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And I was really amazed to see that huge number of youth, no wonder they represent approximately 70 percent of the Egyptian population. And I was even more amazed when I had a deep look in their faces, their eyes, and saw a lot of energy in their eyes, a lot of frustration as well. And I couldn't help but think about how efficient it would be if we used this energy properly to build up a developed country and help make it a better place, instead of letting them get dragged by those aimless brainwashing groups and let them use this negative frustration and distract those youth by turning them away from any useful act. I truly believe that those youth need to be aware of their problems, and our problems, and then focus on working on them, knowing that together it will not be hard to develop this country as youth like us succeeded to develop it 22 years ago, making the sixties of the last century a period of the most prosperous periods in modern Egyptian history.
Through field work, we've seen a lot of types of NGOs: there are NGOs working on the development of local communities which is the most common model among NGOs, especially those working in popular and poor areas and slums. As well, there are those small NGOs that are mainly a mosque, along with a small school for kids that work for the neighboring families in some slums, and there are NGOs working on the development of education and especially primary education. A lot of other NGOs are working in the field of women's rights and enhancing their chances to work as well as their social opportunities. There arel a reasonable number of human rights NGOs and groups working against torture, discrimination and racism, working for the rights of prisoners and refugees and for democratic development, and finally there are NGOs working on saving cultural heritage for cultural education.
And as the project is about to end, Lamia Mohamed, one of the field researchers, is talking about her experience in the field: "I?ve been through a lot of interesting encounters during my field work in Mid-Cairo; it certainly added a lot to me, I was actually amazed by the diversity of my NGOs: as you can find a very sophisticated office for an NGO and another extremely poor one for another NGO, maybe on the same street. I also enjoyed the diversity of their field of work; from development to human rights, there was that NGO called 'Democratic development' that I liked the most. They'd recently started and they?re so active I even wish I can volunteer with them sometime. I also liked a lot that NGO called 'AlMahroussa development'; they work on documenting cultural heritage and saving Egyptian folklore. That one was really interesting. I wish I could?ve documented all of this. It's one of the most interesting experiences I?ve ever had."
I believe that this field work with NGOs was not only very interesting but very fruitful as well. It actually added to all of us, each in a different way.
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Yara Kassem
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Comments
Ricky | Oct 8th, 2004
I like your insight on volunteering!
for the Good cause Shavkatjon | Oct 10th, 2004
Hi Angel,
I think this work of yours with creating guide of volunteers is indeed one valuable source for youth. I hope it will be posible to share it either online or hard copy with NGOs outside Egypt too, as there are interests in establishing and developing cooperation and exchange.
Your work and Writings have always been source of inspiration and ideas.
Keep your Creativity and Energy nurturing and proseper.
Cheers
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