My friend "A" from The Sinai Peninsula sent me this information which I think everyone in Egypt should know about.
Its a wonderful recycling project at no cost to you, but extremely helpful to its beneficiaries.
------
I've suggested this NGO to our residents coordinator here and thought maybe folk here would also be interested.
They deliver bags to you to collect household waste and then they collect it each 2 weeks.
It's a great recycling project run to give jobs to poor Egyptians, so maybe you want to give them a call too and help them.
You can do it company, individual or compound basis.
All you do is give them a call in English and they will put you on the system. Easy peasy and you can help give Egyptians jobs and help recycle our rubbish!!!
Here is all the info here for you to spread around : )
For companies they also provide metal containers to hold the paper and cardboard as well as special bags for glass, plastic, cloth etc.
Dear Mrs A
Thank you!
Gamayit El-Misbah El-Mudii provides a free collection service for residences, companies and schools to collect paper, plastics, glass, clothes, household appliances, batteries, furniture and other recyclable items no longer needed. Since 2005 they started to collect recyclable items and sell it to recycling companies. In 2005, the founder, a very energetic and enthusiastic Egyptian Lady started this collection service to be able to provide work and income for poor people. She has done so for almost 70 employees by now!
Apart from providing jobs for the poor, this service fulfills another desperate need: to Clean Egypt! It is also important to separate our waste so recycle companies can make new products out of it. This way there is less waste to go to the landfills, less air pollution through burning landfills and less health implications and even savings of natural resources. New Egypt is Clean Egypt!
The NGO collects almost everything, of course glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, Carton boxes of Juices like Pure, old clothes, electrical equipment, furniture, batteries, metall. Until now they DONT collect the carton box of the Juhayna Milk and these Styrofoam packages because nobody buys it from them. If things are already pre-sorted it facilitates their work.
For the PET-bottles which you best collect by bringing the air out and putting the cover again (less volume), just ask for the big collection bag that you can hang in any store area. The carton you preferably collect in any carton box ex. Nestle or Aquafina etc. Smash cans to reduce the volume and put it in any plastic bag. For the old clothes you will get a special bag to put them in.
To make sure to be registered in the system please fill in the electronic form:
(if the link does not show properly please just copy it into your browser)
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHpiQTdTMjhqV2xXa2RoUk95Snh5MlE6MQ
We will contact you to inform you about the regular bi-monthly collection date at your place.
If you want to get more information, if you have special needs or if there is any problem please do not hesitate to call, and we might be able to sort it out 0170588869 or 0143282727(english)
It might be that things do not work out perfectly for the first time but once you are in the system and your place is known, it works pretty well – with reliability.
We are learning together!
Thank you and best regards
For Gamayit Misbah El Mudii
Catherine
Showing posts with label Charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charity. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, August 03, 2009
Solar Cities eco-tour
Solar Cities eco-tour, when someone mentioned this on an online forum. I was like "What? Are you sure this is happening in Egypt? in Cairo? People in this city are harnessing solar energy? Are we talking about the same Cairo?"
She gave this site for reference: http://solarcities.blogspot.com and I was completely wowed just reading about the concept.
One of the founders was inspired by an "inner city eco-tourism" opportunity he got on a trip to Johannesburg in 2002. Global nomads T.H. Culhane and Sybille Culhane are now working on the Solar C3.I.T.I.E.S. mission: "Connecting Community Catalysts Integrating Technologies for Industrial Ecology Systems"
They brought solar power to some of the neediest neighbourhoods in Cairo and it has made a difference in the lives of the residents.
To read more about this story and sign up for your own tour, visit the blog http://solarcities.blogspot.com/ I know I hope to do this the next time I'm in Cairo.
She gave this site for reference: http://solarcities.blogspot.com and I was completely wowed just reading about the concept.
One of the founders was inspired by an "inner city eco-tourism" opportunity he got on a trip to Johannesburg in 2002. Global nomads T.H. Culhane and Sybille Culhane are now working on the Solar C3.I.T.I.E.S. mission: "Connecting Community Catalysts Integrating Technologies for Industrial Ecology Systems"
They brought solar power to some of the neediest neighbourhoods in Cairo and it has made a difference in the lives of the residents.
To read more about this story and sign up for your own tour, visit the blog http://solarcities.blogspot.com/ I know I hope to do this the next time I'm in Cairo.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
St Andrews Refugee Center Craft Shop
Visited the St Andrews Refugee Centre again today. A lot of new classrooms have come up since I last visited, a little over a month ago.
For the first time, I saw children leaving after school was out and the sheer joy and happiness at attneding school, on most of their faces was infectious.
Today the Craft shop was also open and I popped in for a quick look-see. Lovely paintings and water colours by some of the extemely talented refugees take up the most space. There are also papier mache mirrors with African designs on them. A few bits of African jewelry and some other bits and bobs.
The prices are very reasonable and the proceeds all go to a great cause. Helping these wonderful and talented people stand on their feet and earn a living.
I've blogged about the other services available at St Andrews before.
Give a call to check when the craft shop will be open on check their website:
www.standrewsrefugeeservices.org
If you are leaving Cairo and have things that are in usable condition and you can't take them with you, please consider donating to St Andrews. They make sure that it reaches people who really need it.
For the first time, I saw children leaving after school was out and the sheer joy and happiness at attneding school, on most of their faces was infectious.
Today the Craft shop was also open and I popped in for a quick look-see. Lovely paintings and water colours by some of the extemely talented refugees take up the most space. There are also papier mache mirrors with African designs on them. A few bits of African jewelry and some other bits and bobs.
The prices are very reasonable and the proceeds all go to a great cause. Helping these wonderful and talented people stand on their feet and earn a living.
I've blogged about the other services available at St Andrews before.
Give a call to check when the craft shop will be open on check their website:
www.standrewsrefugeeservices.org
If you are leaving Cairo and have things that are in usable condition and you can't take them with you, please consider donating to St Andrews. They make sure that it reaches people who really need it.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Services available at St Andrew's Refugee Services
I have met Kathy and they are doing some really wonderful work at the St Andrews Refugee Centre. Below is a mail from her on all the services they offer through the center.
We have a number of services related to questions that frequently come up on this list:
Donations: We accept donations of used clothing, shoes, household goods, furniture, opened shampoos and lotions, [legal] pharmaceuticals, etc. Please remember us when you are leaving Cairo. If you have a lot of things, we can arrange to pick them up. Call Ahmed at our office: 2575-9471.
Translation or Interpreters from Arabic to English: we have trained interpreters and translators available for standard rates (usually about 50 LE per page or per hour). Call us.
Printing t-shirts: we can screen print t-shirts with almost any design you want--or we can design one for you. You can specify colors, how many, Arabic or English. Call us.
Referrals for Cleaners, Electricians, Computer Techs: If you need a good housecleaner, electricians, computer tech, call us. We have started a job bank to match refugees with potential employers. You can employ a refugee who has been well trained in such services.
