Ishraq 'Safe Places for Girls to Learn, Play and Grow'
Ishraq is a community-based programme which challenges traditional concepts of gender-appropriate behaviour.Project Overview
Ishraq means "safe places to learn and grow" and was a joint project with the Population Council, focusing on changing attitudes to women in a traditional society in rural Egypt. Initially 4 villages and 10 sports were targeted. Following the initial programme only 2 sports were succesfull football and table tennis. These 2 sports were then expanded to 60 villages.
Target group of the project (age group): Youth
Organisations involved: Population Council, Save the Children, Egypt Table Tennis Association, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
- 11-15 year old out of school girls who live in conservative Egyptian rural communities.
- 18-25 year old educated rural girls who are trained as “Sports Promoters”.
Organisations involved: Population Council, Save the Children, Egypt Table Tennis Association, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
About this project
Ishraq is a community-based programme which challenges traditional concepts of gender-appropriate behaviour. In an experimental intervention, girls and women in rural Egypt are afforded a safe space to meet and participate in sport and education.
Ishraq focuses on the development of new leadership skills and freedom of expression and movement, essential ingredients for empowerment. The objectives of the programme are to transform the ways in which girls perceive themselves and their communities view them using sport and to implement programmes which include sport, literacy, numeracy, financial skills, legal literacy, health awareness and community services.
Ishraq focuses on the development of new leadership skills and freedom of expression and movement, essential ingredients for empowerment. The objectives of the programme are to transform the ways in which girls perceive themselves and their communities view them using sport and to implement programmes which include sport, literacy, numeracy, financial skills, legal literacy, health awareness and community services.
Use of Table Tennis in the project
The programme offers ten sports, with table tennis the only sport which all “Sports Promoters” are trained in. Sport, literacy and life skills training and activities are available 3 hours a day, 4 days a week at local youth centres.
Girls receive a general introduction to physical activity using traditional games, body movement and basic information on hygiene, nutrition and health. They then begin a table tennis programme and choose one additional team sport (handball, basketball, or volleyball).
Life skills sessions are held on topics such as first aid, environmental awareness, reproductive health, marriage, pregnancy and motherhood, family planning and violence against women.
Girls receive a general introduction to physical activity using traditional games, body movement and basic information on hygiene, nutrition and health. They then begin a table tennis programme and choose one additional team sport (handball, basketball, or volleyball).
Life skills sessions are held on topics such as first aid, environmental awareness, reproductive health, marriage, pregnancy and motherhood, family planning and violence against women.
