Community Times March/April 2019 Issue

Since 1996

March/April 2019

IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1996

ADVICE FROM SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMEN & SINGLE MOMS FACEBOOK FEMINISM WOMEN: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

ENSET LE YADY PROMOTES SIGN LANGUAGE

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CONTENTS MARCH/APRIL 2019 tOWN tAlK 22

04 Talk of the Town News

27

StYle 10 Leaves & Co. Products Proudly Made in Egypt

Culture 14 BOOkS

12

Inspirational Books That Every Woman Should Read

16 EvEntS

Events You Do Not Want to Miss

DeStINAtIONS 48 trAvEL

Exploring the Authentic Sultanate of Oman

FeAtureS 18 The Dilemma of Married

43

Students

22 A Look Into Marriage Related Laws

COVER:

26 What it Takes to be a Successful Business Woman

Since 1996

March/April 2019

30 Advice From Single Moms IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1996

COmmuNItY

ADVICE FROM SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMEN & SINGLE MOMS FACEBOOK FEMINISM

34

EntrEprEnEur Facebook Feminism: Groups Created by Women for Women

40

rEAL pEOpLE Talented Balerina Dr. Sahar Helaly

44

FiELdwOrk Enset Le Yady Promotes Sign Language

WOMEN: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

ENSET LE YADY PROMOTES SIGN LANGUAGE

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CuISINe 56 Ristorante Tuscany -

Experiencing the Taste of Italy on the Nile

60 Sea to Table Nights at the Nile Ritz-Carlton

SOCIetY 62 Social Events and Gatherings

Publisher Live Colors, Nicosia Managing Partner Najla Riad Associate Partners Ahmed Samy Mohamed Maher

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Editor-in-Chief Moguib Roshdy

Editor’s NotE

Acting Editor Najla Riad Editor Rawan Abdel Latif

WRITERS Basma Mostafa, Hadeel Hegazi, Katharina Froehlich, Noha Kandil, Ola El Soueni, Rana Kamaly and Zeinab Abu Gheit

ART DEPARTMENT

Dear Reader

Senior Graphic Designer Alia Azzouz

This issue is dedicated to acknowledging women and all the efforts they put into the community, whether as a mom, entrepreneur or individual.

SALES DEPARTMENT Sales Director Rania Halim

Visit our Style section to read about the brains behind Leaves & Co., the home accents store that displays products proudly made in Egypt.

Rana Touban

PRODUCTION MANAGER Enas Adly

In the Features section, you can learn more about women’s rights when it comes to marriage, find out what advice successful bussinesswomen have to give to budding entrepreneurs, and even how single moms face the society and handle all the struggles that come with a single parent hosuehold.

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT Distribution Manager Rana Ezzat Salem Tantawi

Office Manager Magda Adib

It is no secret that social media has taken over the technology world, and is integrated as an essential part of our everyday lives. This is why we tackle the issue of “Facebook Feminism” in our Entrepreneur section, addressing the groups made by women on this platform to support other women.

Read about the talented and graceful ballerina Dr. Sahar Helaly in our Real People section, and all about the trials and tribulations she faced in this creative industry.

FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS Hazem Abdel Tawab Mohamed Mostafa

Office Clerk Mohamed Adel Office Custodian Ismail Othman Distribution Al Ahram, Next Media Mohandessin, Zamalek, Heliopolis, Maadi, Nasr City, New Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed City

It is important to continuously shed light on initiatives that work to help the community, and that is why we dedicated an article in Fieldwork to Enset Le Yady, an initiative that aims to teach the youth sign language.

Get a glimpse of the authentically beautiful Sultanate of Oman in our Travel section, where you can understand more about what makes this country a hidden gem, and get to witness a working monarchy.

Wishing everyone a lovely start to the spring.

Address: 48 Abdel Moneim Hafez Street, Midan El Sabaa’ Emarat, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (+202) 2290 8127 - 2415 8762 Mobile: 0100 005 2322 - 0100 005 2323 E-mail: editor@live-colors.com Website: www.communitytimes.me © Copyright 2004 Community Times is a monthly publication published by LC Live Colors Nicosia, Cyprus

!e Editor

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CommunityTimesEgypt

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TOWNTALK Frank!Naboulsi"!Vice!President"!Operations!–!Egypt"!AccorHotels Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Luxury Brands, Middle East, announced the promotion of Frank Naboulsi to Vice President, Operations, Egypt including Fairmont Nile City, Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, Sofitel Taba Heights, Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Sofitel Le Gabriel, Mövenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna, Mövenpick Hotel Cairo-Media City, Mövenpick Resort Taba, Mövenpick Resort Soma Bay, Mövenpick Resort Sharm el Sheikh, Mövenpick Resort El Sokhna, Mövenpick Resort El Quseir, and Mövenpick Resort Aswan.

In his role as Vice President, Operations, Egypt, Naboulsi will be responsible for supporting AccorHotels growing portfolio in the country. He will bring his ability to establish strategic direction and build business partnerships to manage over six of AccorHotels properties across Egypt while working with the hotels and regional teams to drive more success to the company.

Grand!Nile!Tower!Welcomes!New!Commercial!Director Grand Nile Tower has announced the appointment of Sherif Medhat as its new Commercial Director. In his new role, Medhat will oversee all marketing, revenue and sales activities while developing and implementing business strategies that drive growth and exceed business objectives across all segments.

Being an accomplished hospitality sales and marketing expert, Medhat brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise of over 22 years to the hotel. He has held various key sales managerial positions in top five-star hospitality chains including Sheraton, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Orascom Hotels Management and Fairmont.

Le!Méridien!Cairo!Airport’s!Atef!Wilson!

Named!General!Manager!of!the!Year Le Méridien Cairo Airport is proud to announce that Atef Wilson, the General Manager of the Hotel, has won “The General Manager of the Year 2018” award during the Marriott General Managers Road Show 2019. The award came to recognize Wilson as the General Manager of the Year 2018 among the Middle East & Africa.

In his speech, Wilson also announced that Le Méridien Cairo Airport has won The Operations Excellence Award, the highest rating award for great operational techniques among Marriott Hotels & Resorts.

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SOS!Children!Spend!Quality!

Time!at!the!Palace

Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino invited a group of SOS Children’s Village over lunch at Empress Lounge.

Kids were welcomed by music and fun games and activities. At the face painting-station, everyone had the chance to pick their favorite figure and get it drawn on their faces. To make the day more memorable, everyone went home with a mosaic painting that they did at the Mosaic-station. The clown was there to shape balloons for every child with their favorite colors.

During lunch, the general manager Khaled Al Jamal and a number of Cairo Marriott team members mingled with the kids, which was followed by a chance for them to showcase their talents, where children took to the stage to sing their favorite songs.

The!Nile!Ritz-Carlton#!Cairo!Debuts!the!Good!Life#!a!Culinary!

Experience!with!Distinguished!International!Chefs!

Master of culinary craftsmanship will gather together for the debut of the “Good Life” at The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo from the 1st to 5th of April 2019, inviting guests on a gastronomy journey with six international chefs from Italy, Turkey, Canada, France and Spain. The chefs will showcase their incredible culinary talent and varying cooking styles, tastes and flavors during the five-day event. Guests can expect inspiring handcrafted cuisine and delectable cocktails accompanied by exciting entertainment, served in an intimate and engaging setting.

The Good Life’s six distinguished chefs include: Chef Gianni Mallao, Executive Chef of Hotel Romazzino, A Luxury Collection Hotel at Costa Smeralda; Chef Eric Meloche, Director of Culinary Food and Beverage at Al Bustan Palace, a RitzCarlton hotel in Muscat; Chef Jesus Caballero Executive Chef of Hotel Maria Cristina, A Luxury Collection Hotel at San Sebastian; Chef Ozgur Ustin, Executive Chef of The St. Regis Istanbul.

They will be joined by Chef Bugra Keles, the Executive Chef of The Nile Ritz-Carlton, and Chef Jean Francois Lavialle, the Executive Pastry Chef,

who will delight with his renowned chocolate creations.

The Good Life 2019 will include a series of cooking classes, a unique “Farm to Table” Friday brunch and will conclude with a gala dinner. Cooking classes will take place on Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3 at Bar ’Oro, Nox, Bab El-Sharq and Vivo restaurants.

MAR/APR 2019 | CT

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TOWNTALK MARAKEZ!Provides!Job!Opportunities!for!Delta!Residents!in!

Mall!of!Tanta MARAKEZ, one of the largest mixed-use developers in Egypt, in collaboration with the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at Tanta University, organized an employment fair. MARAKEZ offered a wide range of positions for Tanta talents across various employment levels for its newest development, Mall of Tanta, opening in 2019. MARAKEZ received approximately 50,000 job applications during the fair.

With a wide variety of international and local brands; and unprecedented offerings to serve the Delta region’s 42 million inhabitants, Mall of Tanta will provide over 20,000 direct and indirect job opportunities for the area’s residents throughout its various development phases.

Located in the heart of Gharbeya Governorate, the 40,000 sqm Mall of Tanta will provide local residents with a unique shopping experience, revolutionizing retail, dining and entertainment in the Delta region.

The mall will feature more than 140 retailers, 30 dining outlets, a cinema complex, a hypermarket, a dedicated furniture zone and an indoor entertainment area for children.

Sofitel!Luxor!Winter!Palace!Hosts!

International!Basketball!Celebrity!

Yao!Ming The hotel hosted the legend Chinese basketball player, Mr. Yao Ming, the international star for the Houston Rockets of the NBA, along with his family for a pleasurable retreat.

Their stay at the historical palace was a real delight; where they enjoyed the monumental attractions, the great Nile and enthusiastic cuisine.

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Holiday!Inn!Cairo!Citystars!Celebrates! the!Opening!of!Cairo’s!"#s!Themed!Lounge!“Simply!Neon”!

Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars has recently celebrated the opening of simply Neon on Valentine’s Day, a unique 80s themed bar and one of its kind in Cairo where the DJ spins the best 80s hits. Simply Neon has a playful throwback vintage vibe that inspires guests and takes them back to the glory days.

The whole atmosphere celebrates the 80s with the golden decade’s celebrity posters printed on walls, disco balls, 80s music hits, neon-lights and backdrops. Guests can indulge in a selection of dishes prepared using different cooking styles with an international culinary influence along with snacks and classic cocktails.

InterContinental!Hotels!Group!Cairo!Citystars!Named!the!Best!

Employer!for!the!Year!$#%"!by!Egyptian!Chamber!of!Human!

Resources For the third consecutive year, InterContinental Hotels Group Cairo Citystars has received the Best Employer Award from the Egyptian Chamber of Human Resources Management.

Nasser Fadly, Area Director of Human Resources for IHG Africa, has been recognized as the 2018 Human Resources Leader. The award has many nominees across all HR leaders in various companies and organizations and the winner is chosen based on live voting of attendees of top HR directors and leaders from a diverse collection of organizations representing a range of sectors with years of executive experience.

Fadly also received the “Best Speaker ” Award, and the Human Resources department of IHG Cairo Citystars has been granted The “Best HR innovation Idea” Award, after a competition with six other companies on the best human resources and development initiatives and practices implemented throughout the year.

MAR/APR 2019 | CT

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TOWNTALK Celebrate!Sham!El!Nessim!by!the!Nile!at!Ramses!Hilton Relax, unwind, and indulge in Ramses Hilton’s special Sham El Nessim family brunch around the pool at “BREEZES” Lounge and Grill overlooking the Nile. Enjoy the delicious BBQ, Sham El Nessim specialties with live entertainment, oriental singer “HOBA” and an array of kids’ activities including face painting, an egg hunt, Easter themed games, arts and crafts.

For reservations, please call: 010 1244 0224.

Sham!El!Nessim!at!Sheraton!Cairo!Hotel Sheraton Cairo hotel opens its doors for families and friends to welcome spring and enjoy a festival Easter with their loved ones. This Easter, you can book one of their special limited cabanas to enjoy a sunny day by the pool with an exceptional outdoor Easter Lunch, fun kids’ activities and amazing folklore entertainment.

