School in Egypt Egypt recognizes the value of education for all of its children. But poverty and other cultural norms have kept many young girls from attending school and gaining the knowledge that would enable them and their families to start changing the status quo. Historically, many families in Egypt’s rural communities are so poor that their daughters must start working very young. Other girls marry and start having children. If any member of a family has a chance to attend school, boys get the first opportunity. Apache Corporation has a solution.

I visited the girls’ school in Abu Sir located between the Abu Sir pyramid and the Sakara or “step pyramid”. This first school funded by Apache was recently completed in the community of Abu Sir, which is located about 10 miles south of the Giza pyramids. The Apache school is located between the Abu Sir pyramid and the Sakara or “step pyramid”. From the outside the architectural style is like a family dwelling. It is a one-room building with a covered space in the backyard. However inside the room most American students would recognize the learning centers just as we find in our schools in Chicago. The learning center signs are written both in English and in Arabic. Each school costs $15,000 to build and provides a learning opportunity for 35 girls led by two teachers trained in modern educational techniques