This Mama Helps 'Garbage Kids' Dream Big

By Gary Lane

CBN News Sr. International Reporter

Saturday, May 23, 2015

CAIRO, Egypt -- In recent years, Egyptian Christians and Muslims alike have suffered at the hands of Islamic extremists.

But the light of Christ shines in the lowliest of places. One Egyptian woman picked up her cross and left an affluent life to bring hope to impoverished children surrounded by garbage.

For the many Christians living in Cairo's garbage slums, the only life they know is garbage picking, sorting through tons of trash each day for recyclables.

"Many of them had a lot of discrimination and persecution in the rural areas," author Marty Makary explained. "And when they moved, migrated into the city, there was no place really to live except in the trash for many of them that were poor, mostly driven by the bad economy but in part by the discrimination for jobs."

"They decided to sift through the trash. It's the most efficient recycling operation in the world," he added.

And those who visit these Cairo neighborhoods will see garbage everywhere--in the streets, and even piled inside the homes of the Zabaleen, the garbage people.

Many children here do not attend school. They spend their days picking through the garbage to help their families earn a few dollars per day.

It's a hopeless existence, but one Christian's goal is to give them love today and a future tomorrow.

Mama Maggie, as she is known, hopes to give them a chance at life outside the slums.

Makary is the co-author of a new book about Mama Maggie's work called, Mama Maggie: The Untold Story of One Woman's Mission to Love the Forgotten Children of Egypt's Garbage Slums.

Makary traveled to Cairo to learn more about the ministry.

"Unlike Mother Teresa, who came from poverty and took a vow of poverty, Mama Maggie came from wealth. And during an encounter when she was a successful marketing executive, connected with a child in the garbage slums--a famous district of Cairo that has been mostly neglected," he said.

She found joy and happiness there and returned over time. She eventually gave up her marketing career and started a ministry called Stephen's Children.

"Many times when the kids are asked what do you want to do when you grow up, they've really never thought that far in advance. And some of the kids, can you believe, have never been called by their name by anyone," Makary said. "But no one has ever valued them and asked them that question."

One girl said she only dreamed of having a piece of tomato to eat. Another child said his dream came true at a Stephen's Children camp where he actually slept in a bed.

But dreaming big means learning a skill. Mama Maggie's ministry teaches the children a trade like shoe and clothing manufacturing--marketable skills for earning money and serving others, whether in the garbage slums, or elsewhere.

Makary said they're not talking about getting out of the garbage district.

"They're talking about serving the garbage district. And sure enough, a good number of the full time staff were kids in the ministry themselves, have graduated and want to give back," he explained. "I've met doctors in the clinics over there and they're working for almost no money."

Seven of the 21 Egyptian Christians killed by ISIS in Libya last February were helped by Mama Maggie's ministry.

"They were kids that she fed and taught and were part of the group. Two of them had become leaders in the ministry and they are now using that story to teach forgiveness in the Middle East. They're teaching the kids to break the cycle of revenge," Makary explained.

So, what impresses Makary the most about Mama Maggie? He said it's her humility.

"It is amazing to see that sort of genuine selflessness in a world where you so rarely see it," he told CBN News. "You know, when I came back, the thought of being upset at the cab driver, or frustrated with the bank ATM, or something like that, it just put everything in life in perspective."

A perspective of serving and helping, bringing hope and dignity to the most neglected places.