grown up
in a time of national upheaval. Farah Schools teach students the value
of patriotism and unity. By God’s grace, the next generation of Egyptian
leaders will emerge from the crowded, dusty streets of El Khosous.
THE FARAH SCHOOL APPROACH
Instead of addressing the challenges of poverty from the top down,
Stephen’s Children begins with individuals and works upward. From
one child in 1989 to more than 32,000 today, the mindset of Stephen’s
Children workers remains the same: “focus on one child at a time.”
This concern for individuals is reflected in our core values, which lay
behind Farah Schools and every Stephen’s Children program:
For you are our glory and our joy.
–1 Thessalonians 2:20
Nurturing children means attending to physical needs first,
and knowing them on an individual level. Our teachers want
children to know their love and worth comes from God.
Training children is critical because scripture mandates it
(Proverbs 22:6) and because many poor children receive little
discipline at homes. Our programs train children in
everything from hygiene and manners to study skills. We
want children to form good “habits of mind”
Equipping children entails providing them with quality
academic and spiritual preparation. The focus is not only on
school – but for life and eternity.
This is not “cookie cutter” work. It demands individuals in strong
relationships responding to one another in love and service.
Soccer (“football”) is a national passion
for Egyptians, but many children in the
slums have never even played with a
real ball. Farah Schools give boys and
girls a safe and fun place to play with
decent equipment
“We were not always planning to open K-12 schools,” Mama Maggie
says. “But many of the mothers from our preschools were asking us:
‘where do we go next?’ We needed to build a school for these mothers
and their children.”
WE KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD…
In 1994, when El Khosous was still transforming from farmland to slumland, Stephen’s Children erected the first two story building
in the neighborhood. It was a Christian preschool called St. Mark’s – named after the evangelist who brought the Gospel to Egypt in
the 1st century.
St. Mark’s stood like a lighthouse in this increasingly dark and desperate place. Over the years, hundreds of children were given a
Christ-centered foundation for their education at St. Mark’s. They memorized scripture, sang Bible songs, and learned the basics of
language, math, and science. Unlike most places in El Khosous, St. Mark’s Preschool offered hope. 94 preschools later, Stephen’s
Children is deepening its commitment to El Khosous through Farah School II.
FARAH SCHOOL DISTINCTIVES
Quality
Farah School faculty are the key to our success. They demonstrate total
honesty and fairness to students, which is uncommon in public
schools. Many Farah School teachers work for less than they would
make in public schools because they believe in our mission.
We hold high standards for our academic and extra-curricular
programs, which is counter to the low expectations found in many
slum area schools. Even the Egyptian Ministry of Education has
recognized the quality of academics found in Farah Schools.
We believe facilities reflect our culture and influence the quality of
student work, so we design campuses to inspire excellence. Though
modest, our schools feature recreation areas, laboratories, and libraries.
“School is for fun. I love Farah School.
My friends wish they can come to my
school.”
-Farah I student
Affordable
Paying tuition gives families a sense of value and ownership over their
child’s education, so we charge modest tuition that is still less than
schools of lower quality. This helps make the school self-sustaining.
Recognizing that some families could never afford even our modest
tuition, we offer scholarships for deserving students.
May you be strengthened with all
power, according to his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with
joy.
–Colossians 1:1
Christ-centered
Farah Schools enroll students from all religious backgrounds in a
community of respect and tolerance that is uncommon in Egypt. We
make no secret that school leadership is guided by Christ. We integrate
the Bible wherever possible and train students to be young men and
women of godly character.
SCHOOL IS FREE, BUT EDUCATION IS COSTLY
Egypt offers free K-9 schooling to all citizens, but most Egyptian families are looking for options outside the public system. The
following shows rough costs (in USD) for various options. Bear in mind the average Egyptian income is $6,000/year – and much less
in the slums.
- International schools: $5k-$25k/year
- Parochial (Catholic or other) schools: $2k-$5k/year
- Language schools: $500-$3,000/year
- Farah Schools: $250-$500/year
- Private Schools: $100-$500/year
- Tutoring (private or in groups) can range $100 - $10,000/year depending on the arrangement.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my
children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4
STEPHEN’S CHILDREN exists to save lives, bring hope,
and restore dignity to under-privileged children and
young people so they can reach their own people.