Community Times August Issue 2016

August 2016

Since 1996

In tune wIth the CommunIty for 20 years

egyPt's economy and the deValuation of the Pound Public Vs. PriVate education

Q&awith egyPtian fashion designers omar mabrouk & hiba elawady

Quit

The Changes in Belly DanCing over The CenTuries

he his job for this!

Editor’s Note Publisher Live Colors, Nicosia Managing Partner Najla Riad Associate Partners Ahmed Samy Mohamed Maher

EditoriAl dEPArtMEnt Editor-in-chief Moguib Roshdy Acting Editor Najla Riad Editor & Social Media Manager Tamer Hegab

END

WritErS Rana Kamaly, Hadil Hammad, Zeinab Abou El Gheit, Hani R. Eskander, Basma Mostafa, Ahmed Kafafi

Art dEPArtMEnt Art director

T

his is the time for music festivals in Cairo and Alexandria and there are several going around. The 25th Citadel Festival for music and singing will be held later this month. The full program is in the calendar section, so pick what you would like to go see. Along with the Citadel venue, the opera house will be hosting the Boghdady Band on August 13th and Mona Burkhart’s classical Latin singing and dancing on August 14th and 17th If you remember The Jets Band from the 70s and their famous song “Linda Linda”, well they’re back and playing on the 18th at the Cairo Opera House.

Khadiga El Badan

Senior Graphic designer Marina Raafat

SAlES dEPArtMEnt Sales director Rania Halim Sales Manager Sayed Kamel

Production MAnAGEr Enas Adly

AdMiniStrAtion dEPArtMEnt distribution Manager Rana Ezzat

While at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, August offers a month long program of concerts in the concert halls and performance spaces. The program takes in the breadth of musical genres, from orchestral to traditional folk troupes.

If you are still vacationing in the North Coast, pick up our Sahel Guide, where you will find many places to chill out, eateries and other night and day activities. The guide is found in almost all the resorts, shops and supermarkets.

We feel a lot of negative vibes concerning the economic situation in the country, so we have prepared an article for you on the devaluation of the Egyptian Pound, but do remember that what made our revolution was the positivity that most Egyptians possessed to make it successful. Egypt has gone through a lot in the past years, and it is only natural that the economic situation should reach what it is now. But hey, do understand that positive results of projects that are now in the implementation stage, will not show in a year or two, but it takes time. So stay optimistic and things will straighten out in time.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

office Manager Magda Adib legal consultant Ashraf Soliman Financial consultants Hazem Abdel Tawab Ahmed Abbas

office clerk Mahmoud Abdel Aziz office custodian: Mohamed Ali distribution Al Ahram, Al Akhbar, Next Media Mohandessin, Zamalek, Heliopolis, Maadi, Nasr City, New Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed City

Address: 48 Abdel Moneim Hafez Street, Midan El Sabaa’ Emarat, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (+202) 2290 8127 - 2415 8762 Mobile: 0100 0005 2322 - 0100 0005 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

The Editor editor@live-colors.com

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Contents AugusT 2016 sPotlIGHt 04 tOWN tAlK

52

Talk of the Town in June

10 style Hebz Eyewear uNTY’s street style Wear

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Culture MInd, Body & soul 16

How to Wash your Vegetables and Fruits

20

Nesma El shazly, a Rising star in song Writing

24

Book Review - slaves of Love

CoMMunIty 36 eNtrepreNeUr The scale Modelling society

38 edUCAtION Public versus Private Education

32

42 reAl peOple Vlogging and the Progoer The social Media Influencers

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38

FeAtures 26

The Changes in Belly Dancing over the Centuries

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Egypt’s Economy and the Devaluation of the Pound

36

trAVel 52 lONdON: A City that has it all

out & ABout 58 CUIsINe Her Healthy Life - salma el Ziki’s Recipes

62 sOCIety 68 CAleNdAr August’s Culture Events COVER PHOTO

by Khadiga El Badan august 2016 | Ct

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Spotlights Towntalk Al Darb Al Ahmar Arts School Announces First Performance Tour The first North African tour for the theatrical performance, Lost & Found was presented by Al Darb Al Ahmar Arts School (DAAS) at the Bab El Bahr Festival that was held in Tunis from July 14th to 16th. The show will also be in Morocco and Egypt with performances in various cities.

