In 1952, the Reverend Samuel Habib, a new graduate of Cairo Evangelical Seminary, began working with Christians in a poor rural village in Upper Egypt. His objective was to increase literacy among the village residents so they could read the Bible.

 

When he saw the interrelated needs of the poor, Rev. Habib developed a comprehensive program that included literacy, leadership training, home economics, income-generating projects, and improving family relationships.

 

The project spread to surrounding communities, and Rev. Habib started a follow-up program to train local leaders to continue the project. Some of these early strategies, such as training volunteer leaders, establishing resident field staff in the villages, and conducting campaigns against harmful traditions have remained cornerstones in CEOSS’ development activities.

 

In 1960, the Egyptian government officially recognized the program, and CEOSS came into being as a registered social services organization designed to serve Muslim and Christian communities alike. CEOSS became independent of the Egyptian Evangelical Church, its parent organization. At that time, two primary areas of work were identified: community development and publishing.

 

CEOSS is now one of the leading NGOs in Egypt. It is increasingly recognized in the national and international arenas as it continues to grow and change to most effectively expand its impact. CEOSS currently has five major areas of focus:

CEOSS has become—and will continue to be—a force for development and a voice of dialogue in Egyptian civil society and in the development community at large.