Arts and crafts, paintings: We have several talented staff artists. Come by to see the products and paintings available for gifts for friends and family. If you want to take a suitcase of things to sell at home or paintings to arrange an exhibition, we can make arrangements.
Internships and volunteers: We have a lot of opportunities for internships and volunteers. You can tutor or teach, help with construction, help prepare legal testimonies, market products, write grants, help with homework, or be a conversation partner for refugees. If you have time to give, anything from 2 hours weekly to full-time, we'll put you to work. It's very rewarding!
We have a webpage with information on volunteering and people can email us from it, also. Its address is: www.standrewsrefugeeservices.org
THANKS for thinking of St. Andrew's!
--
Dr. Kathleen R. Kamphoefner
Co-Director
St. Andrew's Refugee Services
38 July 26th Street
(above the Nasser Metro Stop, Midan Isa'af)
office: [20-2] 2575-9451
We have a number of services related to questions that frequently come up on this list:
Donations: We accept donations of used clothing, shoes, household goods, furniture, opened shampoos and lotions, [legal] pharmaceuticals, etc. Please remember us when you are leaving Cairo. If you have a lot of things, we can arrange to pick them up. Call Ahmed at our office: 2575-9471.
Translation or Interpreters from Arabic to English: we have trained interpreters and translators available for standard rates (usually about 50 LE per page or per hour). Call us.
Printing t-shirts: we can screen print t-shirts with almost any design you want--or we can design one for you. You can specify colors, how many, Arabic or English. Call us.
Referrals for Cleaners, Electricians, Computer Techs: If you need a good housecleaner, electricians, computer tech, call us. We have started a job bank to match refugees with potential employers. You can employ a refugee who has been well trained in such services.
Arts and crafts, paintings: We have several talented staff artists. Come by to see the products and paintings available for gifts for friends and family. If you want to take a suitcase of things to sell at home or paintings to arrange an exhibition, we can make arrangements.
Internships and volunteers: We have a lot of opportunities for internships and volunteers. You can tutor or teach, help with construction, help prepare legal testimonies, market products, write grants, help with homework, or be a conversation partner for refugees. If you have time to give, anything from 2 hours weekly to full-time, we'll put you to work. It's very rewarding!
We have a webpage with information on volunteering and people can email us from it, also. Its address is: www.standrewsrefugeeservices.org
THANKS for thinking of St. Andrew's!
--
Dr. Kathleen R. Kamphoefner
Co-Director
St. Andrew's Refugee Services
38 July 26th Street
(above the Nasser Metro Stop, Midan Isa'af)
office: [20-2] 2575-9451
Saturday, April 04, 2009
My Favorite Time Outs in Cairo
Been in Cairo for awhile and seen the pyramids a hundred times?
Here are some ideas for Cairo which are slightly off the beaten path.
Take a walk through Al Azhar Park. You will be surprised to find such a vast green oasis in the midst of the madness that is Cairo. Catch the sunset that is heralded by the calls from the muezzin from multiple surrounding mosques. At just 5Le entry, this is great value for money. If you would like to jazz it up a bit, there is a wonderful restaurant on the premises that you can sit at to catch the sunset and a wonderful dinner surrounded by the twinkling lights in the distance of the multiple monuments around the area.
Climb the gate/minarets of Bab Zuwayla. This is one of the three surviving main gates of the Khan el Khalili and the only one that can be legally accessed. The view from the top of the gate is marvelous and for the more adventurous, both the minarets can also be climbed. It is easier to access the pinnacle, in the minaret on the left (when facing the tent makers street). Entry is just 10Le but the view is worth much more than that; and if you are lucky, you may be the only people on this edifice.
Catch a Sufi Performance at the Wikalat al Ghuri. This is a free performance at 8pm every Wednesday and Saturday. The performance here is more devotional and less commercial than those on the Nile cruises and can transport you into a mystical world. Just watching the whirling dervishes can put you into a trance. (Turn right after accessing the street adjoining Al Azhar Mosque in Khan el Khalili) Go early for good seats.
Sakiat El Sawy and Makan are 2 other places to catch a performance. While the former has different performers at different locations within their compact premises, the latter has traditional Egyptian and African performances every Wednesday at 8pm.
By now, the weather should have improved enough to take a picnic basket on a felucca. Hire a felucca on the strip adjoining the Grand Hyatt hotel. They charge around 50Le per hour (if you bargain hard) plus tips. The charge is for the felucca itself, no matter how many people get on board, so it’s a great option for family outings too.
If you want a more luxurious option then you may want to take a Nile Cruise aboard the fancier cruisers. These are available as sunset cruises or dinner cruises. Our personal favorite is the Golden Pharaoh (opposite Four Seasons, Giza). They offer open buffets and 3 course meals served at your seat. Golden Pharaoh also allows you to opt for an Indian menu if you book at least a day in advance. This works out to approximately 200Le per person with meals included.
For a truly extraordinary experience, I would highly recommend a meal at the Revolving Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt. The food is not outrageously priced. This is one of the 2 locations within the hotel where alcohol is still being served. The ambience, food, service and view all combine to make this one of the most wonderful places to enjoy a leisurely dinner in the city.
Christo’s is a lovely sea food eatery opposite the Mena House Oberoi. They offer a wonderful sea food spread (where you choose your sea food and tell them how you would like it cooked) during dinner. The reason, we keep going back here is not just for the food but the wonderful color bathed view of the pyramids while the Sound and Light show is on. Do try their salads and sea food soup too.
Sapporo at the Sheraton (opposite the Opera House) offers a special kind of dinner theater. The Master Chefs prepare Teppenyaki at your table and watching them at work is to view poetry in motion. They offer combinations of meats and seafood and can customize the seasonings to your taste.
For a less pricey meal but one with ambience, chose one of the many eateries on the stationary boats in Zamalek for lunch. They are reasonably quiet at this time and you can gaze at the Nile as she flows past in her eternal journey to join the sea. The Fish Market, TGIF, Chillis, Maharani. . . You have a choice of cuisine and budgets among these boats.
The various bookstores in town are an interesting place to catch up on the latest in the literary world and enjoy some peace and quiet in serene surroundings. Some bookshops have cafes attached where you can sip a cup of coffee while perusing your latest purchases. Diwan has opened at many more locations outside of Zamalek. Kotob Khan on Lasilky road and The BookSpot on Road 9 in Maadi are 2 other locations which offer extremely friendly and non obtrusive service. The AUC bookstores offer a great variety of English books on Egypt that make for great gifts.
Other places that offer unusual gifts while contributing to a worthy cause, include Tukul Crafts at the All Saints Church in Zamalek (products created by prison inmates, Sudanese refugees and other disadvantaged groups), the Fair Trade Center on Yehia Ibrahim street in Zamalek (where the artisans are given fair prices for their creations), Touch Her World Inc (017 280 0756 - products made by young Egyptian women seeking self sufficiency)
Karishma Pais (Kim) is an expat trailing wife in Cairo. She has a Masters Degree in Human Resources and Behaviour. She consults on HR projects, delivers intercultural training at the CSA, counsels new and experienced expats, is the editor of DIVA, writes for several magazines – online and offline, she runs whazzupcairo@yahoogroups.com and whazzupcairo@googlegroups.com among other activities. Her Social Commentary and blog about life in Egypt can be read at http://whazzupegypt.blogspot.com Pictures are by her and her husband Brajesh Bajpai.