Having debuted two years ago in Cairo to sold-out shows, the school has performed in Kuwait, Lebanon and the UK. For both the children and DAAS, this tour represents an important step towards achieving the school’s goals, namely having the children of the school be requested for festivals and recognized as performers, as Lost & Found will be featured in an arts festival for the first time.

At the same time, Lost & Found is the first artistically holistic performance presented by the children, and combines the various arts they learn at school with an overarching storyline.

Directed by famed Lebanese theatre director and actress, Hanane Hajj Ali, Lost & Found is a circus performance inspired by the stories and anecdotes of the students at DAAS. It revolves around their interests and their interactions with their families, their neighbourhood and the country.

The show takes the audience on a journey to look for the lost girl who is on an adventure to discover herself and who might be hidden within the breathless circus stunts, the heart-pounding percussions or in the turbulent stream of events.

The performers, aged between 8 and 18, use the skills they learned at DAAS, including circus, percussion and brass instruments as well as acting, dancing and singing. The performance integrates improvisation along with professional training. p

A New Board of Directors for the Egyptian National Committee

In the past two years, the past committee has provided 13 grants for museum employees to be trained abroad, and organized a two-day celebration during World Museum Day. The committee has also visited several museums including the Islamic and Suez Museums.

The Egyptian National Committee, a branch of the International Council of Museums, held a meeting at the Supreme Council for Culture to elect a new board. The board will be headed by Dr. Khaled Azab, while Dr. Mohamed Abdel Meguid will take up position as Vice Head, Dr. Abdel Razek El Naggar as Secretary General of the Committee, and Dr. Maher Eissa as Treasurer.

Dr. Azab has announced that the new committee will start translating the international board of museums’ protocol in preparation to publish it in Arabic to be distributed to all museums in Egypt. It will also print a series of pamphlets on museum management and the display of artifacts in accordance with international standards. Azab has also pledged to increase training grants. p

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City Shadows in Port Said and Shahrazad Outside Halls in Damietta and Mansoura

‘City Shadows’ was a two-day event organized by Mahatat for audiences in Port Said on Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17. The event took place across Villa Fernand on Abd El-Salam Aref Street.

Port Said was revealed through the use of sound archives, photography and music, presenting stories that were often heard but rarely documented in the city. This exhibition revolves around Port Said’s popular culture and how the citizens are entangled in their city’s heritage and history. While the state requires an official written history, a people’s history composed of stories and human experiences is also needed.

The exhibition has been curated by visual artist Nadia Mounir, musicians Nancy Mounir and Amr Mostafa, guided by Rana El Nemr as the artistic consultant and produced by Mahatat for contemporary art.

The event is part of a research project launched six months ago as an inquiry into the ways abandoned spaces in cities can be revived through art. This is seen as a possible solution for both the negligence of existing buildings and the lack of spaces for youth and artists to explore their creativity.

The project team explored vast amounts of information on the subject in order to prepare for the event. Port Said has been chosen as a case study to assess the theories, practices and innovative ideas put forth during the research phase.

As a way to engage audiences, a campaign was launched on social media channels asking people to send photos of abandoned spaces of their city, using the hashtag #cityshadows, in order to gather them for an upcoming blog by Mahatat on abandoned spaces revival. p

BeIN to Launch Five Exciting Channels with New Partner AMC Networks International AMC will be available exclusively on beIN, with CBS Reality, Extreme Sports Channel, Outdoor Channel and Pre-school Channel JimJam completing the line-up BeIN and AMC Networks International (AMCNI) announced the launch of five channels on August 1st. The partnership will see entertainment channel AMC become exclusively available to beIN subscribers in Middle East and North Africa in HD. Four other, newly localised premium AMCNI channels, will also launch on the platform including CBS Reality, Extreme Sports

Channel, Outdoor Channel and pre-school channel JimJam. AMCNI also announced the acquisition of AMC Studios’ upcoming anthology drama series “The Terror,” an adaption of the bestselling novel by Dan Simmons, to premiere exclusively on AMC in territories worldwide, including the MENA region in 2017.

AMC offers acclaimed movies and premium original series. The channel has produced some of the most awarded and critically acclaimed hit drama series of our time.

