Ebsar Masr is an Egyptian civil foundation working for sustainable community development. We work with individuals, families and communities facing barriers that limit their opportunities in education, health, work, or participation in public life.
We are more than a provider of assistance. We are a community development organization: we start from genuine need, and we aim for every person we work with to emerge better able to rely on themselves and improve their lives.
We are based in Cairo and work for development in Egypt. We believe the best solutions are built together with communities, partner organizations, volunteers, and everyone who shares this goal.
Ebsar Masr Foundation for Sustainable Development is an Egyptian private non-profit civil foundation based in Cairo, registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity under No. 692 of 2014.
Our Philosophy: From Barriers to Capabilities
For us, development is not a single sector. It is a person’s progress from a barrier that holds them back to a capability or opportunity that helps them move forward.
The barrier may be poverty, illness or disability. It may be a gap in education or skills, the absence of work, or a social obstacle. The barriers differ, but the question we ask is the same: what is stopping this person from moving forward, and how can we help remove it?
The Meaning of “Ebsar”
Ebsar (إبصار) is an Arabic word meaning sight and perception. We chose it as our name for a meaning broader than eyesight: a person becoming able to see, understand, move, choose and progress where something once stood in their way.
Someone who could not see becomes able to see. Someone who could not move becomes able to move. Someone without knowledge becomes educated. Someone who could not meet their own needs becomes better able to support themselves and their family. In each case, a barrier is removed and a path becomes clear.
What This Means in Our Work
We measure success by what a person has become able to do, not only by what they have received. This is also why our work spans several areas: the barriers people face are many, but our approach to them is the same.
On this basis, the Foundation works across five connected areas: Education & Digital Skills, Disability Inclusion, Health & Wellbeing, Economic Opportunity, and Community & Family Support. Three shared commitments run through all of them: knowledge and public awareness, environmental sustainability, and technology as a tool for empowerment.
Who We Serve
We work for communities in Egypt, with particular attention to people facing barriers that limit their access to opportunity, including:
- families and communities most in need
- children, mothers and families
- young people and recent graduates
- people with disabilities, including blind people
- anyone who needs access to education, skills, health information or a source of income
Each program defines its target group precisely, according to the barrier it addresses.
Geographic Scope
The Foundation is based in Cairo, and its purpose is community development in Egypt. Each program sets its own geographic scope according to the need it addresses and the partnerships available to deliver it.
Legal & Registration Information
Egyptian private non-profit civil foundation registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity under No. 692, dated 29 June 2014.
Registration No.: 692 / 2014
Registration Date: 29 June 2014
Registered Address: 18 B, Arab Organization Housing Buildings, Makram Ebeid Street, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
Our Mission
We work to remove or reduce the barriers that limit the opportunities of individuals, families and communities in Egypt, and to build their capabilities through education and training, health support and awareness, disability inclusion, economic opportunity, and community and family support. We do this in partnership with local communities and partner organizations, with the aim of achieving lasting change.