Weekly devotion: Called to Defend the Vulnerable
This week we pray for the Salaam Centre, which tackles violence and discrimination against women and girls in one of Cairo’s most deprived areas. We’re also reflecting on a psalm that calls us not to look away.
In the slum area of Ezbet el Nakhl in Cairo, violence, addiction and disease are an ever-present reality. People survive there by sorting rubbish, often living in makeshift dwellings constructed from the materials they find. Life is difficult and – for some – drugs such as tramadol offer temporary escape. Aggression and sexual assault are, tragically, also common.
In the heart of this challenging environment, the Salaam Centre offers refuge and hope. Run by the Coptic Orthodox Daughters of St Mary convent, the centre provides a range of medical, educational and social services. This week, in the lead up to International Women's Day (8 March), we focus our prayers on a particular aspect of their work – preventing violence against women and girls.
Education is the key to change. The centre holds seminars on the stigma and discrimination women face, and how this connects to violence, psychological abuse, and other issues such as forced marriage. It is vital to persuade men to attend and understand how harmful certain attitudes can be.
Support groups, counselling, and access to medical and legal services also offer practical help and healing for women experiencing abuse. Please pray for the Salaam Centre, the Sisters who have dedicated their lives to this ministry, and the marginalised women who find hope through this transformational work.
Bible reading
‘How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’
Psalm 82:2-4
Thought
The psalmist’s call to defend vulnerable people against oppression reflects the very heart of God’s plan for us. The work of the Salaam Centre embodies this call in a practical way – protecting women and girls, challenging harmful attitudes, and offering safety and healing where violence has taken root.
This passage reminds us that to tackle injustice, we first have to notice and name it. Whatever form the ‘wicked’ might take, we can’t ignore it for the sake of a quiet life or a desire not to get involved in someone else’s trauma. As followers of Christ, we are invited to speak up for those suffering abuse and protect those without power in society.
Ask yourself: Whose dignity is God asking you to notice and uphold this week?
Prayer
Lord God,
You are the defender of the vulnerable and the refuge of those in trouble. We pray for your protection over the women and girls of Ezbet el Nakhl, and for the Salaam Centre’s mission to change attitudes about violence and discrimination. Bring healing and safety to those suffering abuse, and help us, too, to safeguard vulnerable people in our own communities.
Amen.
Find out more about life in Egypt
Our partners in Egypt support many families who live in informal settlements and work as part of the Zabbaleen community.
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