After enjoying the sun, the day will continue where you can enjoy some Latin music at Studio 70 with finger food and refreshing drinks, enjoy an oriental night at El Mawardia with an outstanding Arabic band and belly dancer or book your place at the famous Rawi night spot for a night full of surprises.

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BREEZE IN FOR A WONDERFUL EASTER.

O P E N YO U R A R M S A N D E M B R A C E SPRING’S ARRIVAL IN A BLAZE O F C O LO U R U N D E R T H E P A L M S I N G E Z I R A H P A L A C E ’ S G LO R I O U S G A R D E N S A N D R E V I TA L I Z E YO U R Y E A R W I T H E A ST E R A N D S H A M E L N E S S I M D E L I G H TS .

Choose classics from Omar’s Café Easter lunch buffet ... catch early morning sunbeams and sample salted fish from Omar’s celebrated Sham el Nessim breakfast ... hear squeals of pleasure from egghunting, face painting young ones on the Garden Promenade as they surround the speciality treats cart.

Linger over cakes and chocolate bunnies in The Bakery.

Memories to treasure this Easter.

16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM/CAIEG

STYLE

Leaves & Co. Products Proudly Made in Egypt

Written by Ola El Soueni Photographs Courtesy of Leaves & Co.

If you are looking for original home accents with an authentic touch, then Leaves & Co. is your go-to store. The brand features beautiful home accessories and tableware that are proudly made in Egypt.

Founded by Donia El Sadat, Leaves & Co. was officially launched in July 2018 as a small store in the North Coast. It was very successful and soon became many people’s favourite.

Donia graduated from the American University of Cairo with a major in Mass Communication. She completed her Master ’s degree from London in Social Entrepreneurship that had a great impact on her professional career. She worked in different NGOs for five years to be able to help the community and support a cause.

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We held an interview with Donia for further insight on the brand.

What does Leaves & Co. offer?

It is a lifestyle-concept store that provides an interesting and exquisite range of 100% locally made products in different materials and categories with an international twist. We offer pottery, chinaware, wood, porcelain, glass, linens, fabrics, candles and more.

Our mission is to produce high-end and premium quality products with a trendy yet simple taste that are proudly made in local workshops and factories all around Egypt.

We travel around different governorates to explore the specialization of each and get the best out of it.

In our store you will find a wall that portrays all the different cities in Egypt where we manufacture our products, from Alexandria to Mansoura to Qalyubia up to Luxor and Aswan.

My dream was to establish a full-fledged store with all kinds of home products, not limited to a specific one.

What inspired you to open the store?

I grew up with a mother who was very meticulous and detail oriented, wanting to make her home cosy, comfortable and simple. She loved welcoming guests and inviting people over for gatherings, and did not only focus on the food, but also on the presentation. This in turn affected me and developed my love for perfecting occasions.

I moved to London after getting married where I decided to buy a bicycle and roam the streets to browse window shops. I have always loved home accessories, and so I was intrigued by displays of homeware stores because they were creative and loved the combination of striking colors introduced in the displays.

After I moved back to Cairo, I wanted to implement what I studied in my Masters’ program, which was basically about developing a business with a social edge. In other words, profitable business for sustainability.

That is when I decided to launch my homeware and tableware lines that would stand out and support a social cause by manufacturing them in Egypt, specifically in less privileged villages and governorates.

I searched for local workshops that had potential, but did not have the skills to market what they produce. At the beginning, it was very challenging, but I knew that it would be doable with enough effort and dedication. So Leaves & Co. came to life and our customers loved our products.

Mar/apr 2019 | Ct

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STYLE mission and helped me set the brand’s strategy.

She also helps with designing our products and following up with our producers.

What was the main challenge you faced at the beginning?

A major challenge was my children. Since they were born, I was a full-time mother who never missed any of their activities. My daughter finishes nursery at 2:30, and so I have to be done with whatever I am doing by then. I start my day at 6:30 am, which is exhausting, but now I enjoy these long days.

Thankfully, I have been blessed with incredible support from my family and friends. This made me bring Leaves & Co. to life. Other major challenges included quality control and time management when dealing with the workshops.

Why the name?

What are your current plans?

I believe in the positive effects of greenery, and so Leaves & Co. was decided from day one.

We are working on opening our Cairo branch, which will hopefully be ready by Spring 2019 and will be located in New Cairo.

Why did you open your first store in the North Coast and not in the city?

There were two options to choose from: to take a risk and open a large store in Cairo, which was a very expensive option to kick off the business with, or to open a small scale shop in the North Coast to test the market and see how people would react to the concept.

Based on the advice of three important people in my life, I opened in the North Coast before facing the choice to either start online or establish a physical store in a prime location.

I decided to open in Diplo resort because I wanted to interact with my customers and receive feedback. To create a positive experience for customers, I started off with an easy-to browse display. I also enjoyed helping visitors pick a product and help set up a table display. The North Coast was also a great location in terms of exposure, since it is a meeting point for customers from Cairo and Alexandria, as well as for people who live abroad and visit Egypt during the summer season.

Who designs the products?

Nadin El Kadi is the first member of our Leaves & Co. team. She is our Brand Manager and has an architecture background. El Kadi took a risk joining our family right after she graduated from The German University in Cairo, as we were a start up at the time, but thankfully she believed in our

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What do you consider as your major achievement?

My happy clients! When I see how they are impressed with our products and the quality, I am grateful. Expanding Leaves & Co is another successful step that I am proud of. We are currently designing our new store with wider product ranges and new ideas to present a fuller shopping experience in Cairo that won’t only be a conventional retail shop, but rather a place to hang out and enjoy. p For more information: Instagram: leavesandco.eg

Fairytale at Al Gezira Palace

Al Gezira Palace has been a magical place to host weddings for many generations that have been organized and flawlessly executed, each with its special flair. Throughout centuries, the palace was a unique wedding venue since Khedive Ismail celebrated the 40-day wedding ceremonies of his sons and daughter at the palace.

Cairo Marriott’s palatial ballrooms welcome guests to celebrate their special day with a glamourous decoration blending classical and modern styles.

Built in the heart of the palace, Salon Royal and Eugenie Salon - with their unique charm, decoration and historical staircase - are optional locations for a royal wedding.

For outdoor weddings, Almaz, with its big space and stunning Nile view, can be perfectly set up for the bride and groom to celebrate their wedding.

The elegant marbles of Salon Vert make it a perfect venue for a classy chic wedding.

During summer, a wedding package will be available at Salon Vert for weddings happening from June 1st until August 31st tailored especially for guests to enjoy a customized wedding celebration to host 100 guests including a DJ, wedding cake, flower arrangements, a special menu and much more. For a larger numbers of guests, the 722 m2 Aida Ballroom will be offering a special package for 200 guests.

For small occasions, Verdi is available to host guests for a unique and cozy experience to host up to 50 guests.

Say YES and #MarryMeAtCairoMarriott. Call now to book an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime event at the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino. For inquiries and reservations please call 02-2728-3000 and ask to be connected with the Social Events team. p

Mar/apr 2019 | Ct

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CULTURE | Books

Six Inspirational Books that Every Woman Should Read

The Bell Jar

By Sylvia Plath

You do You

By Sara Knight

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

By Maya Angelou

Sylvia Plath's “The Bell Jar ” is a shocking, realistic, and intensely emotional novel about a woman falling into the grip of insanity.

Being yourself should be easy, yet too many of us struggle to live on other people's terms instead of our own. Rather than feeling large and in charge, we feel little and belittled. Sound familiar? Bestselling "antiguru" Sarah Knight has three simple words for you: You do You.

Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and prejudice.

At eight years old and back at her mother ’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that the love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

Esther Greenwood is beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time.

In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her insanity becomes palpably real, even rational—as accessible an experience as going to the movies.

A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, “The Bell Jar ” is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.

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It's time to start putting your happiness first and stop letting other people tell you what to do, how to do it, or why it can't be done.

Poetic and powerful, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.

Difficult Women

By Roxane Gay Award-winning author and powerhouse talent Roxane Gay returns with “Difficult Women”, a collection of stories of rare force and beauty, of hardscrabble lives, passionate loves, and quirky and vexed human connection.

The women in these stories live lives of privilege and of poverty, are in marriages both loving and haunted by past crimes or emotional blackmail. A pair of sisters have been inseparable ever since they were abducted together as children, and must negotiate the marriage of one of them. A woman married to a twin pretends not to realize when her husband and his brother impersonate each other. A stripper putting herself through college fends off the advances of an overzealous customer. A black engineer moves to Upper Michigan for a job and faces the malign curiosity of her colleagues and the difficulty of leaving her past behind. From a girls’ fight club to a wealthy subdivision in Florida where neighbors conform, compete, and spy on each other, Gay delivers a wry, beautiful, haunting vision of modern America.

The Confidence Code

By Katty Kay & Claire Shipman The authors of the bestselling Womenomics provide an informative and practical guide to understanding the importance of confidence—and learning how to achieve it—for women of all ages and at all stages of their career.

Working women today are better educated and more well qualified than ever before, yet men still predominate in the corporate world. In “The Confidence Code”, Claire Shipman and Katty Kay argue that the key reason is confidence.

Combining cutting-edge research in genetics, gender, behavior, and cognition—with examples from their own lives and those of other successful women in politics, media, and business—Kay and Shipman offer the inspiration and practical advice women need to close the gap and achieve the careers they want and deserve.

Persepolis

By Marjane Satrapi Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, “Persepolis” is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.

In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to 14, which were years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

“Persepolis” paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, it is a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression.

Mar/apr 2019 | Ct

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CULTURE | Events

“GISELLE” BALLET

KING LEAR PLAY Cairo Festival City 10 April to 13 April The Cairo Show Theater City presents Shakespeare’s King Lear play in Arabic, starring Yehia El Fakharany, Farouk El Fishawy and Reham Abd El Ghaffour, to name a few.

King Lear tells the story of a former king of Britain who wants to step down from the throne and shift the rule to his three daughters, depending on who can prove how much they love him the most.

Cairo Opera House – Main Hall 16 to 19 April The romantic, two-act Giselle Ballet will be performed in Egypt by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company and will be accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra.

This ballet was first performed at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris, France in 1841, and tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl who falls for a deceitful nobleman named Albrecht.

Alexandria Opera House 24 to 26 April

Tickets available on Ticketsmarche.

THE COLOR RUN New Giza Compound 13 April

YEHIA KHALIL CONCERT

Yehia Khalil is one of the most respected and talked about drummers, bandleaders, creative producers and jazz musicians.

Get your running shoes ready for this five-kilometer, non-timed, festive event.

Participants wear white, and are then covered from head to toe in colored powder at every kilometer mark. After the run is over, participants get to enjoy dancing, an impressive music line up, kids’ events and several food vendors, among others.

Time: 8 pm

Tickets available on Ticketsmarche.

Cairo Opera House – Small Hall 11 and 12 April

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REDBULL SOUNDCLASH Mall of Egypt 4 April to 6 April This year ’s soundclash event will uplift your weekend, with bands Autostrad, Akher Zapheer, Wust El Balad, Jadal, Sharmoofers and Aziz Maraka.

NARRATIVE DISRUPTORS The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo 14 April PR company CC Plus – known for its Narrative Summit – will be hosting the first ever Narrative Disruptors event in partnership with VictoryLink.

The event aims to highlight the role of leading disruptors, and how technology helps in the growth of several industries.

EL GOUNA INTERNATIONAL SQUASH OPEN

Tickets available at Ticketsmarche.

Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna 25 April to 26 April This PSA World Series event targets international, world-class players who will battle it out on the court.

Tickets available on Ticketsmarche.

FRENCH MONTANA KOLTHOUMIAT Arab Music Institute 14 April A night dedicated to Om Kolthoum’s greatest hits.

Dandy Mall, Giza 12 April Egypt Calendar Events has put together a concert featuring international superstar French Montana, here in Egypt.

