Etijah implemented “Provision of Protection Services to Individuals in Vulnerable Situations”, a project funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and delivered through the Sanad Safe Space in Giza. The project addressed acute protection, psychosocial, and basic-need gaps faced by migrants, refugees, and low-income host-community members across Greater Cairo.
Context and rationale
Egypt’s urban context concentrated large numbers of displaced and migrant populations living alongside economically vulnerable host families. In some communities, People are facing overlapping risks, economic challenges, limited access to essential services, gender-based violence, and psychological trauma. Particularly, women and girls affected piloted a gender-responsive mechanism that prioritized their safety and inclusivity. The project focused on these intersecting vulnerabilities by providing an integrated community-based safe space that merged protection, legal support, mental-health care, and basic-needs assistance
Aims and strategic approach
The project aimed to resolve the protection dilemma by delivering a coordinated package of services that included well-being and social inclusion, which reduced immediate risks and supported the beneficiaries’ recovery. It emphasized individual case management alongside group counseling sessions and psychosocial activities. The project reached a milestone in serving the beneficiaries and providing them with basic needs such as shelter, food supply, and legal counseling.
Core interventions
• Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS): group workshops (art therapy, stress management, psychodrama) and one-to-one psychological and psychiatric sessions (including trauma-focused approaches such as CBT, EMDR, DBT).
• Case management & protection: individualized assessments, safety planning, referrals, and follow-up by trained caseworkers.
• Emergency housing, food support, and Non-Food Items (dignity kits) to meet urgent needs.
• Health counseling and medical referrals, with emphasis on reproductive and primary care access.
• Legal counseling and representation for survivors and vulnerable migrants.
Project reach and outputs
The project recorded substantial uptake across services: 1,855 attendances at MHPSS group sessions; 161 individual psychological/psychiatric consultations; 800 dignity kits distributed; 186 beneficiaries receiving health counseling; 611 beneficiaries receiving case management; 31 individuals provided emergency housing, and 9 women supported with legal services. These outputs evidenced strong demand for integrated protection and recovery services at the community level
Etijah implemented this project with the invaluable support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)