Education, health services, and other essentials are non-existent or severely lacking. The Abu Gelban Clean Water Project benefitted over 6000 persons in the province of Minia. Through this undertaking, the village people installed latrines, connected their homes to a clean water supply, and dug deep wells which provide uncontaminated water for their animals and irrigation for their crops. Before electricity the source of lighting was kerosene, which produced wastes that led to health problems. Also, kerosene use often resulted in fires.
Electricity now provides a healthy and safer method of lighting.
And its installation has eased the economic burden of the poor, since it is cheaper than kerosene. A local Executive committee comprised of the owners of the houses needing electricity, electricians, who work in the community, and a specialized electrical technician living in the village contacted the governmental authority responsible for installing electricity to make the examination of each home. Through the efforts of this executive committee, the villagers were organized to contribute the labor, materials, electrical tools, etc. The remaining amount of the funding came through the partnering of the Presbyterian Self-Development of People and the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services. As a result of the experience gained by the committee in organizing, in contacting governmental authorities, in learning to work and pool their resources together, they have begun to implement other projects to improve life in their community.