This article appeared in the February Oasis and on desicritics.org.
Here are some ideas for Cairo which are slightly off the beaten path.
Take a walk through Al Azhar Park. You will be surprised to find such a vast green oasis in the midst of the madness that is Cairo. Catch the sunset that is heralded by the calls from the muezzin from multiple surrounding mosques. At just 5Le entry, this is great value for money. If you would like to jazz it up a bit, there is a wonderful restaurant on the premises that you can sit at to catch the sunset and a wonderful dinner surrounded by the twinkling lights in the distance of the multiple monuments around the area.
Climb the gate/minarets of Bab Zuwayla. This is one of the three surviving main gates of the Khan el Khalili and the only one that can be legally accessed. The view from the top of the gate is marvelous and for the more adventurous, both the minarets can also be climbed. It is easier to access the pinnacle, in the minaret on the left (when facing the tent makers street). Entry is just 10Le but the view is worth much more than that; and if you are lucky, you may be the only people on this edifice.
Catch a Sufi Performance at the Wikalat al Ghuri. This is a free performance at 8pm every Wednesday and Saturday. The performance here is more devotional and less commercial than those on the Nile cruises and can transport you into a mystical world. Just watching the whirling dervishes can put you into a trance. (Turn right after accessing the street adjoining Al Azhar Mosque in Khan el Khalili) Go early for good seats.
Sakiat El Sawy and Makan are 2 other places to catch a performance. While the former has different performers at different locations within their compact premises, the latter has traditional Egyptian and African performances every Wednesday at 8pm.
By now, the weather should have improved enough to take a picnic basket on a felucca. Hire a felucca on the strip adjoining the Grand Hyatt hotel. They charge around 50Le per hour (if you bargain hard) plus tips. The charge is for the felucca itself, no matter how many people get on board, so it’s a great option for family outings too.
If you want a more luxurious option then you may want to take a Nile Cruise aboard the fancier cruisers. These are available as sunset cruises or dinner cruises. Our personal favorite is the Golden Pharaoh (opposite Four Seasons, Giza). They offer open buffets and 3 course meals served at your seat. Golden Pharaoh also allows you to opt for an Indian menu if you book at least a day in advance. This works out to approximately 200Le per person with meals included.
For a truly extraordinary experience, I would highly recommend a meal at the Revolving Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt. The food is not outrageously priced. This is one of the 2 locations within the hotel where alcohol is still being served. The ambience, food, service and view all combine to make this one of the most wonderful places to enjoy a leisurely dinner in the city.
Christo’s is a lovely sea food eatery opposite the Mena House Oberoi. They offer a wonderful sea food spread (where you choose your sea food and tell them how you would like it cooked) during dinner. The reason, we keep going back here is not just for the food but the wonderful color bathed view of the pyramids while the Sound and Light show is on. Do try their salads and sea food soup too.
Sapporo at the Sheraton (opposite the Opera House) offers a special kind of dinner theater. The Master Chefs prepare Teppenyaki at your table and watching them at work is to view poetry in motion. They offer combinations of meats and seafood and can customize the seasonings to your taste.
For a less pricey meal but one with ambience, chose one of the many eateries on the stationary boats in Zamalek for lunch. They are reasonably quiet at this time and you can gaze at the Nile as she flows past in her eternal journey to join the sea. The Fish Market, TGIF, Chillis, Maharani. . . You have a choice of cuisine and budgets among these boats.
The various bookstores in town are an interesting place to catch up on the latest in the literary world and enjoy some peace and quiet in serene surroundings. Some bookshops have cafes attached where you can sip a cup of coffee while perusing your latest purchases. Diwan has opened at many more locations outside of Zamalek. Kotob Khan on Lasilky road and The BookSpot on Road 9 in Maadi are 2 other locations which offer extremely friendly and non obtrusive service. The AUC bookstores offer a great variety of English books on Egypt that make for great gifts.
Other places that offer unusual gifts while contributing to a worthy cause, include Tukul Crafts at the All Saints Church in Zamalek (products created by prison inmates, Sudanese refugees and other disadvantaged groups), the Fair Trade Center on Yehia Ibrahim street in Zamalek (where the artisans are given fair prices for their creations), Touch Her World Inc (017 280 0756 - products made by young Egyptian women seeking self sufficiency)
Karishma Pais (Kim) is an expat trailing wife in Cairo. She has a Masters Degree in Human Resources and Behaviour. She consults on HR projects, delivers intercultural training at the CSA, counsels new and experienced expats, is the editor of DIVA, writes for several magazines – online and offline, she runs whazzupcairo@yahoogroups.com and whazzupcairo@googlegroups.com among other activities. Her Social Commentary and blog about life in Egypt can be read at http://whazzupegypt.blogspot.com Pictures are by her and her husband Brajesh Bajpai.
This article appeared in the February Oasis and on desicritics.org.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Maadi Women's Guild Christmas Bazaar
One of the Best Bazaars that I have attended in Cairo. This was a mammoth effort. Around 80 stalls. There were the usual suspects from the Tupperware/jewelry designers/shawls/sweaters/candles brigade.
But what was truly unique was the sheer number of charities and NGO's that were given the opportunity to present the handiwork of their wards. Some beautiful work was exhibited by the nuns of St Barsoum Monastery - Toys, decorations, embroidery, lace, knits, Coptic Icons, Stained Glass and needle point made by underprivileged families in the Helwan area. They have a wide variety of handicrafts and I would highly recommend visiting their workshops at El Maasara in Helwan.
Other Charities that exhibited work of wonderful quality (which is so hard to find in Egypt) were House of Charity (3381 1063), Woodwork Center of Hagaza (012 759 9479), Touch her World and Tukul Crafts.
There were products created by orphans, young girls, prisoners, refugees and other marginalised groups. This was an excellent opportunity to pick up Christmas gifts in one location while contributing to some great causes.
Entry was 30Le which was completely worth it, unlike the over priced bazaar at Narmer American College
There were stalls that had activities of finger painting, wax hand impressions, decoupage etc. for the little kids, like Art Cafe
There were quite a few Food stalls too. Chinese by Peking and Dragon House, Shawarmas from Bistro, Smiley, Max's Restaurant and a few others.
Amera was offering some excellent hot dogs (I wonder where they buy their sausages from, but they are the best quality and consistency I have eaten in Egypt)
Jared's bagels were making fresh waffles and corn dogs on the spot. I'm not sure if corn dogs are on the regular menu at their Road 9 outlet. I'll have to check the next time I'm there.
If you attend only one bazaar in the Christmas run-up, then this should be it!