Tickets available on Ticketsmarche.

Time: 8 pm Mar/apr 2019 | Ct

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FEATURE

The Dilemma of Married Students

By Ahmed Kafafi College days are perceived by a majority of us as a time of study, fun and a stepping-stone into real life, with its joys and tribulations. However, can it always be so when you are a married student?

“

I did not want to lose her as I had always been keen to start a family life at an early age, brought up as I am between divorced parents

”

For decades, married students were restricted to college girls hitched to older careerists, or young men who are resuming higher studies. However, due to recent social and economic changes, the tendency for students to find their life partners who are still in college has increased so much so that we now find many cases of young married students from both sexes.

For a long time celibacy had remained the mark of college students who were content to get to know their life partner at university and tie the knot following graduation.

This has changed though, where many young students are now keen to settle down before they graduate.

The increasing exposure to other countries’ intellectual and social freedom through social media and technology in general has encouraged early marriages. This is for the simple reason that young people do not feel like they can fully practice such freedom here. Also, the dismal outlook on the future, that takes long years of building a career, could have created a fear of lifetime singlehood or failure to find the right partner early on.

In addition, the new credit hour system introduced to many colleges has made it possible for students to work while studying, a change that would secure a source of income if both partners work. Families don’t seem to mind much like before, especially when sociological research has sounded the alarm that 25%of Egyptian students are married “orfi” (signing a handwritten undocumented marriage contract).

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Juggling Responsibilities “I am definitely for it in spite of all the difficulties,” says Nawal Ahmed, 22, a married archaeology student. “Apart from college life, everyone is aware that the most difficult aspect of marriage is to run into the right person. Male or female, a student or a graduate, in your early or mid career, the opportunity of finding your soul mate might strike at any stage of your life, and so I don’t blame anyone if he or she takes it at any time,” adds Nawal.

For Mohamed Abdel Hamid, 21, a student at Cairo University, marriage became the only choice when many bachelors began to propose to his beloved.

“I did not want to lose her as I had always been keen to start a family life at an early age, brought up as I am between divorced parents,” he relates.

“Initially, I was happy about the idea, but happiness is often short-lived. With the money offered by my mother as a gift, in addition to an amount I saved, we managed to make it. We had a small wedding party and went for a short honeymoon. Shortly after, I ran out of cash, and so I had to look for a job.

Luckily, I got one at a call centre based in a British company at a salary of LE. 4,000. All went well until my wife got pregnant.”

Abdel Hamid had to borrow some money for the hospital, and after he became a father, he had to work overtime to improve his income, and that still wasn’t enough to cover expenses. “It’s hard. I love my wife and daughter, but I feel like I didn’t live my life and haven’t done anything for myself,” he reflects. While trying to earn money, he forgot all about his studies, leading to failing six courses and having to retake them.

Hala and Bakr El Dali along with Nargis and Gamil Sorour, are all medical students at Alexandria University, and happily married. Satisfied to see their children married at an early age, the parents are helping the kids’ home expenses until they complete their studies. “The money factor is important,” the couples stressed. “However, without the maturity necessary for the conjugal tie, money is useless.

We are lucky that we could make it this early on because our families are well off. You can’t be a medical student and work; this is very difficult due to the long schedule and heavy workload. In other colleges, it is possible, but not the ones that require full time attendance,” they add.

“We study together, go for breaks, travel with friends, and attend our internships together since we share the same specialty. My parents had me when they were 40 and they are happy to see me married and settled.” Hala argues, “As two couples, we are a rare case as usually girls refuse to marry a student. I was lucky to have married Bakr, because I can’t imagine having married to a careerist who would ask me to quit studying to tend to our home.”

“Let’s be realistic,” comments Anwar Saeed, a 24-year-old media graduate who started marriage plans after graduation. “For girls, it has always been different, for they usually don’t mind getting married at any stage. Some even join a specific college because it enhances their chances of marriage. I know many couples that got engaged in college and broke up by the time they finished their studies. The guy proved irresponsible and didn’t take it seriously, and the girl changed her mind and found a better match.”

“Although I am a student, I have to admit I am happily married,” says Eman Amer, a student of nursing, Cairo University. “I always dreamt of building a home and raising kids. I am pursuing my studies at a slower pace, but I am not worried.

One day, I will finish and think of getting a job, but not at the expense of my private life.”

On the other hand, for Norhan, a student at the Faculty of Antiquities, the issue is different. “I was pushed by my family to get married when I did not really want to,” she recalls. “He was a well-off banker, who didn’t care much about my education.

I even felt like he was standing in my way so that I would stay at home. I couldn’t take it as I have always believed that an education and a career can secure a woman’s future. Our fights ended in divorce.”

The majority of students believe that resolving the marriage crisis should start at college. “They only think about it after we begin real life,” protests Abdel Hamid. “What would happen if the college management offered aid to married students to help them press ahead with marriage and their studies?”

Unfortunately, little research has been conducted on married students in the Middle East. In the West, they are provided with housing and scholarships, among other advantages. While educational researchers cite that only seven percent of students worldwide are married, it underlines that the stability and security of marriage makes them better students who are more prepared for a career than others. p

While Hala and Bakr live on their own, Nargis and Gamil share Gamil’s family home. Bakr says,

MAR/APR 2019 | Ct

19

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Growth in sales of SUVs leads to new record

E-Class continues record-chasing in second year after launch

With 820,721 units sold and a growth rate of 1.9%, Mercedes-Benz SUVs made a significant contribution to the sales success of last year. The best-selling SUVs last year were the GLC and the GLA.

From January to December, more than 355,000 units of the E-Class Saloon and Estate were delivered to customers. In the second full year of sales of the new generation, an increase of 1.3% was achieved.

Every fourth car sold by MercedesBenz was a compact car

S-Class: Mercedes-Benz flagship shines with double-digit sales growth worldwide

In the year of the A-Class model change, more than 609,000 customers worldwide received their new A-Class, B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake or GLA. This means that every fourth vehicle sold by Mercedes-Benz in 2018 was a compact car. Mercedes-Benz will continue to build on this success in 2019 with further models of the next generation of compact cars - including the A-Class Saloon, the B-Class and the CLA.

The S-Class Saloon continued to enjoy great popularity in 2018: 77,927 units of the S-Class Saloon were sold in 2018. The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Saloon is very successful and stands for the utmost exclusivity and quality: In 2018, more Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Saloons were sold than in any previous year.

C-Class continues to be highestvolume Mercedes-Benz model The C-Class Saloon and Estate were again the highest-volume Mercedes-Benz models in the year of the model upgrade. About 397,000 units of these two models were sold last year.

Mar/apr 2019 | Ct

21

FEATURE

Women, Know Your Rights!

A Look Into Marriage-Related Laws

By Noha Kandil

With feminist movements and the call for women’s rights on the rise around the world, it gets hard to keep track of all the changes happening.

Here in Egypt, women are becoming more aware of their rights; and being knowledgeable is the first step towards acquiring them and realizing the gaps that should be filled.

In an attempt to do so, we try to shed light concerning women’smarriage and separation, an area that consumes a huge percentage of the suits filed in courts around Egypt.

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There are proposals that call for criminalizing the act of hiding the second marriage and the imprisonment of the husband in case of failing to notify his first wife.

Pre- Marital Agreements: Proposals, also known as “Qera’t El Fateha�, or engagements, are not considered legally binding contracts. Yet, the civil code law gives some guidelines regarding the engagement ring and other gifts that were exchanged: According to article 500 of the Egyptian Civil Code, in case of breaking off the engagement, if the engagement ring or any other gifts were given as a part of the future marriage dowry (Mahr), then all of those items should be returned.

However, in case the ring and other items were offered as a gift, then it depends on who broke off the engagement. So, if the man broke it off he is not entitled to be given his gifts back, and it is up to the woman to make the decision.

Registered Marriage to an Egyptian Man: According to Article 116 - Law no. 126 of the Egyptian Children’s Act, any contribution to exposing a child to any sexual/explicit content or action is considered a crime, leading to the imprisonment of any adult contributing to the situation. Thereby, the Egyptian law criminalizes the marriage of girls under the age of 18, up to which a girl is considered a child; and contributing to the documentation of an underage marriage in any shape or form, is considered a felony.

There were some propositions to lower the marriage age of girls to be 16, but it was disregarded by many, and there are other proposals for the amendment of the Egyptian Personal Status Law to include more articles prohibiting underage marriages.

Legally, there is no such thing as a woman being forced into a marriage. The law states that a core element of fulfilling a marriage is mutual consent, if not verbal, then in writing or even through sign language.

Once a woman reaches the legal age of 21, she has the right to officially document and finalize her marriage without a representative on her

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behalf, aka Wakeel, being present; this is according to Dr. Ali Gomaa, the former Mufti of Egypt, as we are following the Islamic Hanifi school in legal matters which allows that right. Nevertheless, a Wakeel can officially petition the marriage if the husband is proven to be incompetent, a petition that might lead to an obligatory divorce. It is also worth mentioning that this law/right is considered controversial by many religious parties, and is being discussed for amendments.

For legally registering a marriage contract, women and men have to undergo medical checkup.

In case of a second marriage, given that the first wife approved that marriage, it remains prohibited for a husband to force his two wives to live together.

The husband is legally responsible for covering spousal support, including housing, food and medical treatments, even if at any period of time the wife wasn’t staying at their home (given that she is fulfilling all her marital duties).

According to Article 11 - Law no. 25 of the Personal Status Law, a man is obligated to clearly state his marital status, whether he is married to another woman/en or have children, prior to the marriage.

There are proposals that call for criminalizing the act of hiding the second marriage and the imprisonment of the husband in case of failing to notify his first wife. Yet, such proposals are being resisted and still haven’t been finalized.

According to the Egyptian Law and Shari’a, a woman can add conditions to the marriage contract that would help her maintain her rights after marriage, such as: Â?Ä?(ERÄ?RIGHTÄ?TOÄ?COMPLETEÄ?HERÄ?EDUCATIONÄ?AFTERÄ? marriage. Â?Ä?(ERÄ?RIGHTÄ?TOÄ?WORKÄ?ANDÄ?HAVEÄ?AÄ?CAREER Ä? Â?Ä?(ERÄ?RIGHTÄ?TOÄ?BEINGÄ?NOTIFIEDÄ?ANDÄ?AGREEINGÄ?TOÄ?HERÄ? husband getting married to another woman. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?AMOUNTÄ?OFÄ?DEFERREDÄ?DOWERÄ?SHEÄ?AGREESÄ?ONÄ?INÄ? case of divorce.

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FEATURE

House of Obedience / Bayt Al Ta’aa

Divorce

Unlike what most Arabic movies show, in order for a husband to be able to legally summon his wife to the House of Obedience, also known as Bayt Al Ta’aa, there are certain conditions that should be met:

Egyptian women are entitled to filing for divorce in court (not a repudiation/Khul’ divorce) in several cases, among which are:

It should be proven that the husband’s intention for filing such suit is not vexatious, or for the sole purpose of humiliating his wife or causing her harm.

The husband should be providing civil living conditions that match their social and financial status, and not less.

There shouldn’t be any of the husband’s family living in it.

It should be proven that the wife has left the marital house for over 30 days after receiving a warning, because of pure disobedience, not because of other factors that drove her out. For instance: Â?Ä?4HEÄ?MARITALÄ?HOUSEÄ?ISÄ?REMOTEÄ?ANDÄ?ISOLATED Ä?THATÄ? she can’t find help in time of need. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?WIFEÄ?LEAVESÄ?THEÄ?MARITALÄ?HOUSEÄ?INÄ?FEARÄ?OFÄ?THEÄ? husband’s violent behavior. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?NEIGHBORSÄ?AREÄ?CAUSINGÄ?AÄ?THREATÄ?TOÄ?THEÄ?WIFE–SÄ? wellbeing. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?REASONÄ?WHYÄ?AÄ?WIFEÄ?LEFTÄ?HERÄ?MARITALÄ?HOMEÄ?ISÄ? because of the husband’s forcefully taking her money. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?REASONÄ?WHYÄ?THEÄ?WIFEÄ?LEFT Ä?ISÄ?BECAUSEÄ?THEÄ? husband was wasting or selling any of her owned assets in the house, or what’s known as “Al Qaemaâ€?; an action that is considered a crime.

