Gender Equality Egypt Project #30063

Eve of the Factory

by Not Guilty Inc

Project Report | Oct 23, 2025
The Problem: Marginalization of Factory Girls

By Dr. Laila Risgallah Wahba | Founder, Not Guilty

In Egypt, factory-girls represent one of the most vulnerable segments of society. Many come from families where illiteracy is common, and the need for income pushes children—and especially girls—into labor before adolescence. These factors combine to create a precarious environment:

A high percentage of these children come from families with limited education and scant opportunities for their children.
The pressure to contribute financially often overrides access to schooling, safe childhoods, and protective adult supervision.
The vulnerability of these adolescents is magnified when they are separated from family or community support, working long hours, and lacking a voice or advocacy.
In this environment the risk of sexual abuse, exploitation, bullying, and trauma increases—and too often, the cycle goes unrecognized and unaddressed.

Our Response: How Not Guilty Intervenes

Not Guilty has committed to work alongside those marginalized by helping them move from invisibility to voice, and from vulnerability to empowerment. Our approach includes:

Awareness and Education: We’ve developed impactful media campaigns and educational content as part of this effort. We have created workshops and safe spaces where adolescents and their communities learn about body-safety, rights, bullying and abuse prevention, and healthy relationships.
Prevention and Support Programs: We work with local schools, factories, and community groups to integrate anti-abuse curriculum, train teachers and social-workers, and build trusting environments where children feel safe to speak.
Empowerment and Advocacy: We help those marginalized build identity and resilience by equipping them with skills (emotional, relational, and sometimes vocational) so they are not forced into silence or exploitation. Not Guilty’s mission to “raise a generation… who hate, refuse and fight bullying and sexual abuse” is especially relevant here.
Research and Visibility: We produce awareness-raising tools—including a documentary on sexual abuse in factory-girls (“Masna al Nisa’”)—to expose the hidden realities these girls face and mobilize communities for change.

Impact & Hope for the Future

Thanks to supporters like you, Not Guilty has already made measurable progress:

Developed curricula approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Education on anti-bullying and anti-sexual abuse.
Trained thousands of children, parents, teachers, and social-workers.
Counseled survivors and built bridges of trust between children and caregivers.

Yet, for the adolescent who is forced into work at age 12, the opportunity to heal, learn, and escape the cycle of marginalization is still far too rare. That’s why our work continues—and why your partnership matters.

Your Role: Partnering for Protection

You can help ensure that children see a future unlike the one they were born into. With your support we can:

Expand our outreach into factory-communities and workplaces—where girls are at highest risk.
Advocate for protective policies and practices within industries relying on child labor or under-age employment.
Equip survivors with healing resources and local support networks to rebuild identity and hope.

Will you stand with us?

Your gift today helps recognize the hidden, protect the vulnerable, and empower the next generation.

Links:

Our Website

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Jun 27, 2025
A Safe Working Environment for Females

By Dr. Laila Risgallah | Founder

Factory girls represent one of the most marginalized groups in Egyptian society. Approximately 88% come from impoverished, illiterate families, and many begin working as young as 12 out of sheer necessity—often for minimal wages. In these environments, they face widespread exploitation, violence, and discrimination. When sexual abuse occurs, most remain silent, fearing severe consequences: social ostracism, professional exclusion, public shaming, and even punishment at home.

In recent months, the project has made steady progress in both awareness and implementation. Outreach efforts have expanded to three factories, where orientation and listening sessions successfully introduced the concept of support groups. A dedicated team of trained facilitators—including female psychologists and community advocates—has been actively leading sessions, laying the groundwork for trust, healing, and long-term impact.

Next Steps

Scale up awareness and therapy programs to reach the remaining factories and extend support to more women and girls.
Complete and roll out the “Safe Factory for Girls” certification, setting clear standards for workplace safety and accountability.
Sustain fundraising efforts to close the remaining $18,371 gap and ensure the program’s full implementation.
Establish collaborations with local media outlets to elevate women’s voices and drive public accountability for safer workplaces.
Actively involve male factory workers through targeted engagement, recognizing their essential role in fostering a culture of respect and safety.

This work is made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. As we continue, we ask for your help—whether through donations, spreading awareness, or advocacy. Every contribution brings us one step closer to safe, dignified work for every factory girl in Egypt.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/gheirmozneb

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Feb 28, 2025
Identifying, Preventing, and Responding

By Dr. Laila Risgallah Wahba | Founder

Identifying, Preventing, and Responding to instances of Sexual Abuse and Harassment. Project Report - February 2025 - Eve of the Factory (#30063)

The Problem:

Factory girls are a marginalized group in the Egyptian society. 88% of factory girls belong to poor, illiterate families. The main motive for joining the labor force as early as 12 years old is the dire need to obtain an income regardless of how small it is. Girls are exposed to exploitation, violence & discrimination at the workplace. Most do not report sexual abuse at work because there are consequences: she will be iced out of her industry, shamed in public and punished in private.

Our Solution:

Not Guilty conducts training sessions on sexual abuse awareness and prevention in the workplace. One recent example was for 120 employees—both men and women—of a manufacturing company. This initiative was designed to foster a safer and more respectful work environment by educating employees on identifying, preventing, and responding to instances of sexual abuse and harassment.

The primary goals of the training were to:

Increase awareness of sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace.
Equip employees with tools to recognize and prevent inappropriate behavior.
Provide guidance on reporting mechanisms and support systems.
Foster a culture of respect, safety, and zero tolerance for harassment.

The session was highly interactive, featuring role-playing exercises, group discussions, and anonymous Q&A opportunities. Employees were encouraged to share their thoughts and ask questions in a safe and supportive environment.

Feedback from participants indicated a heightened awareness of workplace harassment, with many expressing appreciation for the clarity of information and the practical strategies provided. Some employees shared that they had previously been unsure about how to report incidents, and the training helped them feel more empowered to take action if necessary. These types of training sessions are a significant step toward fostering a safer, more respectful workplace environment.

Thank you for supporting this important work. We appreciate you.

Dr. Laila Risgallah Wahba, Founder

https://www.notguiltyinc.org/

Links:

Attachments:

Identifying_Preventing_and_Responding_to_instances_of_Sexual_Abuse_and_Harassment__.pdf (PDF)

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