“Our lives are changed”

Posted: June 1, 2010   By: Holly Drake

EGYPT – As a young girl growing up in Egypt, *Panya’s life was marked by abuse, isolation and emptiness.

“I didn’t know who I was as a girl; I didn’t know I had any value.” explained Panya, now 27 years old. “My understanding about girls was that they are only good for marriage.”

Like so many young girls in Egypt, Panya was taught to be subservient, to be nothing. “I’m nobody,” she said. “I’m nobody in my family.”

Cultural rituals surrounded her from a young age, things she calls “bad traditions.”

“Many girls are not educated and the community is not addressing education; circumcision is common among females; and girls are not allowed to work—they have no value,” Panya said.

For those girls who choose not to be part of the Muslim faith, the physical abuses and persecution are even greater.

But thankfully, Panya’s life would take a remarkable turn.

She was invited to join an Operation Blessing-supported outreach center to help young girls living in poverty and oppressive situations.

“When I joined everything changed,” Panya said.

The center currently provides services such as counseling and medical care to more than 350 girls.

And through educational classes in cooking, computer skills and English, the girls also learn practical life skills to help them be successful and independent.

For Panya, it gave her a confidence, independence and value she had never known. Nine years later, Panya is now a leader at the center and helps teach the younger girls.

“I want them to have an identity… to be leaders in the future…to be successful,” she said.

And Panya has set a great example. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in computer studies is happily engaged, and has incredible hope for the future.

“Our lives are changed and we now have a reason to live,” she said. “Life is still hard but we have hope.”

*Name changed to protect identity