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Â?Ä?&INDINGÄ?OUTÄ?THATÄ?HERÄ?HUSBANDÄ?SUFFERSÄ?FROMÄ?ANÄ? infirmity, whether mental or physical, that he intentionally withheld from her prior to the marriage. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?HUSBANDÄ?PRACTICESÄ?VIOLENCEÄ?ORÄ?ANYÄ?TYPEÄ?OFÄ? harassment. Â?Ä?3UFFERINGÄ?FROMÄ?THEÄ?CONSEQUENCESÄ?OFÄ?HERÄ? husbands’ drug addiction and alcoholism. Â?Ä?!BANDONINGÄ?OFÄ?THEÄ?WIFEÄ?WITHOUTÄ?REASON Ä?Ä? Â?Ä?4HEÄ?HUSBAND–SÄ?REFUSALÄ?TOÄ?PROVIDEÄ?FORÄ?HISÄ?WIFEÄ?ANDÄ? children. Â?Ä?)FÄ?THEÄ?HUSBANDÄ?MARRIEDÄ?ANOTHERÄ?WOMAN Ä?WITHOUTÄ? telling his current wife, given that notifying her was a condition in the marriage contract. Â?Ä?)FÄ?THEÄ?WIFEÄ?WASÄ?NOTIFIEDÄ?BUTÄ?REFUSEDÄ?THEÄ?SECONDÄ? marriage, given that one of conditions stated in their marriage contract is the wife’s agreement. Â?Ä?4HEÄ?IMPRISONMENTÄ?OFÄ?THEÄ?HUSBANDÄ?FORÄ?MOREÄ?THANÄ? three years.

In case of divorce, given that all the legal conditions were fulfilled and finalized, a woman is entitled to: Â?Ä?4HEÄ?DEFERREDÄ?DOWERÄ? -UAKHARÄ?!LÄ?3ADAAQ Ä?WHICHÄ? was agreed on in the marriage contract. Â?Ä?!LLÄ?THEÄ?WIFE–SÄ?ASSETSÄ?INÄ?THEÄ?MARITALÄ?HOMEÄ?ASÄ? written in the marriage contract Â?Ä?!Ä?MONTHLYÄ?ALIMONYÄ?PAIDÄ?FORÄ?THREEÄ?MONTHS Ä?KNOWNÄ?

ASÄ?!LÄ?%DDAH Ä?WHICHÄ?ACCORDINGÄ?TOÄ?3HARI–A Ä?THEÄ?PERIODÄ? of time that a woman can’t get married for after

a divorce. This period can be extended in case of pregnancy; so the woman in that scenario is entitled to monthly alimony until she gives birth. Â?Ä?!NÄ?EXTRAÄ?AMOUNTÄ?OFÄ?MONEYÄ?KNOWNÄ?ASÄ? #ONCILIATORYÄ?0AYMENTÄ? .AFAQETÄ?!LÄ?-OT–A Ä?PAIDÄ?ASÄ? a compensation for the wife in case the decision OFÄ?THEÄ?DIVORCEÄ?WASN–TÄ?MUTUAL Ä?ANDÄ?ALSOÄ?UNDERÄ? the condition that the marriage was fulfilled through intercourse and not before. This payment is equivalent to two years worth of alimony determined by the judge. Â?Ä?3TAYÄ?ATÄ?THEÄ?MARITALÄ?HOMEÄ?UNTILÄ?THEÄ?CONCLUSIONÄ?OFÄ?

HERÄ?CUSTODY Ä?Ä?)FÄ?NOT Ä?THENÄ?SHEÄ?SHOULDÄ?BEÄ?OFFEREDÄ?AÄ? housing allowance. Â?Ä?#HILDÄ?SUPPORTÄ?PAYMENT Ä?ANDÄ?ALLÄ?THEÄ?CHILDREN–SÄ? necessities and expenses to be covered by the father.

Repudiation / Khul’a: The main reason why Egyptian women resort to Al Khul’a is to avoid the bureaucracy of filing for a divorce. In divorce suits, women have to support every claim with evidence that could be taken to court, which elongates the process further. Such claims also are always met with counter evidence by the husband.

In Khul’a, however, women don’t have to prove any real harm inflicted by the husband, and in return she revokes some of her rights including: 4HEÄ?DEFERREDÄ?DOWER !LÄ?-UAKHAR Returning the portion of the dowry that was paid TOÄ?HERÄ?INÄ?ADVANCE Ä?WHICHÄ?ISÄ?KNOWNÄ?ASÄ?-UQADDAM The three-month Eddah alimony.

4HEÄ?CONCILIATORYÄ?PAYMENT .AFEQATÄ?!LÄ?-UT–A Ä?Ä?Ä? #USTOMARYÄ?-ARRIAGEÄ? Ä?5RFIÄ?-ARRIAGEÄ? )NÄ?CASEÄ?OFÄ?CUSTOMARYÄ?MARRIAGE Ä?AKAÄ?5RFIÄ?

MARRIAGE Ä?AÄ?WOMAN–SÄ?RIGHTSÄ?DEPENDÄ?ONÄ?THEÄ?

AVAILABILITYÄ?OFÄ?PROOF Ä?WHICHÄ?INCLUDEÄ?BUTÄ?AREÄ?NOTÄ? limited to: Â?Ä?4HEÄ?PRESENCEÄ?OFÄ?WITNESSESÄ?INÄ?TIMEÄ?OFÄ?MARRIAGE Â?Ä?/FFICIALÄ?STATEMENTSÄ?ANDÄ?BILLSÄ?THATÄ?PROVEÄ?THEÄ? relationship.

Â?Ä?)FÄ?THEYÄ?EVERÄ?INTRODUCEDÄ?THEMSELVESÄ?ASÄ?HUSBANDÄ? and wife in gatherings. Â?Ä?)FÄ?THEÄ?HUSBANDÄ?DIDÄ?NOTÄ?DENYÄ?THEÄ?MARRIAGEÄ?UNDERÄ? oath. )FÄ?AÄ?5RFIÄ?MARRIAGEÄ?ISÄ?PROVENÄ?TOÄ?BEÄ?REALÄ?WITHÄ?AÄ?

CONTRACTÄ?PRESENT Ä?THEÄ?WIFEÄ?ISÄ?ENTITLEDÄ?TOÄ?ANÄ?ALIMONYÄ? to be paid monthly in case of divorce. )NÄ?CASEÄ?OFÄ?PREGNANCY Ä?THEÄ?POTENTIALÄ?FATHERÄ?ISÄ?

REQUIREDÄ?TOÄ?TAKEÄ?AÄ?$.!Ä?TESTÄ?TOÄ?PROVE DISPROVEÄ?

AFFILIATION Ä?ANDÄ?HISÄ?REFUSALÄ?ISÄ?CONSIDEREDÄ?TOÄ?BEÄ?ANÄ? evidence of affiliation in court.

Custody and Visitation: )NÄ?CASEÄ?OFÄ?MARRIAGE Ä?DIVORCE Ä?ORÄ?EVENÄ?+HUL–A Ä?THEÄ? children are entitled to child support to be paid by the husband. )NÄ?CASEÄ?OFÄ?DIVORCEÄ?ORÄ?+HUL–A Ä?THEÄ?CUSTODYÄ?ISÄ?GIVENÄ? to the mother and it continues until the age of Ä?Ä?!FTERWARDS Ä?THEÄ?FATHERÄ?CANÄ?APPEAL Ä?ANDÄ?THEÄ? children are given the right to choose if they want to continue with their mother or not. If the father DOESN–TÄ?ACTÄ?FORÄ?THEÄ?CUSTODY Ä?THEÄ?CHILDRENÄ?STAYÄ?WITHÄ? the mother and he continues paying for child support and all expenses related.

4HEÄ?MARRIAGEÄ?OFÄ?THEÄ?MOTHERÄ?REVOKESÄ?HERÄ?CUSTODYÄ? rights. )NÄ?CASEÄ?OFÄ?DIVORCEÄ?ORÄ?+HUL–A Ä?IFÄ?THEÄ?PARENTSÄ?FAILÄ?

TOÄ?CIVILYÄ?ARRANGEÄ?FORÄ?VISITATION Ä?THEÄ?COURTÄ?MUSTÄ?

INTERFEREÄ?ANDÄ?RULESÄ?AREÄ?THENÄ?SETÄ?BYÄ?THEÄ?JUDGE Ä?LIKEÄ? the time and the place.

There is no obligation on the mother herself to BEÄ?THEREÄ?DURINGÄ?THEÄ?VISITATION Ä?GIVENÄ?THATÄ?SHEÄ?ISÄ?THEÄ? one with custody. !NÄ?AGENTÄ?ISÄ?ASSIGNEDÄ?BYÄ?COURTÄ?TOÄ?BEÄ?PRESENTÄ?ATÄ?

EVERYÄ?VISITATIONÄ?SESSION Ä?TOÄ?MAKEÄ?SUREÄ?THATÄ?ITÄ?ISÄ? going according to schedule and that both parents are abiding by the rules.

The above guidelines are in no form an official translation to the text of articles in the Egyptian laws. They are written with the sole purpose OFÄ?HIGHLIGHTINGÄ?WOMEN–SÄ?RIGHTSÄ?INÄ?MARRIAGEÄ?ANDÄ? separation to benefit the readers after thorough research. This is not meant to be used as an official legal reference. p

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FEATURE

What it Takes to be a Successful Business Woman: Tips From Women in the Field By: Hadeel Hegazi

Women try their utmost to create ripples in the world of business, but it is not an easy feat especially if it is a woman with insufficient external support from society. Egyptian women entrepreneurs have been dabbling in a variety of industries from fashion and Venture Capital to technology startups and arts, and have unabashedly made a great impact and rebuilt perceptions.

“

Don’t be afraid to change your plans, because most times things don’t go as planned and this could be a great potential for growth and greater success.

We compiled a list of Egypt’s most looked out for women in the business world and entrepreneurship to answer the big question of: What does it take to be a successful woman in the world of business? Following the path of successful, powerful and optimistic women, can very likely set you up for success.

Women in business worldwide have lacked the talent of owning their accomplishments, long before the phenomenon was coined as, the imposter syndrome. Flaunting about the success is a right sublimely taken away from women in many cultures for they might be doomed as bossy and bragging.

However, drawing upon their knowledge, experience and confidence, this handful of Egyptian women entrepreneurs shamelessly own their accomplishments and proudly narrate their stories.

This list does not represent women born with unique statuses, it rather showcases that determination, purpose, and vision are such iconic values in carving out one’s greatness. This year will witness the rise of established and upcoming disruptive power-women who not only redefine success, but also generously share their advice with more emerging aspirant women to come along with them.

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Marwa Abou Leila –Photopia Co-Founder Back in 2011, when Marwa Abou Leila decided to quit her job in the banking sector and build her own business around the idea of a photography community, she was met with a significant amount of discouragement. Fast forward to 2019, Marwa is looked at as not only a standing figure in Egypt’s visual arts and photography scene, she is also a daring concept-setter, an avid businesswoman and a relentless dreamer.

Marwa is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Photopia; Egypt’s first professional photography hub, where photography enthusiasts from amateurs to professionals, learn and enhance their talents.

The school, founded by two photography admirers, plays a life-altering role in the trajectory of many artists in the field. It is a venue that hosts educational talks and workshops delivered by the most renowned and important instructors and photographers, and also encompasses a fullyequipped studio for commercial photography purposes. It introduces the Photobook Egypt, which is a project that aims to collect and document the work of international as well as regional photographers and produces them in a powerful series of photobooks.

