 The PPIC-Work approach has been developed and tested in Egypt over a ten year period. PPIC-Work shows how microfinance institutions can enhance the social impact of their programs by helping improve the lives of working children and how private businesses can help children who are involved in some of the worst forms of child labour move to safer work and better futures.
Improving the lives of working children
Over 90 percent of PPIC-Work client businesses have been found to be actively involved in improving children’s working conditions and learning opportunities compared with just over 20 percent of non PPIC-Work clients.
 Working children report:
- safer, cleaner and healthier work environments;
- shorter working hours;
- fairer treatment, and;
- no physical or verbal abuse.
 Most of the working children involved with PPIC-Work are:
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continuing their schooling, and;
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have improved their academic performance at school.
Many working children have also:
- developed good business skills and
- are interested in starting their own businesses once they are adults.
 PPIC-Work partner agencies have been able to develop an award winning  model that helps working children move out of very hazardous types of work and find safer work with training opportunities for future careers. The PPIC-Work experience was recognized internationally as a prime example of responsible business conduct.
Using the Website...
The PPIC-Work experience will be of interest to microfinance practitioners as well child protection / child rights agencies.
Under the “Microfinance and Working Children” tab on the right, microfinance practitioners and support agencies will find a comprehensive set of resources that include training manuals and guides, instructional videos, technical publications and reports from conferences related to PPIC-Work. Click on the “Microfinance and Working Children” tab on the right of this page.
For the reports and video about helping children get out of the worst forms of child labour click on the tab “Worst forms of Child Labour”.
PPIC-Work has also developed the Ba’alty (My Shop) computer game that teaches children about business principles and business ethics. The game is available in Arabic and English and can be downloaded for free by clicking on that “Ba’alty Game” tab on the right.
PPIC-Work Partners 
Working Children and Microfinance
- Egyptian Association for Community Initiatives and Development (Aswan and Cairo)
- Partners in Technology Exchange (Canada)
- Mennonite Economic Development Associates (Canada)
Worst Forms of Child Labour
- Centre for Development Services (Qalubaya)
- The Arab Contractors (Egypt) Ltd
- National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (Government of Egypt)
- Partners in Technology Exchange (Canada)
- Mennonite Economic Development Associates (Canada)
Expansion of PPIC-Work to new areas
- CEOSS (Cairo)
- Association for Rural and Urban Women’s Development (Qena)
- Zeinab Kamel Hassan Foundation (Cairo)
- Aga Khan Development Foundation
Studies and Research
- The Population Council (Egypt)
Network
- Egyptian Small and Microenterprise Association
Financial Support
- Canadian International Development Agency
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