A place to transform lives
Inside the Egyptian Red Crescent’s Zeinhom Community Centre
For decades, Zeinhom district was known as one of Cairo’s largest informal settlements, where overcrowded housing and limited access to essential services shaped daily life for nearly 20,000 people.
When redevelopment began in 1999, families did not move directly into new homes. The process unfolded gradually, creating a difficult transition period during which residents required temporary shelter and continued access to basic services.
During this phase, the Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS), supported by its volunteers, provided temporary housing while construction was underway, and supported families with essential services to help them navigate this period.
“We didn’t want to just improve housing. Our goal was to support the community itself, to help families adapt to new living conditions and build more stable lives.”
Nearly two decades ago, in February 2006, this approach was formalised through the establishment of ERCS’s Zeinhom Community Centre, anchoring longer-term support focused on people, not just buildings.
July 2000
June 2004
July 2007
November 2010
October 2018
Supporting families beyond housing
As the surrounding area was redeveloped, 179 residential buildings were constructed, serving around 3,000 families.
Alongside this physical transformation, the Zeinhom Community Centre evolved into a hub for social, educational, health, and livelihoods support, responding to the changing needs of the community.
Today, the centre works with families as a whole, offering services for children, youth, adults, and older people.
“We work with the entire family. Children, women, youth, and older people all have different needs, and our role is to make sure no one is left behind.”
Hassan explains.
Hossam Hassan
Hossam Hassan
A space for health, learning, and livelihoods
The centre hosts a wide range of activities aimed at strengthening family wellbeing.
It includes a cultural and social centre for women, a children’s club offering educational and recreational activities, and vocational training programmes in carpet-making, handicrafts, leatherwork, and tailoring.
Health services are also a cornerstone of the centre’s work.
A medical facility on site provides access to specialized clinics, including internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, dermatology, and dental care, ensuring essential services are accessible within the community.
“All activities are delivered by specialized professionals,” Hassan adds.
“Doctors, nurses, educators, and social workers work together to provide integrated support.”
Women at the heart of change
Women’s economic empowerment has been central to the centre’s approach from the very beginning. Walaa Sayed Ali, who has worked as a supervisor at the centre for 20 years, has witnessed this transformation unfold over time.
“At first, many women were hesitant,” she recalls. “But gradually, they gained confidence. Many of them now run small businesses from their homes, especially in handicrafts and leatherwork.”
Some have gone even further. “They began selling their products in well-known markets like Al-Mouski and Al-Ataba,” Walaa says.
“This has helped improve income not just for one family, but for many households across the community.”
Women at the heart of change
Women’s economic empowerment has been central to the centre’s approach from the very beginning. Walaa Sayed Ali, who has worked as a supervisor at the centre for 20 years, has witnessed this transformation unfold over time.
“At first, many women were hesitant,” she recalls. “But gradually, they gained confidence. Many of them now run small businesses from their homes, especially in handicrafts and leatherwork.”
Some have gone even further. “They began selling their products in well-known markets like Al-Mouski and Al-Ataba,” Walaa says.
“This has helped improve income not just for one family, but for many households across the community.”
Skills that create opportunity
For Bakhita Mohamed El-Sayed, the centre opened a door she never expected.
“I had no background in sewing at all,” she explains.
“Through the training here, I learned the skills and eventually started working on my own.”
Today, Bakhita also works from home, where she receives orders and produces household textiles.
“This work provides a good income,” she says.
“It has helped improve my living conditions and support my family.”
Creativity has also played an important and empowering role.
Sahar Shaaban, who specializes in handmade crafts such as embroidery and crochet, sees these skills as both an outlet and an opportunity.
“These crafts are simple, but they make a real difference,” she says.
“I wanted to share what I learned with other girls, so they could use their free time productively and contribute to their family’s income.”
That sense of sharing continues to ripple through the community.
Aya (alias), one of the women involved in the centre’s activities, describes how learning quickly turned into teaching.
“I discovered a space for creativity and self-expression. Then I began inviting my neighbours, friends, and sisters to learn with me, just as I had learned myself. These small skills can truly change lives.”
A hub for volunteering and long-term impact
Beyond its direct services, the Zeinhom Community Centre has become a focal point for volunteering, bringing together people committed to strengthening their community.
Through long-term presence, trust, and locally driven solutions, the Egyptian Red Crescent has helped ensure that Zeinhom’s transformation is not only physical, but social and economic as well.
More than two decades on, the centre continues to demonstrate that lasting change takes time — and that community-led development, supported by volunteers and local expertise, can reshape lives for generations.
It is a timely reminder, in the International Volunteer Year, of the lasting impact of volunteer action.
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