Photopia’s latest offspring, is the Cairo Photo Week festival. In its first edition, the seven-day festival hosted not less than 1,500 visitors and 750 attendees including everything from exhibitions, panels, portfolio reviews, workshops, and talks.

Advice from Marwa: Guard your reputation as it is your biggest asset after your team. Know that money comes at a later stage and that very few projects make profit in the early years. If you see it, do it. My advice is to be consistent about your message and mission, yet flexible to change according to market needs.

Hadeer Shalaby –Managing Director of Careem Bus Not long enough after the logistics transportation technology disrupted our daily commute and occupied a room in our lives, Hadeer Shalaby founded Taxi El Sahel in 2013, a car reservation service via the phone. Right after, Careem called Hadeer to lead their team and inaugurate the company in the Egyptian market. Starting up as a small company, Careem took the market by storm sharing the market with its gigantic competitor, Uber.

Hadeer is currently the Managing Director of Careem Bus. The 29-year-old manager has achieved a lot at a young age, not by coincidence, but by being armed with a sharp vision, unsatisfied determination and showing up in the face of challenges.

Advice from Hadeer: What women need the most to succeed is their own confidence in who we are and in our capabilities to be able to gain other people’s trust and to move forward. Always be solution-oriented and look for how to fix a problem and not why it can’t be fixed. One of my biggest lessons is to always work for something you are passionate about, do a job that you genuinely enjoy but don’t work for the money!

Money comes and goes anyways and usually, it comes more when you are passionate.

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FEATURE

Manar El Mokadem –Pole Fit Egypt Founder Through pole dancing, Manar found that she can bring women from different backgrounds to practice it as a way to celebrate their feminity and entice their confidence. She headed to the UK to study interior architecture and came back to Egypt as an architect especially talented in the art of pole. Manar thereafter pioneered the industry and opened the first pole dancing studio in Egypt, Pole Fit Egypt. She inaugurated the art in the conservative society, inviting women to change their perception of their bodies, successfully enough.

Advice from Manar: Success takes belief, commitment, persistence and the talent of recognizing opportunities and taking them. I believe to be successful in the Pole and Aerial industry, you must have excellent people skills and have a strong ability to adapt.

A lesson I learned from my work as a female founder and entrepreneur is: don’t be afraid to change your plans, because most times things don’t go as planned and this could be a great potential for growth and greater success.

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Salma El-Hariry, Hala Gabr, and Sherine Waafai –S[k]ale Up Ventures and The Vested Summit Founders The world’s first conscious technology movement was initiated from Egypt’s El Gouna, and by the hands of female powerhouse women. Salma El-Hariry, Hala Gabr, and Sherine Waafai are the women behind the changemaker conscious technology movement and the co-founders of “The Vested Summit”. Through the summit, they aim to connect tech entrepreneurs in the emerging market who solve the real world problems with passionate investors.

Salma is the co-founder and CEO of S[k]ale Up Ventures and The Vested Summit. She is a serial entrepreneur with special interest in supporting and investing in technology savvy trailblazers in the MENA. She started off from Silicon Valley, founded Technie Lab accelerator, to support many now-established startups such as Eventtues, Wuzzuf and Fetcher.

“

Every time I look into the market, I find that women are just as competent, even more so, given the hardships they have to face.

”

Sherine is the co-founder and the chief of product of INConscious, S[k]ale Up Ventures investment tech platform and the co-founder of the Vested Summit. Drawn upon her experience in psychology, Sherine dedicates her energy to support youth solve real-world problems.

startups we support from the MENA and speak to them in the event and she welcomed the idea. The lesson I learned that no matter how successful you become, stay humble and give back to other aspiring leaders. She inspired me enough to open my own company.

Advice from Salma: Every time I look into the market, I find that women are just as competent, even more so, given the hardships they have to face. Therefore, the first thing I advise budding female leaders with is to recognize and have confidence in the value they bring to the business.

Advice from Sherine: I honestly don’t think being successful depends on your gender. As women, we have the hurdle of transcending a stereotype that tells us that our skills are not suited for the current business environment.

Secondly, armor yourself with a support system that believes in you and what you do, and finally, express yourself and voice your addition to whoever you target, whether your audience or your investor.

Some years ago, I met with Marissa Ann Mayer in a conference in Silicon Valley, who was the CEO of Yahoo at the time and the first-ever female CEO in a giant tech company. She inspired me enough to establish my own company, that the following year, I met her again as a female business owner and approached her asking her to meet the

I recently gave a talk at AUC called “Take Gender out of the Equation” and these were my key takeaways: 1. Be aware of stereotypes that might be holding you back 2. Trust that you have everything you need to be successful, and 3. Stop waiting for tomorrow, because your time is now!

During my work as a female entrepreneur, I learned that you need to be very careful about what you share and who you share it with. I like being open and transparent, but in business, you need to analyze the situation. Keep your cards close to your heart ladies. p

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FEATURE

Single Moms - Society’s Warriors

By Katharina Froehlich In a country where at least one-third of marriages end up in divorce, being in a one-parent household can be very challenging, especially for single moms who are not only faced with the pressure of raising children, but are also exposed to the sometimes judgmental opinions of our society.

To find out more about the reality that single moms live in and what they are struggling with, we had a talk with three single mothers who want to empower other women by sharing their experiences and advice.

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DINA Dina Ismail, 42 years old, is an Egyptian living in Belgium since 2007 with her children, ages 14, 10, and 4. She has been a single mom for three years.

How was your life like after splitting up with your partner and being alone with the kids?

Being alone was very difficult for me at the beginning. At that time, I was a person fighting the loneliness that comes with divorce, while continuing with my life and taking care of the children.

Looking back, it feels like I was in a psychological form of torture - I was living abroad without family or friends to support. Especially coming from Egypt where you are never really alone and are always surrounded by loving friends and family members, this was truly a challenging experience.

Finally, I got through it due to the busy lifestyle in Belgium and the hassle that comes with suddenly being a single mom, as it didn’t allow me to have time to overthink.

What was the first thing you learned as a single parent?

Driving in Belgium. I did use to drive here before the divorce, but I didn’t dare go far and discover unknown places by myself. After splitting up, I suddenly had to go to many places every day to take my children to school and to trainings, and so I finally overcame my insecurity, which was maybe the first time that I realized that I didn’t need anybody’s help.

How is your current living situation as a single mom in a foreign country.

I work in Brussels and live in Fleurus, a town located around 70 kilometers south of the capital.

I go to work every day in two hours using three different trains, which I use as my personal time to read, study and often also make friends. My kids go to three different schools, so the morning is quite hectic. After school is really where my second job begins since the children have different activities. Monday is the day where I take time for myself and join a Salsa Class and Sunday is our stay at home day.

How do you stay on top of financial obligations?

I know that this is a problem for most single moms, which is sometimes why women choose to stay with their partners and lead an unhappy life. Frankly speaking, I didn’t have this problem

myself. After I got divorced, I never asked anyone for financial support. To support myself, I created a Fashion group on Facebook besides my regular work.

What are you most sick of hearing from others when they find out that you are a single mom?

One thing that makes me really furious is when people tell me that I will not succeed alone and that I will regret my decision towards the divorce one day. In my opinion, these people are closeminded and I pray for them to understand that women can be strong. On the other hand, I also get a lot of affirmations, especially from other women, who tell me that what I am doing is admirable.

What do you tell your kids when they ask about their father?

I always tell my kids that there is a difference between their relationship with their father and my relationship with him. I support them if they want to call and meet him and always make it clear that they should respect and love him.

What is your main advice for a newly single mom?

Be sad, cry and feel disappointed, but don’t ever take the role of a victim. Try to analyze everything that happened to you because there is always a reason behind it and something God wants you to learn. After all, you come out of the situation wiser.

Also, try to establish a new life routine for yourself and the children, find out more about your own interests and priorities and arrange them to become a normal part of your everyday life. The target is not to be satisfied all the time but to learn to be satisfied with what you have.

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FEATURE

ANNETTE Annette, 53 years old, left her first husband after a 16-year relationship. He is also the father of her first two children, who are now 24 and 26 years old. After being a single mom for a couple of years, she remarried and gave birth to another son who is now 16. She is working as a caretaker for disabled people.

If you could give advice to yourself, what would it be?

It is necessary to get psychological help by a professional for both the children and me. It always feels like that time was so difficult for my kids and I think it could have been facilitated if they had somebody who was not part of our social circle to talk to.

What was the main challenge that you faced while raising your children?

Being consequent with my children. I am generally a person who has trouble saying no so being strict with the kids, which led them to get mad at me, used to upset me in the beginning.

This was when I really felt the absence of a male counterpart in the household.

Another challenge was satisfying the needs of my three children, who are all quite different from one another. In the beginning, it felt like I had to break myself into parts in order to make everyone happy.

I also never wanted my kids to feel like there was something they could not have because I was a single mom. On the other hand, I was also lucky

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because my ex-husband was helping me out financially, and so there was never a shortage on anything needed or wanted by the kids or me.

Are you proud of what you have achieved?

Although the times were not always easy, looking back I am really proud of what we have achieved together. I believe that everything we went through was for a reason and has helped my family bond.

In Germany, there is a social system that supports parents. Nevertheless, many single parents still struggle to support themselves and their children. How do you think this issue could be tackled?

I think that the social system we have here in Germany is already good enough and doesn’t leave much space for improvement. What I have noticed though is that many single parents are not making use of the services and financial aids that the government offers. The reason for that lies in them feeling ashamed of accepting governmental help because it is quite frowned upon. Therefore the improvement has to be done in terms of educating the people and changing their mentality towards realizing that accepting help is not a bad thing.

What would you tell a young single mom who just recently split up?

I would want her to know that it is ok to feel like everything is falling apart. The first few months are the hardest and from then on everything gets easier. I would also recommend that she asks for help from close friends and family and not hide her vulnerability is another good idea.

SAHAR Sahar is a 42-year old single mom working for a mobile company in Cairo. She has been raising her 14-year old daughter by herself for the past 12 years.

What does your everyday life routine look like?

My day starts at 6 a.m. when I wake up with my daughter. After she leaves for school, I do some minor home errands and then hit the gym.

Afterwards, I go directly to work. My daughter goes to my parents after school so as soon as I am done, I pick her up, go home and end the day with a nice meal together. Thankfully, my daughter has already reached the age where she is beginning to be quite independent in her school tasks, which is a relief to me.

How do you handle a busy work schedule and your daughter ’s obligations like after-school activities?

My secret to handling a busy schedule is delegating. For example, I have a driver for my daughter, who I trust. He takes her everywhere she has to go, such as private lessons or sports activities. Before this, my life was much more difficult because I got home from work and had to directly go out again to take her to the places she needed to be.

and through having to deal with a variety of different situations and personalities.

I would also say that I am straightforward and like to confront others - I don’t have trouble saying the right things in difficult situations to help my daughter if she is having problems.

How would you describe the treatment of single mothers in Egyptian society? What should be done to trigger more acceptance towards single parents?

I feel that men especially are bullying single moms, claiming that we are strong and aggressive and not feminine enough. I personally always sense that I have to put this shield of masculine energy to protect myself against being addressed by men for sexual needs and at the same time when I wear this masculine mask, I keep getting negative comments. Men are attacking single moms because they think we have sexual needs that we need them to fulfill.

I think it would be great if there was an official union for single moms that we can all be a part of and where we can meet to support each other and empowering each other through unity.

With the large amount of single moms currently living in Egypt, it is only fair that we have someone representing us in official and legal affairs.

Who are the people who make your support system?

What’s your advice to other moms?

My parents and I can always count on them, especially in cooking. My mom enables us to stay healthy with her delicious and fresh meals, which is a great gift for us.

If you want to be a successful mother, you have to find time for yourself. You have to be happy to make your kids happy, and happiness is an inside job that doesn’t need a man.

What are you doing with your daughter, when you need time for yourself?

It’s also about being grateful for what you already have. A tip that I have and that I also follow is to count 10 blessings in my life when I wake up. It’s a great start to the day.