AMC’s upcoming highlights for the MENA region include AMC original productions “Fear the Walking Dead” Seasons 1 and 2, “Game of Arms,” “4th, “Loud” and “The Night Manager” which has recently been nominated to multiple Emmy awards. p

August 2016 | Ct

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Advertorial

World Class Pianist Zade Dirani’s entertains the inauguration of Mountain View Diplo Ras El Hikma - North Coast

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n the occasion of inaugurating Mountain View Diplo Ras El Hikma in the North Coast, “Mountain View” the Real Estate Development and Investment Company has organized “IL CONCERTO” live performance. The event took place on a Friday afternoon August 5th, in the presence of ambassadors, diplomats and Mountain View clients.

The ceremony, which was held at Mountain View Diplo Ras El Hikma North Coast, was attended by 22 ambassadors and diplomats from different countries, including Switzerland, Mexico, Ecuador, Finland, Venezuela, Ukraine, Paraguay, Chile, Japan, Croatia, Senegal, Mexico and Uzbekistan. Furthermore, a large number of socialites joint among which were: politician and TV presenter Moataz Abdel Fattah, Radio presenters; Sherif Nour El Deen and Yara El Gendy, lifestyle TV presenter Sherif Madkour and Egyptian Premier league footballer Muhammad Zidan, as well as a number of celebrities and Mountain View clients.

Razan Maghraby, the diva Lebanese artist was the MC. Razan expressed her

tremendous admiration for Mountain View’s leading projects in the Egyptian real estate market. She also mentioned with great zeal Mountain View’s ability to meet customers’ needs, as well as their delivery dates. She stressed on how the company wowed the clients with some new and outstanding innovations and she requested from the audience “not to miss the opportunity and hurry up and book a unit- as she will do herself”!

Mountain View’s Founder and Chairman, Eng. Amr Soliman gave his speech highlighting that Mountain View has a clear message which is “to bring happiness to our customers”.

He stated that this is Mountain View’s secret of success and competitive standpoint. Eng. Amr Soliman has also honored a number of ambassadors from the Egyptian Youth Diplomats Association founders.

Undersecretary of State, Ambassador Ayman Kamal also gave a speech, where he expressed his pride in Mountain View’s project, the company’s ability to achieve in such a short time, and

making their innovative dream a beautiful reality. He also added that Mountain View is an Egyptian company that always generates new ideas and significantly supports the growth and development of our national economy.

Finally, the ceremony, which was attended by thousands of elite people and the community’s crème de la crème coming in their luxurious stretched limos, was topped by the musical tracks played by the world class musician and composer Zade Dirani. Dirani rocked the event with his vibrant music that appeals to millions of fans worldwide. Dirani also expressed his respect for Mountain View Diplo Ras El Hikma, which -as he mentioned-measures up to various glamorous projects in Europe and the US. He was also pleased to perform for the first time before Egyptian audience- which he says places great respect for.

Pianist Zade Dirani kicked off the performance by playing a number of his musical pieces. He started with “Oman”, then “Heya”, plus a selection of his most beautiful compositions. He concluded the event by playing Dalida’s song “Helwa ya Baladi” accompanied by a delightful audience enjoying a Tuscany style setup and glamorous gourmet food.

All the way from France came the Flavor band to conclude the event with their high energy dancing songs to dazzle the audience in Mountain View Diplo Ras El Hikma private party.

August MARCH 2016 2016 | Ct | Ct

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Towntalk

Talk of the Town in August •

Darb 1718 will be showing the Danish film “A Hijacking” which is a thriller about a hijacked ship. Pilou Asbæk and Søren Malling star as a cook taken hostage and the CEO that attempts to negotiate for his release, respectively. It premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. The film will be shown on August 14th

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Over and above, the American film “Short Term 12” will be screened at Darb on August 21st. Short Term 12 is a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The film is based on Cretton›s short film of the same name, produced in 2009. It stars Brie Larson as Grace, the supervisor of a group home for troubled teenagers.

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In less than a week since MAD Solutions released director Mohamed Diab›s film “Clash” in Egyptian theatres, the film has managed to reach over EGP 2 million in revenues reaching 50 screens in Cairo, Alexandria and other governorates.

King Farouk Corner in Helwan re-opens Due to the lack of security following the aftermath of January 25 Revolution, King Farouk’s Corner in Helwan was temporarily shut down. The Corner, as the king called it, was originally opened by him in 1942 as a family rest house and an escape from the hustle of the city. He chose this location when the southern suburb of Helwan was developed early in the 20th century as a retreat featuring gardens, including the Japanese garden, and mineral baths.

For the past few weeks, Clash has become the talk of the town, as its trailer has reached more than 7.3 million views on its official Facebook page with almost 200, 000 fans. The film has also gained far-reaching acclaim from film stars, critics and public figures.