But what was truly unique was the sheer number of charities and NGO's that were given the opportunity to present the handiwork of their wards. Some beautiful work was exhibited by the nuns of St Barsoum Monastery - Toys, decorations, embroidery, lace, knits, Coptic Icons, Stained Glass and needle point made by underprivileged families in the Helwan area. They have a wide variety of handicrafts and I would highly recommend visiting their workshops at El Maasara in Helwan.
Other Charities that exhibited work of wonderful quality (which is so hard to find in Egypt) were House of Charity (3381 1063), Woodwork Center of Hagaza (012 759 9479), Touch her World and Tukul Crafts.
There were products created by orphans, young girls, prisoners, refugees and other marginalised groups. This was an excellent opportunity to pick up Christmas gifts in one location while contributing to some great causes.Entry was 30Le which was completely worth it, unlike the over priced bazaar at Narmer American College
There were stalls that had activities of finger painting, wax hand impressions, decoupage etc. for the little kids, like Art Cafe
There were quite a few Food stalls too. Chinese by Peking and Dragon House, Shawarmas from Bistro, Smiley, Max's Restaurant and a few others.
Amera was offering some excellent hot dogs (I wonder where they buy their sausages from, but they are the best quality and consistency I have eaten in Egypt)Jared's bagels were making fresh waffles and corn dogs on the spot. I'm not sure if corn dogs are on the regular menu at their Road 9 outlet. I'll have to check the next time I'm there.
If you attend only one bazaar in the Christmas run-up, then this should be it!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Cakes and Cookies from Hope Village Society in Cairo
The Hope Village Society makes and sells cakes on behalf of street children in Egypt.
Not only is this a worthy cause, but their cakes are truly awesome.
I've tried their Lemon Cake (from 10LE - 20LE depending on size) and Coffee Cake (15LE).
The best of their baked goods that I have tasted so far are the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (20LE for a dozen) These are some of the best cookies that I have eaten in Egypt.
Check out the Hope Village Society at http://egyhopevillage.com
You can contact them for details on ordering at "hopevillage1988 @ hotmail . com" (without the spaces)
Not only is this a worthy cause, but their cakes are truly awesome.
I've tried their Lemon Cake (from 10LE - 20LE depending on size) and Coffee Cake (15LE).
The best of their baked goods that I have tasted so far are the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (20LE for a dozen) These are some of the best cookies that I have eaten in Egypt.
Check out the Hope Village Society at http://egyhopevillage.com
You can contact them for details on ordering at "hopevillage1988 @ hotmail . com" (without the spaces)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
European Embassies Christmas Bazaar at the Nile Hilton
Visited the Christmas Bazaar organised by the European Embassies at the Nile Hilton yesterday. As was to be expected, the quality of goods on offer was way superior to most bazaars in Egypt as the goods had been imported from various European embassies.
We reached about 11am and the place was overflowing. We were wondering what the rush was about, as we haven't seen such crowds at any of the previous bazaars that we have attended in Egypt. People had even come with strolleys and suitcases.
When we went in, we figured that a large majority of the crowd was there to buy the alcohol that was freely available. A lot of embassies had their countries traditional alcohol on offer: Russian vodkas, Pimms from UK, Irish Whiskey, Gordons Gin, the range was much wider than you would ever see in the Duty Free Shop in Egypt. Prices were a little higher than the Duty Free Shops. We did not pick up any alcohol as we travel frequently between the 2 of us and normally bring our legally allowed limit in with us. But a lot of people were stocking up for the holiday season.
Alcohol was just the surface of the goods on offer. Traditional foods, home baked goodies, snacks on site, traditional embroidery, crystal, jewelry, souvenirs. All these were in plenty.
We picked up some Croatian pasta sauce which I have yet to try and fresh chocolate cake from Greece. The cake we got was charred on the bottom, and more like a chocolate flavored bread.
On location we had a European Union brunch ranging from cheese toast from Holland to crepes, waffles, Hungarian Goulash and Slovenian burgers, British Pimms based punch to Irish coffee. The Swiss cheese Raclette smelt a little too strong for our taste but plenty of people were enjoying that with potatoes and gherkins.
Children's Christmas Choirs provided background music 
and there was even a Santa's grotto for the younger ones. 
Entry at 20LE was a bit more than most other bazaars, but all the money was being collected for Egyptian charities.
An enjoyable start to the day.
We reached about 11am and the place was overflowing. We were wondering what the rush was about, as we haven't seen such crowds at any of the previous bazaars that we have attended in Egypt. People had even come with strolleys and suitcases.
When we went in, we figured that a large majority of the crowd was there to buy the alcohol that was freely available. A lot of embassies had their countries traditional alcohol on offer: Russian vodkas, Pimms from UK, Irish Whiskey, Gordons Gin, the range was much wider than you would ever see in the Duty Free Shop in Egypt. Prices were a little higher than the Duty Free Shops. We did not pick up any alcohol as we travel frequently between the 2 of us and normally bring our legally allowed limit in with us. But a lot of people were stocking up for the holiday season.Alcohol was just the surface of the goods on offer. Traditional foods, home baked goodies, snacks on site, traditional embroidery, crystal, jewelry, souvenirs. All these were in plenty.
We picked up some Croatian pasta sauce which I have yet to try and fresh chocolate cake from Greece. The cake we got was charred on the bottom, and more like a chocolate flavored bread.On location we had a European Union brunch ranging from cheese toast from Holland to crepes, waffles, Hungarian Goulash and Slovenian burgers, British Pimms based punch to Irish coffee. The Swiss cheese Raclette smelt a little too strong for our taste but plenty of people were enjoying that with potatoes and gherkins.
Children's Christmas Choirs provided background music 
and there was even a Santa's grotto for the younger ones. 
Entry at 20LE was a bit more than most other bazaars, but all the money was being collected for Egyptian charities.An enjoyable start to the day.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wady Craft Shop / Tukul Crafts - Free Trade
The Craft Shop next to the All Saints Cathedral has been in existence since 2003. It is called the Wady Craft Shop.
What I do like about this place is that all the products are created by disadvantaged groups: hearing impaired, visually impaired, refugees, prisoners and other disadvantaged families. The center sticks products from the Tukul Craft Program for Refugees, The Boulaq Centre (a women’s aid program for widows and single mothers), The Deaf School Vocational Training Centre, Shams El Birr (a school for visually impaired people),The Menouf Social Service, The Prison Ministry and several independent producers including African refugees and Egyptians.
Whatever you buy here is fairly priced and helps support these people.
I've seen a range of gift options available at this location. African print bags, purses, pot holders, hand made albums, jewelry, mother of pearl inlay work, embroidery, wood work.
, 
, 
You can find the shop on the side of the All Saints Cathedral (inside the Cathedral gates, to the left when you are facing the Cathedral)
5 Michael Lutfallah Street
Zamalek
Timings:
Open Daily
Winter : 9:30-5:00pm
Summer : 9:30-6:00pm
Sundays & Fridays 11:00-4:00
Tel: 2735 4350
wadycraftshopATyahooDOTcom
You can view some of the products here:
http://wadycrafts.com/shop/
Tukul Craft Program
What I do like about this place is that all the products are created by disadvantaged groups: hearing impaired, visually impaired, refugees, prisoners and other disadvantaged families. The center sticks products from the Tukul Craft Program for Refugees, The Boulaq Centre (a women’s aid program for widows and single mothers), The Deaf School Vocational Training Centre, Shams El Birr (a school for visually impaired people),The Menouf Social Service, The Prison Ministry and several independent producers including African refugees and Egyptians.
