While some of these depressive and anxious symptoms are a result of lockdowns, some have a more complex history. Children of Christian families are susceptible to more nuanced forms of persecution, particularly under the view as second-class citizens. Whole generations suffer from persecution, with little to no voice to stop it. The abuse and neglect of Christian children in Egypt is a manifestation of the mindset that they have little to nothing to offer society and therefore not awarded the same benefits or even a normal childhood. Religious freedom violations cause trauma for many of these Christian children, going much deeper than any physical markings of persecution.

ICC’s Hope House attempts to intervene and meet not just the educational needs of the children, but also the spiritual, emotional, and mental needs as well. Just a few months prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope House completed a training on how to express emotions in a healthy manner and how to process challenging situations. It is ICC’s prayer that Hope House acts as a catalyst for lasting change in Egypt against religious freedom abuses by interceding into these Christian families’ lives and starting to combat persecution at the individual level.

ICC will be highlighting one child from our sponsorship program over the next several weeks, some of whom are still available to sponsor. To learn more about ICC’s Hope House or sponsor a child like Amira, visit this page.

For interviews, please contact Alison Garcia: [email protected]