Despite national gains in school enrolment, health, and economic development, adolescent
girls in Upper Egypt are facing critical gender gaps in schooling (Isharq Program, 2013). The
present research deals with how the Ishraq program, as non- formal education, has succeeded
in advocating the education of adolescent girls in Upper Egypt and making their transition
into formal schooling. Ishraq is a program running under an international NGO that is
designed to address the educational problems in rural areas in Egypt where there are
problems with schooling for young girls. Ishraq is a second chance for education that is
providing necessary skills, such as literacy and life skills, reproductive health, livelihoods
information, civic engagement, and sports. Ishraq provides an integrated skill-building
package to be delivered in 24 months through the following categories: (1) literacy, (2) life
skills, (3) sports, and (4) financial literacy in one of the five lowest-ranked governorates
(Fayoum, Menya, Assiut, Qena, and Souhag), according to Human Development Index. The
research gathered the primary data from the interviews and the secondary data or desk
research from literature reviews, and data available online. The recent results by Ishraq report
revealed that there are more than 3000 adolescent girls returning to school since the start of
Ishraq in 2001 till June 2013. Moreover, the program contributed to sharing the information
with their parents and neighborhoods encouraged other girls to join the program which also
motivated parents to educate their girls. The Ishraq program contributed very positively
towards improving literacy skills, health gains, and financial planning. The program is being
assessed by the population council as one of reputable research organizations. Whereas the
great challenge that is facing the program is scaling up Ishraq to a national level which causes
the threats in overcoming community norms that hinder mainstreaming of Ishraq girls into
formal schooling