The house had been maintained as a museum open to the public, and it has a boat shaped edifice with three floors and a basement containing the kitchen and servants’ quarters.

Inside, the interior is decorated with pharaonic decorative elements and furniture from King Farouk’s era. There is also a copy of Luxor and Karnak temples on the house’s balcony, while three imitations of mummification beds are located in the hallway.

The Ministry of Antiquities will develop the surrounding gardens to hold seminars and cultural events with a cafeteria situated in the garden. In order to encourage and support tourism in Cairo, the Farouk Corner will be added to the “Hapi Nile Tour”, which is a trip organized by the ministry connecting four archaeological sites located on the Nile: The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the Mohamed Ali Palace in Manial and El-Manesterly Palace in Al-Roda Island. p

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Tackling the political unrest that prevailed in Egypt in 2013, Clash›s events take place in an 8-meter police truck, crammed with detainees representing different sects of society, their interaction with each other full of madness, violence, romance, and comedy.

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Egyptian Director Mohammed Hammad was part of the 69th Locarno International Film through his film Withered Green which competed within the Concorso Cineasti del Presente section.

Withered Green tells the story of young Iman, a conservative religious person, who takes people›s opinions of her into account and shows uptight restriction to all the withering social traditions.

However, a shock prompts her to do away with all these withered traditions that she once clung to.

Withered Green marks the first Egyptian participation at the Concorso Cineasti del Presente section with in the Locarno International Film Festival. The film is scheduled to be screened for three days (7, 8, 9 August). The film’s official poster is designed by MAD Solutions. at the Falaki Theater. p

Advertorial

Smart Store team with the company officials during the opening

In A Spectacular Celebration with Orange Egypt Officials Orange inaugurates its Second Smart Store in Alexandria

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range, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators, announced the opening of its second “Smart Store” in Egypt in a spectacular celebration which took place at the new store premises in Loran, Alexandria In the presence of Orange officials.

Through this store, Orange Egypt continues to offer a new world of products, services and promotions for all its customers that will make their daily lives better and more simple, and enjoy a better customer experience as well as enhancingthe value they get from products and services. The products and services also reflect the company keenness on providing state-of-theart technological solutions to companies that are designed according to their own needs.

On this occasion, Eng. Ashraf Halim, Chief Commercial Officer, Orange Egypt Stated “Orange has always provided exclusive offers to its customers. It continues to do so in line with its policy and ongoing efforts to provide more added-value to current and potential clients. Orange will always strive to offer the best mobile communications and fixed internet services (Orange

DSL) with the best quality for the best customer experience. In our smart stores customers can enjoy special assistance and unique services by our experts at the dedicated Care Corner such as mobile data transfer, mobile internet setup, Orange applications and much more.”

He added, “Orange has always had the customers’ interests at heart and considers their success and welfare as its number one priority.”

In the realm of the multiple offerings provided by the different suppliers, customers are faced with real challenge to decide what to pick. In the heart of the smart-stores we have availed a real experience with life devices that suit everyone needs and taste.

The new shop design will invite the customers to have fun, explore and compare our latest handsets, tablets, smartwatches, our wide selection of colorful and practical accessories and top of the line gadgets including connected objects.

Thanks to the phone and tariffs advisor, customers are helped in comparing and selecting the right handset and the tariffs plan that suit their needs.

August 2016 | Ct

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STYLE

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Q&A

with the Founder and Street Designer of

UNTY Written By: Tamer Hegab

Photos Courtesy of Omar Harbi

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Give us a little bit of an introduction to who you are. mar Mubarak: I grew up in California. Born in Long Beach but grew up in Newport. Moved to Seattle for 3 years. Been living in Egypt for 6 years now. Went to University of Washington, changed my majors a bunch of times. Kept jumping from one thing to the other. Tried architecture, didn’t work out. Growing up in California I was surrounded by Billabong, Quicksilver, Rooka. Graduated from AUC art major. It was still a new department at AUC. IT was a theoretical practicum, which worked to my advantage. Figured out what’s going on in your head and try to understand it. That helped a lot in the process in building my designs.

When did you start the brand?

I literally got to Egypt and pieced together a couple of things that I wanted to do with my life.

Drawing. I started the brand after I graduated from AUC. UNTY‘s concept evolved over time. In design, there’s a principal called unity. When you have a lot of different elements, they can be put together and work together, and you have unity.

