Threads of Hope (ToH) is a social enterprise creating dignified employment for refugee, migrant and local women in Egypt through embroidery and beading training

The Challenge

The underprivileged community in Egypt face many socioeconomic obstacles, including hardships securing formal employment, living in overcrowded neighbourhoods with inadequate housing conditions, and for the refugee population, trauma from fleeing war zones in their countries. Women are particularly vulnerable in this group, as many of them are subjected to gender prejudice and abuse, while still acting as the primary caretaker for their families.

The Organisation

Threads of Hope (ToH) was established in 2017 by Malaika Linens, a renowned home linen company based in Egypt. ToH trains women from disadvantaged communities, including refugees, migrants and local women, in embroidery and beading. After completing the training, the women join Malaika’s workforce where they earn a stable monthly income. The workshop also provides a safe space for these women, who are supported with psycho-social care, focused group discussions and group awareness sessions on topics related to wellbeing and trauma. 

Currently, ToH provides 6 different types of embroidery training through 5 expert trainers. Their workspace, located in Cairo, provides a safe and comfortable environment where the women can bring their children as they work or attend training. In 2019, ToH trained 469 women including 70% from refugee/ migrant women from Ethiopia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.   

Alfanar's Support: Looking Ahead

Alfanar is excited to support TOH as they train and employ a new cohort of women from refugee, migrant and the local community in embroidery. Alfanar will support ToH to set up a proper M&E system, with adequate metrics using Alfanar’s Qlik system and support ToH to implement an efficient financial accounting system.   

ToH is part of our SEMD Project, a regional project initiated and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by GFA Consulting group and Endeva.   

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