As a result of COVID-19, public schools only operate two days per week. Shokry attends Hope House classes three days per week and then works the remaining two. Because church school falls on a day of work, he cannot attend and only has the time to go to the main church services. With his busy schedule, he barely has time to play with his friends.

It is here, in Shokry’s busy schedule and family stress, that Hope House intercedes. As Shokry’s mother reflected, the teachers at the center are invested in her child’s life and seek their betterment. While many parents and children alike have an aversion to public school and its shortcomings, the center seeks to meet the all-around needs of a child. For Shokry, having a teacher invested in him pushes his own desire to continue his education.

The economic struggle of Christian families is often a manifestation of the religious freedom abuses and persecution that they face. This trickles down to the youngest generations, prompting them to grow up faster, take on more responsibilities, and, in Shokry’s case, become a second parental figure to his siblings. ICC’s prayer in Hope House is to help these Christian families combat the persecution and discrimination that they encounter, and one day, Egypt may see a renewed Christian generation.

See part two coming next week about Shokry’s continued experiences with persecution.

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 Shokry, visit this page.

For interviews please contact Alison Garcia: [email protected]