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STYLE What’s the brand about, or what kind of message are you trying to send through the brand?

Unity, bringing things together that can be completely different. It’s association. Brands are all about association.

How long does it take you to draw?

Sometimes a design can take a day or two days. Some designs I can go back and forth over them like over 3 or 4 years. It depends on the design and how I feel about it.

How often do you have a new collection?

I just released the summer collection about a month ago. It’s a seasonal thing, but it’s not really intentional. It comes down to how long it takes me to create a design and produce the merchandise to sell online. I’d love to make a collection every two months; it’s very difficult though because of production. Plus, I work as an art director at a marketing agency, so it’s a balance between work and UNTY.

Who are your competitors?

That question is really hard to answer. It’s not like Apple and Samsung.

You have a wardrobe full of clothes. But street wear? I’d have to say Kraakbaby. There were other brands that were around, that I have a lot of respect towards them. They were the first to do the whole streetwear thing here. But it’s hard to stay consistent and that’s something that happened to a lot of brands that popped up and fell.

Where do you hope UNTY ends up at?

The whole point of business is for there to be no end. But where I’d want to see UNTY in 4 years? Distributed everywhere. We already started distributing in Munich, I have a partner who lives there. The winter collection did great over there. I want to grow mainly in Europe including the Scandanavian countries. They really appreciate concepts and streetwear. I want to be able to sell the brand in places that appreciate the effort done to produce the final product and understand the idea behind it.

Would you collaborate with H&M or Zara or other brands?

Love to. The brand itself would have to have at least a kind of identity. Like I’d love to collaborate with a company that makes sunglasses or with magazines. I would love to do a magazine cover. Maybe in your 30-year anniversary, I could do a cover for you guys.

And we can print the T-shirt and it would be a collaboration between UNTY and Community Times.

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Do you have any other business ideas in mind?

Probably would be tailored to branding. I also enjoy doing photo-shoots and videos. I love to see an idea come together. I’ve been working with this photographer, Omar Harbi. He’s able to capture the exact style that I’m going for.

I don’t like to work with models. I like to pick normal people, like everybody else. I’m making the brand for everyone, and I’d like to advertise that.

What brought you back to Egypt?

The market is way too oversaturated over there. Stuff over here is still popping, and I’m happy to be part of it.

What are your inspirations for your drawings and how do you come up with them?

Personal experiences. Starting something new, breaking up with someone, or observing my environment. In this past collection, there was a T-shirt that said “Rise or Set”. Here in Egypt, you have a lot of people do the same thing. They have the same political views. Same goals. Same everything. But, you also have the choice to do your own thing. You wear what you want to. My mindset is my inspiration for the design process.

The drawings come from me. If you see the T-shirt, or anything from the brand, you’ll know that it’s UNTY without giving it a second look.

There’s a lot of different canvases I could have used.

Nothing represents you more than what you wear. It’s a first impression. Because clothes are something you wear. Style is a huge indicator for a first impression.

What you wear is a big part of your identity. A notebook is something you keep in your bag, a T-shirt is something that everybody can see, just like your face.

How do you want those who wear your clothes to feel?

The idea of keeping the brand exclusive is important.

You shouldn’t be wearing the same clothes that everybody else is wearing. You should feel unique.

I’d like to add that I have a lot of things in production.

For the summer season, there’s a new collection; three new caps coming out. The summer collection is our 8th. We have some backpacks coming out too. If the backpacks come out as our 9th collection, then the winter collection will be our 10th collection. We use Roman numerals, so wait for it. “X” p

August 2016 | Ct

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STYLE

Egyptian Sun Glasses

By Hiba Elawadi Hiba Elawadi began her career in fashion at the young age of 15 by styling music videos and designing costumes for a film by the age of 18 immediately after she graduated from the American University, majoring in Fashion Design & Marketing).Â

H list in hand.Â

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iba has achieved great success in the fashion industry since launching her eyewear brand in 2008 at Wimbledon Fashion Week in the United Kingdom, which created some buzz in the media. She got featured in popular magazines including Vogue UK, Brides, Glamour magazine UK and many more.

With A list celebrities wearing her designs, the products were flying off the shelf with a waiting

Hebz opened her first boutique at the Four Seasons Giza in Cairo, but then relocated to the UK where her husband, international footballer Ahmed Elmohamady, resides.