Whatever you buy here is fairly priced and helps support these people.
I've seen a range of gift options available at this location. African print bags, purses, pot holders, hand made albums, jewelry, mother of pearl inlay work, embroidery, wood work.
, , You can find the shop on the side of the All Saints Cathedral (inside the Cathedral gates, to the left when you are facing the Cathedral)
5 Michael Lutfallah Street
Zamalek
Timings:
Open Daily
Winter : 9:30-5:00pm
Summer : 9:30-6:00pm
Sundays & Fridays 11:00-4:00
Tel: 2735 4350
wadycraftshopATyahooDOTcom
You can view some of the products here:
http://wadycrafts.com/shop/
Tukul Craft Program
Friday, September 26, 2008
In Cairo Slum, the Poor Spark Environmental Change
This is not a new story, but was published in April this year. I felt it was still relevant and heartwarming to read some positive news for a change.
From NPR
In Cairo Slum, the Poor Spark Environmental Change
by Liane Hansen
In Cairo, the heart of the city's upscale area is known as Zamalek, a lush island neighborhood in the Nile that thrives with tourists and commerce. Only a short car ride away lies a sprawling slum where impoverished residents have learned to make a living off the trash from Zamalek and other parts of the Egyptian city.
Manshiyet Nasser, with its narrow dirt streets and precariously built houses, is home to tens of thousands of people. They are the Zabaleen, which in Arabic means "garbage collectors," and they have gathered and recycled Cairo's garbage by hand for decades.
While their means of survival may seem lowly, a closer look at this primarily Coptic Christian community reveals that something greater is going on. Here — in the most unlikely of places — the urban poor and some innovative young environmentalists are bringing about environmental change in an age of global warming.
'Living in the Worst of It'
The Zabaleen, like people living in poor countries around the world, are on the front lines of climate change. The United Nations reported last year that greenhouse gas emissions will have disproportionately negative effects on the planet's most impoverished nations — and it cited Egypt as an example.
For the people in Manshiyet Nasser, environmental degradation is already a reality, says Thomas Taha Rassam Culhane. He is the founder of Solar Cities, a nongovernmental organization that is installing environment-friendly solar hot-water heaters on the rooftops of Coptic Christian and Muslim communities in Cairo's slums.
"They're already living in the worst of it. They don't want to see it getting any worse," he says.
Culhane, who is studying for his doctorate in urban planning at UCLA, says poor people like the Zabaleen don't leave a large carbon footprint because their individual energy use is low. But he says their sheer numbers create a problem for the economy because the power they do use is subsidized by the government.
International Attention
The poor don't usually snap to mind when it comes to practicing conservation, Culhane says. But the Zabaleen are doing just that.
Using small vehicles and donkey carts, they haul massive bundles of trash from Cairo — and about 80 percent of the garbage they bring into the community is recycled by hand. Children as young as three sit with their mothers and grandmothers and sort through broken glass, scraps of metal, aluminum cans, dirty diapers and rotted food.
"I'm working all the time," says one woman sorting through piles of refuse. "My hands get dirty, there's no water. The price of food is too high. The gas has gone up to seven pounds a bottle, so it's expensive to heat.
"Everything is so expensive, and I have to live like this?" she says.
A few years ago, Culhane says, the Egyptian government decided to privatize the country's waste-management system, threatening the Zabaleen way of life. But foreign companies hired to do the job found that their garbage trucks couldn't navigate Cairo's narrow streets the way the donkeys could. Today, the slum's residents still collect much of the city's trash.
The Zabaleen's efforts have attracted attention from the international community. Several years ago, UNESCO and Procter & Gamble began investing in an informal recycling school — officially called the Mokattam Non-Formal Education Project.
Culhane says counterfeiters used to sift through garbage, take Procter & Gamble shampoo bottles, fill them with cheaper products and resell them. To get the bottles off the streets, the Cincinnati-based company agreed to fund the school and help the community learn how to recycle plastic.
Today, the school is colorfully painted with P&G shampoo bottles, and serves as a center where young people can learn about the business and economics of recycling. Students are trained to use Excel spreadsheets, and they learn how to shred plastic in machines, wash and dry it using solar energy, bag it and send it out to be melted down for reuse.
Procter & Gamble says that in the past six years, more than 150 children have attended the school, which was created by Laila Iskandar, an education reformer, and local director Azit Nyan Ghindi. And more than a million containers have been recycled.
On the school's rooftop, Solar Cities has installed one of its solar hot-water heaters, and students are taking notice, says Geraldine Samir, manager of the school's scholarship program for girls.
"For the first time, they start to think about other sources of energy. Because for them, energy was gas," Samir says. "So they started to think there are problems not only … of the area, some are worldwide."
Thinking Globally
Hanna Fathy, a young environmentalist who lives in Manshiyet Nasser, works on the Solar Cities project. His neighborhood is home to many of the local craftspeople, and they've played a key role in helping Solar Cities install solar water heaters throughout the community. Culhane says the local steel cutters, copper welders and glass makers made it easy to build his systems.
"We just brought copper pipe … and said, 'Hey can you do it like this?' … Then they say, 'But we could improve it if we did it like this.' " Culhane says. "Then you have this collective intelligence. People here are very talented … it's a participatory process."
Fathy, who taught himself English and put himself through school, has one of Solar Cities' heaters on the roof of his four-story home. A bright blue barrel filled with cold water is connected to solar panels made from recycled garbage bags, framed in aluminum and covered with glass. The aluminum frame is attached to a Styrofoam block by an array of recycled plastic and copper tubes.
Fathy says his neighbors often laugh when they see the contraption — but many are intrigued.
"I work in the street and I talk to them about the system and they say … 'Tell me the story, talk to me, tell me what's happening,' " Fathy says. "And they see very hot water, and many of them ask me to get the system."
Shifting to a solar-powered water heater can help prevent climate change, Culhane says, because it lowers a household's carbon-dioxide emissions by as much as 35 percent.
He and Fathy say they're building solar hot-water heaters in places that are visible from the elegant local monastery, in the hope that residents and visitors will spot the bright blue barrels
"We want to create as much exposure as possible," Culhane says.
Read the original article here.
From NPR
In Cairo Slum, the Poor Spark Environmental Change
by Liane Hansen
In Cairo, the heart of the city's upscale area is known as Zamalek, a lush island neighborhood in the Nile that thrives with tourists and commerce. Only a short car ride away lies a sprawling slum where impoverished residents have learned to make a living off the trash from Zamalek and other parts of the Egyptian city.
Manshiyet Nasser, with its narrow dirt streets and precariously built houses, is home to tens of thousands of people. They are the Zabaleen, which in Arabic means "garbage collectors," and they have gathered and recycled Cairo's garbage by hand for decades.