Since my daughter always stays with her father on Fridays, this is when I take some time off. On this day, I go meet friends, or stay in bed or watch TV. Friday is the day for recharging.

Which personal strengths do you possess that enhance your role as a mother?

I reassure my daughter that I am always there for her and that I can make her feel secure. I think this strength is something that I acquired in the course of my life through being a working woman

Another thing that has helped me is working out.

When you work out, you can relieve your negative energy, give you stamina and and strength, which you will need to carry out your other daily tasks.

Working out boosts your endorphins and a lot of other hormones that make you happy.

Finally, you have to accept the lifestyle that you are leading and enjoy your freedom and peace and don’t let anybody set limits to it. p

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COMMUNITY Entrepreneur

Facebook Feminism: Groups Created by Women for Women

By Basma Mostafa

People today are spending endless amounts of time scrolling through their Facebook newsfeed, but it isn’t all aimless. Several Facebook groups have been created to support women throughout the different hardships they go through. From relationship advice to mommy support, we have interviewed some of the female founders of Egypt’s most popular Facebook groups targeting women.

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Relationships and MaRRiage

“

When you read all the stories that other women share, you learn then that life is all about the perspective through which you see things

Marriage is not a fairytale; it is not about organizing your wedding, planning your honeymoon, or choosing the color of your bridesmaids dresses. Many women get caught up in the thrill of “their happily ever after ” and do not consider what really happens after they have tied the knot. This common misconception was what led Zeinab Al Ashry to found her Facebook group “Confessions of a Married Woman”—which allows women to send their confessions (or problems) anonymously.

There are plenty of real-life problems that many women do not feel comfortable discussing. Al Ashry herself—who had just gotten married— felt there were so many things that she did not understand about marriage, so she started a group with around 10 or 15 female friends, each with a unique story. “People tend to hide skeletons in their closets and no one really knows how common domestic problems are,” she explains.

“I used to ask myself if I had married the wrong man or if he no longer loved me, but your perception changes once you realize that your problem is actually quite common and you deal with it differently,” notes Al Ashry.

The main idea behind the popular Facebook group is that women can send their stories without having to reveal their identities. Marriage problems are usually very sensitive in nature and many do not feel comfortable discussing what they are going through with friends and family.

Although “Confessions of a Married Woman” was initially created for a group of friends, each could send her confession anonymously. Today, over 10,000 women appreciate the privacy and secrecy when it comes to talking about their own marriages.

The group is a place where taboos are broken, where women could tell stories of their own sexuality, and where they can confess that they cannot afford to leave physically and emotionally abusive marriages.

”

However, Al Ashry did not just stop at that. “We started adding videos to our group created by life coaches, doctors, and psychologists about topics that could possibly be of concern to women, such as parenting and sexual and reproductive health.”

The group also features live videos with experts so that women could ask whatever they want.

“We talk about sexual education for kids, sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptions, vaginal bleeding, and domestic abuse.” With over 30 educational videos with a total reach of over a million, Al Ashry seeks to encourage women to break existing societal taboos and find the support they need and deserve.

Furthermore, Al Ashry aims to support women who run their own businesses through the group.

“What you learn after almost five years of reading about other women’s problems is that awareness might be important but it is never enough.”

Women need to be fully empowered to make their lives better. “We get so many confessions about women staying in abusive marriages because the husband is the main breadwinner of the family.

These husbands will not continue to support their children if the women choose to walk away,” Al Ashry explains.

To these women, the decision is obvious: tolerate a few years of abuse—physical and emotional—for a better future for the kids. “But of course the kids end up with a bunch of psychological problems themselves, which is what you try to help mothers understand through some of the videos we create.”

Al Ashry added that these are well-educated women who chose not to pursue careers because they got married and had kids. If they do choose to leave their violent marriages, these women would never accept financial help from anyone, so alternatively they start their own businesses to support their children. “Some women start making accessories at home and some start baking cupcakes.”

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Entrepreneur

“

MoMs supporting MoMs

You start reading online about what to expect as a mother, but then you go back to reality and find that your baby is completely different. You need the experience of someone that has done it before

”

Women who run their own businesses could promote them on “Confessions of a Married Woman” possibly reaching thousands of potential customers. Al Ashry is also currently working on an initiative entitled Intaliqi (Go Ahead), where any woman with a business idea could sign up for a two-week educational program and learn how to start and run her own business.

“What’s unique about our initiative is that it focuses on older women; it does not matter whether she’s 30 or 60,” she adds. This is particularly significant because many women start their businesses after they have reached 40 when their kids are older and they start having more time for themselves.

Al Ashry tells us that the group has helped her develop on a personal level. “The group made me aware of issues that I would have never imagined. I became more compassionate and more understanding of the problems that happen inside closed homes—and less judgmental of the decisions women make,” she adds.

Moreover, the stories shared through the group would help one see two sides of a similar story.

You live your life thinking that something is missing and that once you get it, all your problems will disappear. Al Ashry recounts the story of a woman who was complaining that her husband was always out with his friends and that she wished he would spend some time at home with her; a short while later, another woman sends her confession complaining that her husband never goes out and seeking advice on how to encourage him to meet his friends more often.

“When you read all the stories that other women share, you learn then that life is all about the perspective through which you see things,” Al Ashry concludes.

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Heba Abou El Eid, founder of popular Facebook group for moms and moms-to-be “The Mommy Club” also shares her story. Having been the first among her friends to get married and to get pregnant, in addition to being type one diabetic, Abou El Eid had to go through a high-risk pregnancy, filled with emotional ups and downs.

“Reaching out to distant friends and acquaintances who had kids or were pregnant themselves was one thing that lightened the load.” Then the baby arrived and Abou El Eid had so many questions about what was normal and what was not, so she created a Whatsapp group for her newly found mommy friends that soon turned into the Facebook group “The Mommy Club”.

“You start reading online about what to expect as a mother, but then you go back to reality and find that your baby is completely different. You need the experience of someone that has done it before,” Abou El Eid recounts.

While her family was quite supportive, no one really understood exactly what Abou El Eid was going through: the early woes of breastfeeding, the seemingly never-ending sleep deprivation, and the emotional breakdowns. “It was only through this group that I found support from moms like myself,” she adds.

Abou El Eid started “The Mommy Club” as a safe place for mothers where they can discuss their struggles. “It is a community first and foremost— for moms to share their experiences and support for one another.”

The journey into motherhood is definitely not easy. “You may suffer from postpartum depression. You may have no feelings for your baby once you give birth. It is completely normal.

It is important to know that you are enough as a

mother,” she notes, adding that new moms need to be reminded that what they are experiencing is completely normal.

New mothers are often unsure of themselves; things may even be more difficult for them if they do not receive enough support from their families.

Breastfeeding in public and visiting a lactation consultant are new concepts that may not have been popular among previous generations.

Through the group, over 40,000 mothers can find the support they need to become the best that they can for their children.

Abou El Eid adds that she tries to support mothers in offline settings as well through organizing newborn care sessions and educational sessions for breastfeeding moms. “We create lists of restaurants that are baby friendly as well, where there is a changing table, for example, and we reach out to those that are not to encourage them to be more welcoming of babies,” she adds.

Finally, Abou El Eid has created another group “The Parents Club”, where fathers could join in on “the parenting fun,” so that they can understand what mothers go through and learn that it is fine for them to change diapers.

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Entrepreneur

“

Culturally, people don’t question authority. Doctors do sometimes misinform their patients, potentially impacting children

Another Facebook group that seeks to support moms is “Cairo Mommies for Natural Parenting”, founded by Abigail Dax Toner, who is originally from the US but had been living in Cairo for three years when she started the group.

When Toner herself was pregnant, she saw a lot of misinformation being passed around. Someone, for instance, would advise a pregnant woman to avoid carrying groceries, but Toner would ask, “what if you had an older child? Wouldn’t you have to carry him around all the time?” Some advised moms to avoid nursing their baby between 12 AM and 6 AM to rest their stomachs, but babies do not have internal clocks.

What led Toner to start the group was ultimately her experience with a well-renowned pediatrician.

Her son had a cow milk protein allergy but she was being told over and over again that he was just colic. Her mother ’s instincts told her something was wrong. “This pediatrician basically dismissed the fact that this could even be a thing; he made me feel stupid as a mom,” she recounts.

However, there was research to back up Toner ’s concern.

This incident made Toner realize that some Egyptian doctors are popular by virtue of their reputation or by how long they keep people waiting in their clinics versus whether or not they do keep up with research. “This made me realize that I wanted moms to have more support and feel more in control,” explains Toner. Being a mother, at the end of the day, is all about trusting your instincts when you think something is off and feeling comfortable pushing back to authority figures whether it be doctors or society.”

“Because we are being given so much misinformation and information, we no longer know what is right and what is not,” she adds.

“Cairo Mommies for Natural Parenting”, with its

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”

28,000 members, was born to spread evidencebased parenting advice.

Toner believes that there are multiple ways to parent but that some of them are definitely not healthy; what the group seeks to do is provide moms with facts and information so that they can make informed decisions. The group fosters a spirit of debate, where mothers engage in rational discussions.

“Culturally, people don’t question authority.

Doctors do sometimes misinform their patients, potentially impacting children,” explains Toner, adding that her goal was to educate mothers to make informed decisions. The group—as the name suggests—follows a natural parenting approach as research has shown that our instinctive ways of parenting are often best for our children.

Toner believes that a child is an instinctual creature. “When it comes to co-sleeping, for example, it is true that human beings want to be close, but there is so much misinformation that prevents people from doing it.” Some people say that this way, your child will be become too attached. “They are a human baby—they need to be attached for survival. They are not like a horse that can start walking six hours after birth,” she explains.

One area that Toner—with the help of five other admins—seeks to change through the group is education. She explains that putting three-yearolds through interviews is extremely stressful and schools have completely turned into a business.

“It is really putting kids at a disadvantage when it comes to over-scheduling and activities and expecting way too much from them,” she adds.

“I wish that parents in general knew how much power they have and not go along with it.” p

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Real People

Sahar H elmy The Graceful Egyptian B allerina

By Rana Kamaly

Choosing the professional art route in Egypt has proved to be challenging at times, but once in a while we come across striking talents that we can’t overlook, like Sahar Helmy, one of the few professional Egyptian ballerinas.

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“

I used to dance at home and tried to step on my toes and jump around to try to copy the ballerinas on TV. I just loved dancing.

”

Helmy is in her 40s, graduated from the Academy of Arts Ballet, then later got the equivalent of a PhD from France called Diplome d’etat de professour de dance. Since graduating from college, she has been a ballerina at the Cairo Opera House, and amongst the first ballet dancers to be appointed by the Opera after it was rebuilt.

Ballet is Helmy’s life, especially since she started dancing at the age of three. When she heard that the old opera house that was located on Opera square was on fire, she broke into tears. “I thought I would never be a ballerina. My dad reassured me that by the time I was ready, they would have built another. I used to dance at home and jump around trying to copy the ballerinas on TV. I just loved dancing.”

When she turned eight, she was accepted into the professional ballet school in Egypt, which consisted of half a day of studies, and the other half for ballet, dance and art classes. During her university years, she was always at the top of her class and after graduating from the Academy of Arts, she started teaching there as well.

Helmy is currently a presenter of a TV program called “The Art of Ballet” while her teaching career is currently on hold. She wrote two books about the history of ballet and Egyptian dancing.

We had the pleasure of interviewing her further, discussing her career and her experiences along the years.

When did it change from just taking classes into a career?

My class had only four girls and 10 boys, and I was the only one who made it out as a professional dancer. Some failed and others quit because it was too difficult and demanding.

Back then the future for us was unclear because there was no place to dance professionally.

When I finished school, I was thinking about going to an academic university to become a lawyer because I did not see a solid future as a ballerina, but my father encouraged me and told me that I was a talented dancer. He convinced me that there were a lot of lawyers and doctors out there but not enough ballerinas. I took his advice and after a couple of years, the opera was up and running again, just like my dad said it would be.

