By Christine Ayad | Senior Writer
When the sun went down in one village in Minya, the darkness came quickly.
Streetlights flickered or didn’t work at all. Some roads had no lighting whatsoever. Walking at night felt unsafe, especially for women, children, and the elderly. Accidents became common.
Daytime brought different challenges.
Each morning, children and adults gathered at bus stops, waiting to get to school or work. There was nowhere to sit or shelter from the harsh sun in the summer or the rain in the winter.
For years, residents adapted to these living conditions until a group of girls decided they shouldn’t have to.
Twenty-five girls and young women from the Valuable Girl Project came together and stopped waiting for someone else to act.
Over the course of two months, the girls walked their village street by street. They conducted site visits, took notes, and identified roads with broken or missing lighting. They spoke with residents and listened carefully to their concerns.
Then, they took their findings to local authorities.
With confidence and preparation, the girls presented the problem and proposed clear solutions. They followed the approval process step by step and coordinated timelines for repairs.
By the end of their efforts, nearly 30 new streetlights had been installed. Another dozen existing lamps were repaired.
“The most beautiful moment,” said Aya, 19, “was when we saw the first lamp light up.”
But the girls didn’t stop there.
During their site visits, they found that along the main agricultural road—a busy transportation hub—commuters stood exposed to the elements, waiting for rides in and out of the village.
Once again, the girls worked with local authorities to build a waiting area for commuters.
The shelter now offers shade, seating, and relief from harsh weather. For many residents, it transformed an exhausting wait into a manageable part of the day.
“We worked with our own hands and learned how to turn a simple idea into something that benefits people,” said Nermine, 12.
In total, the streetlights and shelter benefitted 14,000 residents in their village.
When young women are trusted, equipped, and encouraged to lead, they change their communities.
You can help make more stories like this possible. If you feel moved to be part of that impact, we invite you to make a donation today.
By Christine Ayad | Senior Writer
By Angie Henein | Campaigns Manager
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