While their means of survival may seem lowly, a closer look at this primarily Coptic Christian community reveals that something greater is going on. Here — in the most unlikely of places — the urban poor and some innovative young environmentalists are bringing about environmental change in an age of global warming.
'Living in the Worst of It'
The Zabaleen, like people living in poor countries around the world, are on the front lines of climate change. The United Nations reported last year that greenhouse gas emissions will have disproportionately negative effects on the planet's most impoverished nations — and it cited Egypt as an example.
For the people in Manshiyet Nasser, environmental degradation is already a reality, says Thomas Taha Rassam Culhane. He is the founder of Solar Cities, a nongovernmental organization that is installing environment-friendly solar hot-water heaters on the rooftops of Coptic Christian and Muslim communities in Cairo's slums.
"They're already living in the worst of it. They don't want to see it getting any worse," he says.
Culhane, who is studying for his doctorate in urban planning at UCLA, says poor people like the Zabaleen don't leave a large carbon footprint because their individual energy use is low. But he says their sheer numbers create a problem for the economy because the power they do use is subsidized by the government.
International Attention
The poor don't usually snap to mind when it comes to practicing conservation, Culhane says. But the Zabaleen are doing just that.
Using small vehicles and donkey carts, they haul massive bundles of trash from Cairo — and about 80 percent of the garbage they bring into the community is recycled by hand. Children as young as three sit with their mothers and grandmothers and sort through broken glass, scraps of metal, aluminum cans, dirty diapers and rotted food.
"I'm working all the time," says one woman sorting through piles of refuse. "My hands get dirty, there's no water. The price of food is too high. The gas has gone up to seven pounds a bottle, so it's expensive to heat.
"Everything is so expensive, and I have to live like this?" she says.
A few years ago, Culhane says, the Egyptian government decided to privatize the country's waste-management system, threatening the Zabaleen way of life. But foreign companies hired to do the job found that their garbage trucks couldn't navigate Cairo's narrow streets the way the donkeys could. Today, the slum's residents still collect much of the city's trash.
The Zabaleen's efforts have attracted attention from the international community. Several years ago, UNESCO and Procter & Gamble began investing in an informal recycling school — officially called the Mokattam Non-Formal Education Project.
Culhane says counterfeiters used to sift through garbage, take Procter & Gamble shampoo bottles, fill them with cheaper products and resell them. To get the bottles off the streets, the Cincinnati-based company agreed to fund the school and help the community learn how to recycle plastic.
Today, the school is colorfully painted with P&G shampoo bottles, and serves as a center where young people can learn about the business and economics of recycling. Students are trained to use Excel spreadsheets, and they learn how to shred plastic in machines, wash and dry it using solar energy, bag it and send it out to be melted down for reuse.
Procter & Gamble says that in the past six years, more than 150 children have attended the school, which was created by Laila Iskandar, an education reformer, and local director Azit Nyan Ghindi. And more than a million containers have been recycled.
On the school's rooftop, Solar Cities has installed one of its solar hot-water heaters, and students are taking notice, says Geraldine Samir, manager of the school's scholarship program for girls.
"For the first time, they start to think about other sources of energy. Because for them, energy was gas," Samir says. "So they started to think there are problems not only … of the area, some are worldwide."
Thinking Globally
Hanna Fathy, a young environmentalist who lives in Manshiyet Nasser, works on the Solar Cities project. His neighborhood is home to many of the local craftspeople, and they've played a key role in helping Solar Cities install solar water heaters throughout the community. Culhane says the local steel cutters, copper welders and glass makers made it easy to build his systems.
"We just brought copper pipe … and said, 'Hey can you do it like this?' … Then they say, 'But we could improve it if we did it like this.' " Culhane says. "Then you have this collective intelligence. People here are very talented … it's a participatory process."
Fathy, who taught himself English and put himself through school, has one of Solar Cities' heaters on the roof of his four-story home. A bright blue barrel filled with cold water is connected to solar panels made from recycled garbage bags, framed in aluminum and covered with glass. The aluminum frame is attached to a Styrofoam block by an array of recycled plastic and copper tubes.
Fathy says his neighbors often laugh when they see the contraption — but many are intrigued.
"I work in the street and I talk to them about the system and they say … 'Tell me the story, talk to me, tell me what's happening,' " Fathy says. "And they see very hot water, and many of them ask me to get the system."
Shifting to a solar-powered water heater can help prevent climate change, Culhane says, because it lowers a household's carbon-dioxide emissions by as much as 35 percent.
He and Fathy say they're building solar hot-water heaters in places that are visible from the elegant local monastery, in the hope that residents and visitors will spot the bright blue barrels
"We want to create as much exposure as possible," Culhane says.
Read the original article here.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
End of Semester Book Donation Drive
If you have high-quality books in English, French, or Arabic that you'd rather not carry home, or if you can otherwise spare them, there's now a way to donate them to a good cause. A new effort, called the 100 Books Project (www.100booksproject.org), is starting small lending libraries of the best available literature and non-fiction in locations around Egypt.
Your used book in good condition will be made available to the public at one of three locations:
--A new cafe, library and teaching center opening in the oasis of Siwa. Scheduled opening date: Fall 2008.
--A small book lending collection of exceptional books at Al Balad Cultural Center, a great new bookstore at 31 Shari'a Mohammed Mahmoud, just across from the main AUC gate, on the first floor next to Cilantro.
---A few book exchange shelves to be started at other cafes in Cairo (the kind of thing you may have seen at a backpacker hostel somewhere during your travels)
The idea here is to increase access to books we have really enjoyed, and to help contribute to the development of Egypt's vibrant literary culture. As you know, new, imported books are quite expensive here in Cairo, and thus can be out of reach for many. You can drop your books in a clear plastic donation container at one of two locations:
--The Arabic Language Institute office at AUC (third floor of the main building behind the fountain court, main campus), until June 1.
--Al Balad Cultural Center and Bookstore, indefinitely. (directions above)
If you don't see the plastic container at first, please ask at the location for assistance.
Questions? Email sharon[@]100booksproject[.]org, or undergraduate project coordinator at isaac.reg[@]gmail[.]com.
Your used book in good condition will be made available to the public at one of three locations:
--A new cafe, library and teaching center opening in the oasis of Siwa. Scheduled opening date: Fall 2008.
--A small book lending collection of exceptional books at Al Balad Cultural Center, a great new bookstore at 31 Shari'a Mohammed Mahmoud, just across from the main AUC gate, on the first floor next to Cilantro.
---A few book exchange shelves to be started at other cafes in Cairo (the kind of thing you may have seen at a backpacker hostel somewhere during your travels)
The idea here is to increase access to books we have really enjoyed, and to help contribute to the development of Egypt's vibrant literary culture. As you know, new, imported books are quite expensive here in Cairo, and thus can be out of reach for many. You can drop your books in a clear plastic donation container at one of two locations:
--The Arabic Language Institute office at AUC (third floor of the main building behind the fountain court, main campus), until June 1.