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Real People What was the audience like back then?

We danced many times for 20 to 30 people. People were scared to enter the new Opera House after the old one burned down, while others thought it was only for the elite and sophisticated people; which is understandable because for 20 years the culture wasn’t there. Now, you cant find an empty chair in most performances. The mindsets have changed, and that is something I am proudly saying because Egyptians have evolved when it comes to supporting different arts.

Is your son following in your footsteps?

My 22-year-old son is studying to become an actor in France, but I had initially advised him to avoid pursuing a career in the arts field because it was a very selective profession, and rejection can be very depressing. I was just trying to protect him. However, his response was that I was an Egyptian woman who pursued a career in dancing and had the privilege of being an artist, and so why not allow him the same satisfaction and honor?

While pregnant with him, I kept dancing until I was five months pregnant, and returned again six months after giving birth. By then, I was fully competent and had my first performance.

What challenges do you face in this profession?

Corruption and jealousy play a huge part in your career, which is why my career as a teacher is on hold. The administrative framework does not protect talents, and this is one of the main challenges that sometimes hold me back.

It places obstacles for talented people and forces them into a corner to defend themselves.

The required physical ability is also a challenge sometimes, because every dance has tough movements and each character comes with their own set of challenges. The lifts especially are very tough, because you don’t want to get injured, and so it takes a lot of training and trust in your partner to be able to twist, jump and land safely in someone’s arms. It takes a lot of calculations and physics as well.

What performance are you most proud of?

I have danced around the world across the years, and even danced in front of presidents, but one moment I am especially proud of is when I was 8 or 9 years old and danced in Abdeen Palace in front of President Anwar el Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin during the peace treaty negotiations.

I didn’t realize how big this was back then. It wasn’t until I saw the famous sculpture of them shaking hands in Copenhagen that I realized how much of an honor it was.

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What are your thoughts of the Egyptian taboo regarding dancing?

The topic is still a sensitive one, even for men. Worldwide, they make fun of men when they dance ballet, because of what they wear, but surprisingly in Egypt the number of male ballerinas are double or triple the females, even with the look society gives male dancers.

We are in a society where there are cultural and religious issues when it comes to dancing, which often stops many girls and boys from getting into ballet, but lately the demand on ballet has been increasing.

The culture is starting to change, and now the ballet school does not have a place for everyone who wants in, which is a problem because people resort to private centers and turn to amateurs. No matter how hard they train, it is hard for them to be as dedicated as they would be if they attended the ballet school.

We only have one school here, which is the only one in the Middle East. As a result, Egypt attracts many professional dancers from abroad because there are not enough qualified ones here.

What would you like to say about the effect of dance?

It is like God created you to do it and be it and you feel its power over you always. When I get into character, the music transforms me and I have to concentrate on every movement, look, muscle and facial expression while staying in-sync with the other dancers. Once the performance starts, you are live and you can’t go back or redo anything.

While dancing, I really live the moment. p

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Fieldwork

“Enset Le Yady� Promotes Sign Language

By Noha Kandil

Enset Le Yady is an initiative that encourages the youth to learn sign language, with the objective of making the life of the hearing-impaired easier, as well as lessening the communication barriers between communities. This graduation project turned into a passion and a mission to spread the word.

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Nouran Ibrahim Fathy, Farah el Khawanky, Mayar Rahmy and Aisha Ashour are four graduating seniors that are tackling this subject that many often neglect. Not even over the age of 23, their graduation project, Enset Le Yady, is currently exceeding what many have done in their lifetime.

We had the chance to sit and talk to them about what brought about their idea, and how they intend to grow it.

What is the story behind the “Enset Le Yady� initiative?

Farah had researched sign language for an assignment, and found that the topic had great depth. One day we thought about further studying the subject and making it our graduation project as the topic was rarely tackled in Egypt and had many angles to it.

Working on such a project surely required time, researching about the deaf community in Egypt. Can you share some of your findings?

We did a lot of research as it was relatively unknown to us. For instance, we didn't know there are around 14 million hearing-impaired people in Egypt. We also found it shocking and interesting at the same time that sign language is not the same internationally. Each country has its own sign language, and each city has its own dialect, just like any other language.

Do you aim to teach it, or do you just promote the idea of learning it?

Our main objective with our project right now is to raise awareness so that people could develop an interest and seek to learn it.

Are there enough platforms in Egypt that teach sign language?

There aren't many at all, but among the few good organizations are Al Wafaa Wa Al Amal and The Deaf Unit Cairo.

Has your objective changed or grown bigger with time?

At the beginning, our main objective was to raise awareness only, however, that objective has grown because we now are trying to learn the language.

We expanded our scale of reach and started going to organizations and schools to promote the idea of learning it. As we dug deeper, we found ourselves developing a passion towards the topic; so for us it is no longer just an academic project.

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What makes “Enset Le Yady” different from other initiatives focusing on the same cause?

We believe what makes us different is our approach and how we are tackling the subject. We are raising awareness through social media, which is not quite common, and we insist on keeping it positive all the time, unlike how media usually discuss the subject with sad advertisements asking for sympathy without adding much value.

Your social media channels feature several public figures supporting your project; did you expect that reach?

Honestly no, but we were amazed by how these celebrities were willing to help us. We were overwhelmed and encouraged by the reactions and positive feedback.

When it comes to such initiatives, unfortunately many people just support the idea without taking action. How are you willing to turn that positive feedback into tangible progressive steps?

In our case, the opposite happened; we found out that people were actually willing to take initiative. Ever since we started the campaign, we have received many messages from people that were excited by the idea and wanted to ask us if we offered any courses. Those kinds of people are catalysts for the future of the sign language learning curve.

Is the idea of expanding your project to support other minorities something you would consider in the future, like targeting other disabled groups?

We are only focusing on the deaf and the hearing-impaired. There are many of them that need help, and we won't be able to give them 100% of our attention if we start focusing on other causes.

If someone is reading this and doubting the impact he/she would have, what would you tell them?

We will ask them to picture this – you are in a foreign country, you don't speak its language, and you are in desperate need for help, but no one seems to understand you.

Now imagine the feeling of someone who is constantly stuck in that situation, but in their own country. That is exactly how the deaf feel, and that is why you should at least give it a try. p Instagram: @ensetleyady

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Travel DESTINATIONS Travel

Exploring the Authentic Sultanate of Oman

By Katharina Froehlich

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When my friend first introduced the idea of traveling to Oman, I felt embarrassed, not exactly sure where the country even was. Even its name had an alluring mystery behind it. After some research, I found out that Oman is located on the borders of the UAE, KSA, and Yemen. In the west, you can find a long stretch of the Arabian Sea, which is also where the country’s capital, Muscat, lies.

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Travel

Reasons to Visit It is a hidden gem Oman, compared to its busy neighbor the UAE, is much less of a tourist destination and so you basically have the sights to yourself. Whether you are coming to Oman from Dubai or directly from Cairo, you will feel a lasting relief at the sight of emptiness, which even the capital offers you.

On our three-day trip, we encountered approximately 20 other tourists and very few pushy salespeople, which are usually found around the main sights. Going to Oman, I felt like an adventurer exploring a country that is a secret to most people.

You can witness a working monarchy Oman has been a Sultanate since the Al Said dynasty began in 1749. The way the locals worship their Sultan, Qabus Ibn Said, is very interesting: many have pictures of him in their wallets or on big stickers on their cars to show their devotion. His presence and love for his country are omnipresent.

It is authentic The Omani culture is not one that has been influenced by tourists or pilgrims. During the

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visit, I felt that I witnessed the true Middle Eastern culture and architecture that is well preserved and hasn’t been pushed aside by Western beliefs.

You can easily reach it Reaching Oman is not difficult at all. The two most common options are taking a direct flight from Egypt with either Oman Air or Egypt Air, which will cost you around EGP 6,000 for a return ticket, or you can also combine it with a trip to Dubai or Abu Dhabi and then take a bus from there to Muscat. There are morning, noon and night buses for the approximately eight-hour trip.

The distance between Dubai and Muscat is only around 500 kilometers, but unfortunately, the border crossing is time-consuming. The tickets for a bus from Dubai to Muscat are available for around EGP 300. Check ww.alkhanjry.com for more information.

People are honest and kind Maybe because there is only a limited amount of visitors or because it is their true nature, Omani people are among the most warmhearted worldwide. Even though we were foreigners, we did not encounter anyone trying to cheat us.

PLACES MUSCAT Muscat is the capital of the country. Because of its proximity to the sea, a breath of fresh air can be felt all year round, which is especially refreshing during the humid summer months.

There are a fair amount of interesting sights to visit, but even if you are not into sightseeing, you can sit by the sea, watching the Omani men and women go on with their daily lives in the typical, conservative Omani attire - the Dishdasha/Kandora for men and a black abaya for women.

During a three to five day trip, you should be able to visit the most important sights in both Muscat and the countryside, including Wadi Shab and Jebel Shams.

Ruwi and Matrah Ruwi and Matrah are districts in southern Muscat that are located next to each other and make an excellent starting point. Staying in this area is highly recommended. Check out the Al Falaj Hotel in Ruwi as a nice 4-star option at a very reasonable price of EGP 1,200 for a double room per night.

What is interesting about Matrah is its buildings that are no higher than two-stories. Walking is generally a good way of getting around if you want to avoid the cost of paying for the overpriced taxis, which take you on a 10-minute ride for EGP 300.

The Matrah district is home to the Mutrah Souq, which is probably the cheapest place in the whole city. From Omani and Indian artifacts to jewelry and even a hardware store, everything seems to be available at the traditional Arabian market. It is located directly on the Matrah Corniche and is therefore hardly missed.

Just a short stroll down the Matrah Corniche, which features some splendid views of the Gulf of Oman, is the fish market that isn’t recommended for the faint-hearted and is an experience for all your senses. All sorts of delicious fresh seafood (tuna, squid, kingfish, prawns and so on) are provided daily and leave you feeling hungry.

Although the market attracts many foreigners, it is still traditional and geared towards the locals, therefore it gives you a good insight into the Omanis’ lives.

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Travel Al Riyam Park In Oman, Frankincense is known as the desert’s tears and it is the pride of the country that has been around for hundreds of years. It is also present in Egyptian history, since it has been discovered in King Tut’s burial chamber.

While walking south on Matrah Corniche, you will not be able to oversee the tremendously large Incense Burner in Al Riyam Park. The incense burner is clearly a symbol of the Omani’s connection to the holy incense.

On weekends, events, such as small fairs, take place at the park.

Qasr al ‘Alam and Fort Mirani Just a short taxi ride away through the hillsides that separate some parts of Oman’s capital lies the Sultan’s palace Qasr al ‘Alam. With its impressive colors and delightful mushroom pillars, it is unfortunately closed to the public, and so you can wander its open courtyard and take photos with the palace and the mountains as the backdrop.

When you walk down Qasr al ‘Alam street towards the sea, you will find Fort Mirani on your left. It is one of the largest fortifications in Oman, together with the nearby Fort Jalali. Fort Mirani once formed the city wall of Muscat, protecting the city from intruders.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Another must visit is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. For its construction, 300,000 tons of sandstone were imported from India and established the mosque in only six years.

It has enough room for 20,000 worshippers and is the largest in Oman.

This architectural jewel highlights the characteristics of Islamic styles, and can be visited daily until noon, except Fridays, and is also accessible for non-muslims.

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JEBEL SHAMS WADI SHAB AND WADI TIWI Oman is also known for its endless amount of beautiful wadis and lagoons. Recommended by locals, we decided to visit Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, which are situated in the south, on the coastal road between Muscat and Sur in the Sharquiah region. Unfortunately, both wadis were devastated by a cyclonic storm in 2007.

Nature repaired itself again, and today both wadis are incredibly picturesque with their scenic attractions. The wadis house pools of turquoise water, surrounded by palm trees, banana farms and mango orchards.

