A cohort of 18 professional child caregivers were the first to be internationally certified across Egypt and the Arab world after completing an internationally accredited vocational program for caring for orphans.

They were recognised in a ceremony in Sonesta Hotel on 27 April.

The one-year training program is sponsored by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and is accredited by UK Pearson-Edexcel, the UK's largest academic and vocational awarding organisation.

The program was put together by Amaan, the training centre of Wataneya Society for the Development of Orphanages, the first NGO dedicated to applying minimum standards of care to guide conditions in orphanages and childcare homes in Egypt. The program took two years to develop.

Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali expressed the pressing need to professionally train all those involved in caregiving as “this profession has become accessible to everyone and anyone… whereas it is a profession that should require an official license to practice.”

In a total of 33 weekly sessions, the caregivers learned about children’s physical, socio-emotional and mental development, behaviour psychology, communication, and the management and promotion of a safe living environment.