--Al Balad Cultural Center and Bookstore, indefinitely. (directions above)
If you don't see the plastic container at first, please ask at the location for assistance.
Questions? Email sharon[@]100booksproject[.]org, or undergraduate project coordinator at isaac.reg[@]gmail[.]com.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Donate your mobile phone to a refugee in need
Another worthy petition.
Hi all,
I work for Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), an organization that provides legal aid and psychosocial services to refugees in Egypt. Many of our clients – especially the most vulnerable ones who are pregnant, in poor health, under physical threat, depressed, or suicidal – do not have telephones or mobile phones as reliable means of communication. In emergencies, they have no way to contact AMERA or other services to request help.
In coordination with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) at the American University in Cairo, we are collecting mobile phone donations to benefit vulnerable refugees living in Cairo.
So if you will be leaving Cairo after this semester, please consider donating your mobile phone for use by refugees.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE TO DONATE:
1) The collection box at the AUC dormitory in Zamalek (located on 16 Muhammad Thaqib and Sikkit Salah al-Din). The dormitory is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The drop box is by the reception desk and will remain there until June 7th.
OR
2) Contact Tahmid Chowdhury at tahmid.chowdhury@gmail.com to make other arrangements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donations of just a phone, charger, or SIM card are great too. If you have any questions, please contact Tahmid Chowdhury at tahmid.chowdhury@gmail.com.
Thanks very much!
Tahmid Chowdhury
Psychosocial worker
Africa & Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA)
1 Tawfik Diab Street
Garden City, Cairo
Hi all,
I work for Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), an organization that provides legal aid and psychosocial services to refugees in Egypt. Many of our clients – especially the most vulnerable ones who are pregnant, in poor health, under physical threat, depressed, or suicidal – do not have telephones or mobile phones as reliable means of communication. In emergencies, they have no way to contact AMERA or other services to request help.
In coordination with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) at the American University in Cairo, we are collecting mobile phone donations to benefit vulnerable refugees living in Cairo.
So if you will be leaving Cairo after this semester, please consider donating your mobile phone for use by refugees.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE TO DONATE:
1) The collection box at the AUC dormitory in Zamalek (located on 16 Muhammad Thaqib and Sikkit Salah al-Din). The dormitory is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The drop box is by the reception desk and will remain there until June 7th.
OR
2) Contact Tahmid Chowdhury at tahmid.chowdhury@gmail.com to make other arrangements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donations of just a phone, charger, or SIM card are great too. If you have any questions, please contact Tahmid Chowdhury at tahmid.chowdhury@gmail.com.
Thanks very much!
Tahmid Chowdhury
Psychosocial worker
Africa & Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA)
1 Tawfik Diab Street
Garden City, Cairo
al-Resala NGO
Pursuant to the other charities that I previously recommended, All Saints Cathedral and St Andrews which also accepts donations of gently used items.
A friend wrote to me to bring al Resala which also works in a similar field to my notice.
al Resala is a well-known NGO that even has a chapter at AUC and other universities. They have big projects all over Egypt, they help orphans, widows, poor families, etc. They have a website in Arabic:
http://www.resala.org/
If you have anything to give away, just call them and they normally send a volunteer over within a week to come and take everything. They even give receipts for your donation. She found them well-organised and very professional, comparable to Good Will or the Salvation Army in the US.
They also have other ways you can donate, like sponsoring an orphan or poor family and donating a monthly amount (however much you want) to help a specific family, as well as other options.
If you want to donate anything, just call them at 19450, that's their central phone line, and they also have operators who can speak English as well.
A friend wrote to me to bring al Resala which also works in a similar field to my notice.
al Resala is a well-known NGO that even has a chapter at AUC and other universities. They have big projects all over Egypt, they help orphans, widows, poor families, etc. They have a website in Arabic:
http://www.resala.org/
If you have anything to give away, just call them and they normally send a volunteer over within a week to come and take everything. They even give receipts for your donation. She found them well-organised and very professional, comparable to Good Will or the Salvation Army in the US.
They also have other ways you can donate, like sponsoring an orphan or poor family and donating a monthly amount (however much you want) to help a specific family, as well as other options.
If you want to donate anything, just call them at 19450, that's their central phone line, and they also have operators who can speak English as well.
Monday, May 19, 2008
18-22 May : AUC Responds to the Global Food Crisis
AUC Responds to the Global Food Crisis!!
Start time: Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 11:00am
End Time: Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 4:00pm
Location:
AUC Greek Campus, STAR and AYB Booth by OSD office
Student Action For Refugees (STAR) and Alashanek Ya Balady (AYB) are working together to raise awareness of the shared suffering in
Please donate canned and boxed food help fight hunger in
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13657093562&ref=share
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Donations of old clothes etc.
This is a request from a friend who works with the St Andrews Refugee Program near the Ramses station.
Fiona writes:
I know quite a few of you will be leaving Egypt, or have friends who are doing so at the end of term. At St Andrew's we are always looking for donations of the things you will be leaving behind. We run an education programme for adult and child refugees and people are always desperate for clothes, cooking utensils and bed linen in particular.
Other things which you may not think about and just throw away, that the children in particular always want and your half full bottles of moisturisers, shower gel and shampoos as these are luxuries they don't often get to use. Also books are always useful.
If you have stuff that you are going to throw out, please bring it to us. We are here from Monday to Thursday and Saturday from nine in the morning to nine in the evening, in Midan Esa'af, right next to Nassr metro station (Galaa Street exit) (very handy for AUC!). I'm sorry we can't come and pick it up from you but we don't really have the facilities.
Thank you
Fiona Cameron
+2 02 2575 9451
P.S. Anything we can't use, we can sell and use the money for the programme
Fiona writes:
I know quite a few of you will be leaving Egypt, or have friends who are doing so at the end of term. At St Andrew's we are always looking for donations of the things you will be leaving behind. We run an education programme for adult and child refugees and people are always desperate for clothes, cooking utensils and bed linen in particular.
Other things which you may not think about and just throw away, that the children in particular always want and your half full bottles of moisturisers, shower gel and shampoos as these are luxuries they don't often get to use. Also books are always useful.
If you have stuff that you are going to throw out, please bring it to us. We are here from Monday to Thursday and Saturday from nine in the morning to nine in the evening, in Midan Esa'af, right next to Nassr metro station (Galaa Street exit) (very handy for AUC!). I'm sorry we can't come and pick it up from you but we don't really have the facilities.
Thank you
Fiona Cameron
+2 02 2575 9451
P.S. Anything we can't use, we can sell and use the money for the programme
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Volunteer with Refugees: St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Refugee Services is looking for qualified and committed Volunteer English Teachers for the Adult Education Program. The upcoming term is May 26-July 26. This is a commitment of 3 hours of class time per week in the afternoons or evenings. Curriculum provided. TEFL or CELTA certificate or previous teaching experience preferred, but not required. Scheduling is flexible.
If you have teaching experience in other subjects such as Computer, Accounting or French there may be volunteer opportunities for you as well or you could simply lead a Conversation Class.