The best and least expensive way to get there is to join a Travel Group from Muscat and take the three-hour drive down the highway. Cars can be parked at the entrance and from there, one can take a 15-kilometer hike that is well-signposted.

The most spectacular part of the wadis, with its lush vegetation and crystal blue waters amidst snow-white cliffs, can be reached after around 20 minutes of walking.

JEBEL SHAMS At 3,009 meters height, the well-known Jebel Shams is the highest mountain in the area and can also be climbed without any hiking experience. Jebel Shams offers the views of the mountainscape, which is often compared to the Grand Canyon in the U.S.A. The starting point for the ascent of Jebel Shams is Wadi Nakhr, a dramatic canyon. Besides going all the way to the top, there is also the option to walk around the mountain, which will take between two to three hours.

If you are aiming for a peaceful hike, start as early in the morning as possible to avoid the crowds of Omani families who enjoy the mountains, especially during summer weekends.

Since Jebel Shams is 240 kilometers west of Muscat in the countryside, it is recommended to start a day trip from the nearby city of Nizwa. We went to Nizwa by bus from Muscat and stayed two nights in Golden Tulip Hotel to ensure enough time, which was roughly EGP 2000 per double room per night.

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CULTURE AND GENERAL REMARKS FOOD Both being Middle Eastern countries, Egyptian and Omani food are quite similar. However, there are also dishes that I hadn´t tried before. My favorite was the Omani bread, Maldouf, which is a date flatbread that yields a deep flavor and can easily be enjoyed by itself. Another must-try dish is Harees, a dish made from wheat mixed with meat and usually prepared for special occasions.

THE ART OF POTTERY MAKING With a long tradition dating back 4,000 years, the art of making pottery still lives in Oman today. The main producer of pottery is Bahla in A’Dhahirah Governorate. Due to the soil of the nearby wadi and the magic fingers of the artists from the region, the pottery from Bahla is one of the finest arts I have seen in Oman. Buying a piece doesn’t only support the local community, it also serves as a great souvenir.

CLIMATE The climate in Oman is a subtropical dry, hot desert climate. With little rainfall and high temperatures, summer is not the best time to visit, although the temperatures are still much more durable than its neighboring countries. The most popular time to visit is from October to April when the weather is warm and sunny and temperatures range from a very pleasant 25 to 35 degrees Celsius.

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THE HIGHLIGHT The first thing that comes to mind when people ask me about my experience is always the same little anecdote from our trip.

On our first day in Oman, my friend and I decided to venture forth in the middle of the day, and took a taxi to the area of Qasr al ‘Alam. We arrived quickly and took a long walk, and only when we wanted to go back to the hotel, we realized that there wasn’t anyone around.

Without any water or supplies and not exactly the most hiking friendly outfits, we decided to walk the 10-kilometer road through the mountains. At around one-third of the way, the first car passed by and an Omani man got out, waved at us and told us to come in his car. After initially panicking, the man introduced himself, and since we really didn’t have any other options, we decided to trust him, and it turned out to be the best day of the whole visit.

The man first took us to try the typical Omani Kahwa in a little coffee house in the mountains and then prepared a picnic for us in the midst of palm trees with a view over all of Muscat. Surely something we wouldn’t have been able to experience without the help of a local.

IN A NUTSHELL I would highly recommend a visit to Oman, especially for those who are adventure seekers and enjoy exploring unique places. The only downside was the prices, as Oman deserves the title of being one of the most expensive countries in the world.

Apart from that, the whole experience was absolutely worth it. If though, on the other hand, you only feel comfortable being surrounded by crowds and are looking for a budget-vacations spot, Oman might not be your piece of cake. p

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CUISINE

Ristorante Tuscany Experiencing the Taste of Italy on the Nile

By Katharina Froehlich

Ristorante Tuscany is one of Cairo Marriott Hotel and Omar Khayyam Casino’s 12 restaurants, and is an excellent choice for Italian food in a convincing venue in Cairo. Quite rightly, it doesn’t have any eligible competitors in the area.

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The History The hotel was originally built under Khedive Ismail in the Muhammad Ali Dynasty under the name Al Gezirah Palace and was destined to be the home for visiting international dignitaries during the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Until today, many of the palace’s rooms and decorations are still in their original condition as seen in the Omar Khayyam lounge and the Historic Eugenie Salon.

Ristorante Tuscany itself is an established premise in the local catering industry with a 20-year history. Since its opening, Ristorante Tuscany has not only had many ordinary food loving Sojourners, but also some celebrities as regular guests. Well-known Egyptian Actor Omar Sherif was an often-welcomed guest in the past and so is the famous archeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass today.

The Atmosphere The well-preserved entrance - with its golden pillars - sets the expectations high about what lies behind the red outside walls of Al Gezirah Palace.

Inside of the hotel’s main lobby, the royal staircase leads down to the restaurant, which welcomes you

to little Italy in the heart of Zamalek. The style of the restaurant doesn’t match the classical colonial one that the rest of the hotel was built to reflect, which makes you feel like you are walking through different eras and countries on your way to dinner.

The decoration, furniture, and vibe of the venue are so authentically Italian that the entire time I felt like I was in a little Cucina in the Tuscan countryside. Most walls have large paintings on them, which give an insight into what this part of Italy looks like in reality. The furniture generally reflects a rustic style with dark wooden tables and matching red sofas. The overall feeling that the venue conveys is that of a traditional, Italian home, a trait that is enhanced by the many plants, paintings, and other decorative, classical style objects from the Italian countryside. Another enjoyable feature is the slow-paced, light Italian music that sets the tone for a good evening.

The restaurant is staffed by well-trained individuals who represent its classy atmosphere, and who were all wearing the same perfectly fitted black suits. As a foreigner, I specifically noticed the perfect English that all employees were addressing me in.

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The Food and Drinks Right after we ordered a variety of dishes from the promising menu, the waiter brought over different kinds of homemade Italian brown and white bread with a dip of Balsamic vinegar, oil, and onions.

We didn’t have to wait long to receive our drinks, which were nonalcoholic fruit cocktails with the name Marriott’s Special.

For starters, we chose - as per our waiter ’s recommendation - two of the most popular Antipasti at the restaurant - Arancini and Carpaccio di Manzo. The Arancini - fried rice balls - stuffed with mushroom and served with spicy tomato sauce on the side, had a really creamy taste, and even though they are made of rice, the Arancini still felt as light and refreshing as a piece of fresh fruit. The Carpaccio was basically a platter of sliced fillet of beef tenderloin topped with a rocca salad, Parmigiano cheese and light mustard sauce. The slices of meat were extremely thin and so smooth on the tongue that it felt like it was just melting away by itself.

We also had the Insalata Caprese, which consists of buffalo mozzarella with tomato, fresh basil and pesto, and the Zuppa di Mare - a traditional Italian seafood soup with shrimp, sea bass, salmon, calamari and black mussel. Several waiters recommended the latter to us, and rightly so, since not only was the taste of the well-prepared fish delicious, but also the unique tomato flavor was a gift to our taste buds.

Around 15 minutes after, our main dishes arrived.

We had ordered the staff ’s recommendations, which were Pasta, Ravioli al Aragosta and Pesce, Grigliata Mista di Pesce. The ravioli were filled with lobster and baby shrimp and were served in a fresh basil-cream sauce. The meal has a certain harmony to it between the fish, the sauce and the spices used, that enlightens your senses

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and makes you question all the other times you had ravioli before. On the other hand, the Grigliata Mista di Pesce is a mixed seafood platter, consisting of prawns, calamari, sea bass, salmon and black mussels served with a small side of vegetables. Due to the fresh taste of the fish, this dish is able to mentally take you back to your last beach vacation. After the spread, we didn’t have too much room left for dessert but a quick look in the menu convinced us that we shouldn’t leave without at least trying the Tiramisu and the Panna Cotta Tradizionale con Salsa alle Fragole, which were both delicious, authentic Italian dolci that rounded up the whole dining experience.

Generally speaking, the menu offers a wide selection of dishes, which also include vegetarian meals. A separate beverage menu presents a large range of international wines from Italy, the U.S., France and Egypt, as well as other alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. The current head chef, who has had the position for one year, is Chef Stefan from the Netherlands. Many of the recipes are those of Italian chef Ahmed Osman.

General Info To be on the safe side, it is highly recommended to make a reservation beforehand, especially for bigger groups.

The restaurant welcomes its guest every day from 6 p.m. until midnight. There is no set dress code, but nevertheless, it is recommended to come in an outfit that matches the restaurant’s charm.

A recent change of the venue’s policy now also allows children to enter with their parents. p For further information and reservations, please call +20 2 27283000.

CUISINE

“Sea to Table” Nights At the Nile Ritz-Carlton

The Nile Ritz-Carlton is introducing the “Sea to Table” concept to the hotel’s favorite dining destination, Bab El-Sharq. Chef De Cuisine Nasib Abdo and his team present delightful seafood nights, bringing crisp experiences to the tables of Bab El-Sharq every Tuesday and Thursday night.

With a delectable spread that will tempt the palates of all seafood fans, the culinary team hosts a seafood extravaganza, where diners can pick whatever fresh fish and salt water delicacies were caught from the Mediterranean Sea. The culinary team travels weekly to the famous Alexandria seafood market “Halaet El Samak” to buy fresh seafood directly from local fisherman to serve as “catch of the day”.

Cooked to perfection, guests will enjoy their favorite cooking preparation methods from baked,

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grilled to fried, that will ensure an unforgettable seafood lovers’ experience.

Featuring contemporary and classic seafood preparations that are both sophisticated and tasteful, with excellent service and a boasting open kitchen, Bab El-Sharq offers a unique and memorable dining experience in the heart of downtown Cairo.

To further amplify the warm, inviting atmosphere; the outdoor dining venue enjoys a simple yet elegant ambiance, with lush gardens and opulent Egyptian museum views paired with exciting performances of renowned belly dancer “Amy Sultan”. The overall atmosphere paired with the “Sea to Table” concept is guaranteed to create a memorable set of experiences for guests to indulge in with family and friends. p

WE BRING YOUR BUSINESS TO LIFE

48, Abdel Moneim Hafez Street, off Nozha St., Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (202) 2290 8127 - 2415 8762 Mobile: 010 005 2322 - 010 005 2323 Email: editor@live-colors.com - rania.halim@live-colors.com DEC 2017 | Ct

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SOCIETY Avec Amour Celebration at Le Méridien Cairo Airport Because everything is better with a little amour, Le Méridien Cairo Airport marked the most romantic time of the year with a passionate celebration.

Media, influencers and bloggers were invited to experience avec amour ’s signature chocolate delights and effervescent Kir Royale cocktails complemented by a musical live performance. The celebration started with a chocolate workshop guided by the hotel’s pastry chef, Sedhom, followed by a flower workshop guided by the talented florist Najla.

After the workshops, guests were invited to create their own box of chocolates and flowers.

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Grohe Presents Creative Water Solutions at ISH Grohe is creating a whole new concept of water by enabling the clients to be the innovators. At the ISH showroom in Frankfurt, Grohe presented many of its iconic projects – like the Rapidos Rain Showers, Grohe Blue’s bottled water straight from the tap and its 3D tap Allure – providing creative water solutions and proving why it has won 16 innovation awards.

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SOCIETY InterContinental Hotels Group Cairo Citystars Celebrates International Women’s Day InterContinental, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites Cairo Citystars celebrated International Women’s Day with a series of events to acknowledge the efforts of all women around the three hotels. In the morning, Nasser Fadly, Area Director of Human Resources, Africa and Human Resources team members paid a surprise visit to all the ladies in their work places and presented them with homemade chocolates. Moreover, a special free manicure, makeup and hairdressing sessions were offered to all the women followed by a special party in the afternoon, in which rewarding certificates were presented to the ladies to recognize their super talents.

The star of the party was the tombola, where the lucky winners received valuable home appliances. All the ladies enjoyed a lavish lunch buffet and entertaining activities. At the end of the party, the Human Resources team distributed beauty cases to all the attendees wishing them a happy International Women Day.

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