With an eye towards lending a supporting hand to children and their families, Manfoods-McDonald’s Egypt and Kheir Wa Baraka NGO, put forth their best efforts to introduce the 62nd chapter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) global foundation in Egypt; presenting the first RMHC house in the Middle East, and Centers of Excellence for Children and Their Families.
RMHC Egypt aims to create and support programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families across Egypt
The McDonald House/ دار ماكدونالدز للضيافة provides an opportunity for families who are commuting to seek medical treatment for their children, to have a home away from home, and to interact and connect with other families who are undergoing similar experiences. According to studies conducted by RMHC global foundation, the treatment journey is not just about the children, but it is the whole family that deals with the illness. Thus, armed with rehabilitation & various support services, it compensates the families with free stays and meals to relief any additional stress, and keep them together during their child’s treatment, and provide them with the care, support, and resources they need the most
“Over the past years, RMHC global foundation has helped 7 million children annually, and we hope to greatly contribute to this number through our newest chapter in Egypt.” Said Mohamed Mansour, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of RMHC Egypt.
The second program that RMHC Egypt in cooperation with Kheir wa Baraka NGO is planning to establish is “Centers of Excellence for Children and Their Families” to provide inclusive practices and services for all children and their families in Cairo, Sohag, and Aswan governorates. This project provides adequate educational, parenting, and health services that comply with national and global best practices and standards; for children ages 1 day – 4 years old and their families. It cultivates the necessary materials, and learning tools suitable for the children, and the essential social and parental awareness sessions for the whole family.
The launch of RMHC Egypt in cooperation with Kheir wa Baraka NGO was announced during a press conference held by Manfoods-McDonald’s Egypt, under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the presence of: Her Excellency Mrs. Nevin Al-Kabbaj, Minister of social Solidarity, Mr. Mohamed Mansour, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RMHC Egypt, Mrs. Nevin Al Ibrashy, Founder and President of the board of Kheir Wa Baraka NGO & Mrs. Sara El Etreby Head of RMHC Egypt followed by a launch event by the presence of Mrs. Hala ElSaid, Minister of Planning, Mr Yassin Mansour founder of McDonald’s Egypt in addition to influential representatives from the private and public sector, and Child Development NGOs.
“Since the launch of the first McDonald’s branch in Egypt in 1994, Manfoods-McDonald’s has been attentive to children’s needs, and implemented many effective initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of children and the whole family” Said Alaa Fathi, General manager of Manfoods-McDonald’s Egypt.
“Therefore, we are pleased to continue fulfilling our duty of care towards society with RMHC as the founding mission partner, and Kheir Wa Baraka NGO as the execution partner in this cooperation, with EGP 40 million in investments.” Fathi continued.
In this light, the Ministry of Social Solidarity has invested EGP 15 million in the renovations of 165 nursery classes, as well as developing, rehabilitating, and training 365 facilitators with the capabilities to plan, design, and provide training programs for 10,000 service providers in non-profit nurseries, and child and family development centers. It has also supported 2,400 families in the Cairo governorate.
RMHC global foundation was founded in Philadelphia in 1974. So far, RMHC Global owns more than 379 Ronald McDonald House programs, 265 Ronald McDonald Family room programs in hospitals for families to rest from the medical atmosphere, and 50+ Ronald McDonald Care mobile programs, offering services ranging from primary care, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and follow-up for medical conditions.
