From Oasis to Oases: How one community centre became a movement in Cairo 

Reading time: four minutes.

In one of Cairo’s most marginalised communities, commonly referred to as the ‘garbage collectors’ district’, families live under constant strain from poverty, addiction, violence and social exclusion. Women and children are particularly affected, facing unsafe living conditions, limited access to education and healthcare, and an increased risk of abuse and exploitation. 

Since 2014, the Oasis Community Centre of Dorcas, operated by our implementing partner Live Vision, has played a vital role in delivering multifaceted support.  

Supporting families to flourish 

The Oasis Community Centre specialises in family-based interventions that address the needs of the entire household. By engaging parents, teenagers and children alike, we strengthen relationships and secure lasting change for the whole family. Our approach focuses on building the self-esteem and practical skills of every household member.

Nardeen, a dedicated team member at Live Vision, witnesses the impact of this work every day. She explains: ‘Children and their families receive essential material assistance, but they also gain important skills. We teach them how to manage money, provide additional educational support, and offer life skills training. For parents, there are courses on parenting. The wonderful thing is that these lessons stay with them for life.’

A key focus of the Oasis Centre’s work is the empowerment of women. Nardeen continues: ‘Many women who come to Oasis feel powerless and trapped in difficult circumstances. Standing up for themselves is not easy. That’s why we provide psychosocial support to help them process their emotions and build resilience. With adults, we focus on thoughts, feelings and behaviours. With children, we use play and creative therapy to support them to express themselves.’

Rosemary, another member of the Live Vision team, works directly with children and observes transformation over time. ‘About a month after they arrive, I often see a change,’ she shares. ‘They’re happier, less anxious, and more caring towards others. They no longer fight or take each other’s belongings. My goal is to stand alongside children and their families – and to help bring about real, lasting change.’

Transformation to Oases  

In the last three years, Oasis community centre has been on a transformational journey towards becoming the ‘Oases programme’. The ‘Oasis-model’ has been replicated across multiple community-based organisations (CBOs) and social initiatives. Through strategic partnerships, our reach and impact continue to grow, as knowledge and expertise are shared across the wider network.  

Live Vision is now developing an Academy for Social Workers in Cairo to train professionals in approaches such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), case-based management, and participatory methods, and is increasingly recognised as a Centre of Excellence, equipping other NGOs in Cairo and beyond to implement the Oasis model.  

In line with this evolution, the centre is also operating as a social enterprise, with new income-generating activities (IGAs) being launched to diversify income sources and strengthen financial sustainability. We also encourage and support local staff, programme graduates and other community members to start their own social businesses. This enables them to create services that meet local needs and strengthen their community from within.

A key milestone in this transformation, has been the adoption of the Flourish programme. This model supports families through eight structured building blocks designed to support them to overcome multi-dimensional poverty. Grounded in social protection, the approach is always adapted to the unique circumstances of each household. Family-based care interventions are an essential part of this model, which means that economic support, protection measures and personalised care are delivered with the household as the central unit of change.  

Advancing protection  

At Dorcas, protecting people in vulnerable circumstances lies at the heart of our mission. Across all our programmes, we integrate protection measures that respond to the complex needs of those we serve. Key areas of focus include case management, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), child protection, and women’s protection. 

Over the past decade, one Oasis has grown into a network of Oases, safe spaces where families can take meaningful steps towards a future of dignity, strength and opportunity. 

12 August 2025