Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services
Aim
Promote the sanctity, equity, and harmony of life; seek to contribute to the transformation of society by nurturing moral and spiritual awareness, enhancing a sense of belonging, promoting respect for diversity, addressing conflict, and advancing social justice for individuals and communities; adhere to religious and human values that promote justice and peace, respect pluralism and diversity, and encourage ecological conservation; work cooperatively with national and local governmental agencies and with civil society institutions to best address the concerns and rights of society; seek transparency with partners and donor organisations; encourage a culture in which freedom of expression and belief, democratic decision making, consensus-building, and gender equity are valued and practiced; empower and equips workers and leaders with practical, analytical, and creative skills that empower them to achieve their goals and objectives.
History
The founder of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, Reverend Samuel Habib, was also a leader in the Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church of Egypt and president of the Protestant Churches of Egypt. The organisation was founded in 1950 as "Individual Initiatives" and comprehensive programs that included literacy, leadership, training, home economics, income generating projects and improving family relationships to the Muslim and Christian communities. In 1969 was the "Formal Registration" as the Egyptian government officially recognised the programme and CEOSS came into being as a registered social services organisation designed to serve Muslim and Christian communities alike.
IRD Activities
- Forum for Intercultural Dialogue (FID) – National Programme
CEOSS works on dialogue in two ways: expand, proliferate, and exchange experiences through local, regional, and international dialogue programmes. Additionally, the dialogue unit adds to the depth of these discussions by presenting current issues to influential groups in order to encourage the formation of public opinion. The goal of the National programmes is that religious leaders, policy makers, community leaders, educators, university students, media representatives, opinion makers and other innovators have a better understanding of cultural, religious, social and political issues relevant to promote tolerance and peace in the Egyptian society and become potential change agents in their communities and/or their work that allow them to play an active and effective role in building new Egypt
- Forum for Intercultural Dialogue (FID) – Regional Programme
The Regional programmes include intellectuals from Arab countries to address issues related to the promotion of the culture of dialogue, common understanding and develop common perspectives on regional matters, a step needed to have more constructive Arab-Western dialogue. The goals of the programme are to build and strengthen sustainable professional networks within Arab institutions, to increase their understanding, best practices, modules and strategies to address challenges in their society, and to strengthen their leadership to be able to uphold the Arab position on sensitive issues
- Forum for Intercultural Dialogue (FID) – International Programme
The goal of the international level programmes is sharing successful models in important issues such as democratic transformation, development, values of human rights and the role of law among institutions and individuals in order to foster dialogue among civilizations, encourage respect for cultural diversity, increase awareness of the values shared by all peoples and provide conditions favouring a better understanding among them. The dialogue topics are drawn from crucial societal transformation processes in the participating societies and cover subjects as broad as social development, education system, and the media. The Arab Danish Dialogue aims to build the capacities of young leaders in cross-cultural dialogue and management of religious diversity, and to foster reconciliation, integration and political participation through interfaith initiatives. The Egyptian German, Egyptian Danish Dialogue & Exchange Experience with Africa and Asia aims to provide a platform that addresses challenges, enables learning and stimulates initiatives to help develop cross-culture dialogue, and to build bridges and open a channel for mutual understanding about mutual issues. The Arab European Dialogue aims to cooperate on common cross-relevant human rights issues and peace across nations, and to develop a strategy to reach and foster a mutual understanding of issues and concern for Arab and Europe region.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Egypt - Northern Africa - South-Western Asia - Northern Africa - South-Western Asia - Southern Europe - Northern Europe