IF I DON'T HELP MY PEOPLE, WHO WILL? IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

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...And the King will answer them, "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my bretheren, you did it to me." Mt. 25:40

About Us In 1989, St. Mark's American Coptic Youth Association (SMCYA) was established with an ambitious mission to promote the spiritual, social and economic well being of Coptic Youth in Egypt. These Youth consistently experience severe hardship as a result of both poverty and discrimination. SMCYA emphasizes assisting the Youth to become self sufficient as a permanent means out of poverty. To Date, with an annual budget of approximately $52,000 per year, from $14,000 in 1989, several hundred Youth have directly benefited from the generosity of the American Coptic Community. SMCYA has engaged in partnerships with nine high energy priests who are earnestly devoted to promoting the well being of three hundred Youth who live in the following areas: Shobra, Mansoura, Tanta, Komombo, El Matariya and Helwan. To date, with the help of these priests, SMCYA has accomplished the following: Established a carpentry workshop that has allowed 12 Youth to support their families by creating variously needed church woodwork and low-cost furniture for sale in their communities; Funded the tuition of technical schools for Youth; Created various small businesses for Youth. For instance, candy and soda kiosks, knitting shops, and various other businesses that enabled the Youth to grow their business and become self reliant; Financed the start-up of businesses for various Youth who hold professional degrees, yet lacked the resources to pursue their dreams; and Provided funding for couples who required money to finance their weddings.