St. Andrew's is a wonderful and rewarding place to use your teaching skills to serve the refugee community, build relationships and learn from students as well. Many of the students are from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia or Iraq.
Please contact the Director of Adult Education, Abigail Sylvester, for further information. A current CV is required. Tel: 2575-9451 or Email: abigail[.]sylvester[@]gmail[.]com
See our website to learn more about us: http://kathykamp.tripod.com/standrewsrefugeeservices
--
St. Andrew's Refugee Services
Adult Education Program
38 26th July Street
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (+20) 2 575 94 51
abigail[.]sylvester[@]gmail[.]com
If you have teaching experience in other subjects such as Computer, Accounting or French there may be volunteer opportunities for you as well or you could simply lead a Conversation Class.
St. Andrew's is a wonderful and rewarding place to use your teaching skills to serve the refugee community, build relationships and learn from students as well. Many of the students are from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia or Iraq.
Please contact the Director of Adult Education, Abigail Sylvester, for further information. A current CV is required. Tel: 2575-9451 or Email: abigail[.]sylvester[@]gmail[.]com
See our website to learn more about us: http://kathykamp.tripod.com/standrewsrefugeeservices
--
St. Andrew's Refugee Services
Adult Education Program
38 26th July Street
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (+20) 2 575 94 51
abigail[.]sylvester[@]gmail[.]com
Monday, May 12, 2008
All Saints Cathedral Refugee Program
The All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek (behind the Marriott hotel on 26th July Street) runs a multi-faceted Refugee program for Sudanese refugees primarily and some Iraqi refugees too as far as I know.
1. They accept donations of gently used clothes. Please make sure they aren't in bad condition. If you are leaving Cairo and don't have enough suitcase space or have clothes you or your children have outgrown. They willingly accept them. They work with refugees of all ages, so any clothes are welcome. They run a clinic for the refugees too, so medicines may be welcome too. Just check though.
2. They are often looking for volunteers to help teach English, computers and other skills to children and adult refugees.
3. They train refugee women for domestic service and the staff they recommend is normally very honest and trustworthy. They train the women/men in a housekeeping course before they send them to anyones home. They sometimes have gardeners and drivers too, but not all the time. There is a one time registration fee I believe, but Joseph (refer below) will explain everything to you when you meet him.
Contact:
All Saints Church Refugee Rehabilitation program
The contact person is Joseph and his number is 010 200 4772.
He sits in an office on the church premises.
How to Get There
Are you familiar with Diwan book shop on 26th July street?
If you cross the road at Diwan and go under the flyover and across the main street and keep continuing down the short side street, you will arrive at the All Saints Cathedral directly in front of you at the dead end. The British School in Zamalek is located in the same compound. Hope this helps.
1. They accept donations of gently used clothes. Please make sure they aren't in bad condition. If you are leaving Cairo and don't have enough suitcase space or have clothes you or your children have outgrown. They willingly accept them. They work with refugees of all ages, so any clothes are welcome. They run a clinic for the refugees too, so medicines may be welcome too. Just check though.
2. They are often looking for volunteers to help teach English, computers and other skills to children and adult refugees.
3. They train refugee women for domestic service and the staff they recommend is normally very honest and trustworthy. They train the women/men in a housekeeping course before they send them to anyones home. They sometimes have gardeners and drivers too, but not all the time. There is a one time registration fee I believe, but Joseph (refer below) will explain everything to you when you meet him.
Contact:
All Saints Church Refugee Rehabilitation program
The contact person is Joseph and his number is 010 200 4772.
He sits in an office on the church premises.
How to Get There
Are you familiar with Diwan book shop on 26th July street?
If you cross the road at Diwan and go under the flyover and across the main street and keep continuing down the short side street, you will arrive at the All Saints Cathedral directly in front of you at the dead end. The British School in Zamalek is located in the same compound. Hope this helps.
Friday, April 18, 2008
"Remember Africa" - Charity Bazaar
Attended the "Remember Africa" - Charity Bazaar at the All Saints Cathedral today.
The main purpose of this bazaar was for Refuge Egypt to raise awareness of the plight of refugees in Egypt.
Speakers throughout the day, introduced the work done by Refuge Egypt and presented ways everyone could help.
There was some delicious Ethiopian food and contrarily enough - Polish sausages :)
But, the event wasn't as well attended as last year. Last years event was held at the AUC and there were tons of students attending, even though it was on a Friday. This times turn out was quite dismal compared to that.
The number of stalls was consistent. Some refugees selling spices, their own artwork and woven baskets. What was really remarkable were the short entertainment pieces by the refugees and the refugee children.
It is disheartening,that most Cairenes and Cairo's temporary residents are unaware of the plight of these refugees. A problem of legitimate organisations like Refuge Egypt is contacting more people who can help them carry on their good work.
Over the past 20 years, Refuge Egypt has sought to assist and minister to the ever fluctuating refugee population through Medical Care; Emergency Assistance; Self-Reliance; Advocacy Education & Spiritual Ministries. It has been their emphasis to sustain and support refugees in the first 2 vulnerable and critical years of their arrival in Egypt. Overall they have recognized that women and children (often the ones who suffer the most) have been impacted significantly. Giving from the community has enabled this target group of individuals to have access to better healthcare and nutrition; reduced maternal mortality rate; better health awareness on HIV, TB, immunization and child feeding habits; improved income and ability to work and engage in small trade; group healing and unity.
To learn more about Refuge Egypt and its projects and how you can help, visit http://www.refuge-egypt.org/
The main purpose of this bazaar was for Refuge Egypt to raise awareness of the plight of refugees in Egypt.
Speakers throughout the day, introduced the work done by Refuge Egypt and presented ways everyone could help.
There was some delicious Ethiopian food and contrarily enough - Polish sausages :)
But, the event wasn't as well attended as last year. Last years event was held at the AUC and there were tons of students attending, even though it was on a Friday. This times turn out was quite dismal compared to that.
The number of stalls was consistent. Some refugees selling spices, their own artwork and woven baskets. What was really remarkable were the short entertainment pieces by the refugees and the refugee children.
It is disheartening,that most Cairenes and Cairo's temporary residents are unaware of the plight of these refugees. A problem of legitimate organisations like Refuge Egypt is contacting more people who can help them carry on their good work.
Over the past 20 years, Refuge Egypt has sought to assist and minister to the ever fluctuating refugee population through Medical Care; Emergency Assistance; Self-Reliance; Advocacy Education & Spiritual Ministries. It has been their emphasis to sustain and support refugees in the first 2 vulnerable and critical years of their arrival in Egypt. Overall they have recognized that women and children (often the ones who suffer the most) have been impacted significantly. Giving from the community has enabled this target group of individuals to have access to better healthcare and nutrition; reduced maternal mortality rate; better health awareness on HIV, TB, immunization and child feeding habits; improved income and ability to work and engage in small trade; group healing and unity.
To learn more about Refuge Egypt and its projects and how you can help, visit http://www.refuge-egypt.org/
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