How is it you manage a brand from another country? What are some of the obstacles you face?

She partnered with Egypt’s eyewear boutique, Baraka Optics Group, to create stylish eyewear featuring timeless designs, exceptional quality, and unrivaled comfort. The new ‘Hebz for Baraka’ collection offers a total of 46 sunglasses and nine optical, each named after one of the designer’s favourite city destinations.

The brand’s luxury eyewear incorporates a wide variety of styles with unrivalled attention to design and detail.

Do you also do model work?

How did you did you start the Hebz Sunglasses concept?

Baraka approached me to do the collaboration, and asked if I was interested to do a collaboration with them especially since I’m a big big sunglasses fan and think they are the best accessory you can actually wear. To partner with one of Egypt’s successful eyewear boutiques, was a dream come true.

To be honest, it was something we worked on for about two years to come up with the perfect styles. The level and standard of the process was incredible. People that know me or follow me on social media know how crazed I am about eyewear, so it was the perfect collaboration to do with one of Egypt’s best eyewear boutiques.

Why did you decide to close your store at the Four Seasons Hotel ?

Simply because I got married, got pregnant and wasn’t able to give 100 percent of me as I did before to my business.

When did you think of opening a Hebz Boutique?

Hebz Boutique came about when I had started by displaying my designs in different boutiques, but felt people always wanted to see my whole collection which was not available at all the boutiques.

So I opened Hebz Boutique to be able to showcase the entire collection. The Boutique is now closed since I went abroad and wanted to devote time to my family.

How hard was it to come up with the designs for the Hebz line?

I don’t find it hard as everything around me inspires me. The smallest and simplest things can give you a great idea.

Sunglasses were inspired by shape, form and iconic people such as Jackie O.

I have a good team and people you can trust, that’s what you need.

I also have a retail management system which controls everything and allows me to track everything.

No I don’t model. I am a social influencer and being the wife of a famous footballer, so brands approach me to be the face of their campaigns or do social media work.

Aside from being a brand manager, you are also a wife and a loving mother. How is it you juggle all three?

Motherhood and being a wife is natural, and my priority. The focus is on my family. Kids grow up very quickly and I wouldn’t want to miss out on the time being with them and I am fortunate to be able to be with them, so I do part time work like projects and collaborations.

What are your future plans for Hebz?

Hebz will always be there one way or another as I am constantly thinking of growth. I would like to open boutiques in the future again as retail is something I passionately love. And I enjoy doing collaborations as it suits my current lifestyle.

Also, along with my sister, Hana, who does custommade jewelry, we are in the process of making a high-end jewelry line which focuses on kids and mums. And I’m starting to draw again, so I’m thinking to do some art work as there’s so much creativity there.

Hebz’s famous trademark logo artfully combines the hamsa symbol (a palm-shaped amulet internationally recognized as the symbol of protection against the evil eye) and the peace symbol (symbolizing unity and love). The two signs together are both ethnic and hip, embodying the Hebz brand. p

August 2016 | Ct

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MIND, BODY & SOUL

THE RIGHT WAY TO WASH YOUR YOUR FRUITS FRUITS AND AND VEGETABLES! VEGETABLES It is important to stay hydrated during the summer months, so we drink more water and consume more fruits. However, many of us don’t take proper care of our fruits and vegetables hygiene! So we prepared some tips on how to clean them in the right way and avoid bacteria and germs.

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n summer time, there’s nothing better than to stay hydrated than eating fruit and vegetables.

We quite often forget how many germs they have and we don’t take proper care with their hygiene. For that reason, Helpling.ae, the leading online platform for household services in the Middle East, asked cleaning experts what to observe during and before eating them.

Another germ trap is your local supermarket: next time you’re there, stay a few minutes and observe the actions of your fellow shoppers. You may find people picking up and smelling melons or checking the consistence of 10 avocados with dirty hands, before selecting one. Your own hands hold up to 4700 different types of bacteria! But not only are our hands a magnet for germs and dirt: flies love to lay their eggs in fruit and vegetable boxes too!

Why should you wash fruits and vegetables?

How to wash off bacteria properly

Before ending up in your basket, a mango can travel thousands of kilometers. To keep the fruits fresh, they are sprayed with a toxic cocktail of pesticides. This can cause stomach cramps, fever or headache and even lead to food poisoning, asthma or diabetes, in extreme cases.

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It is really as simple as it sounds: after only 15 seconds of washing fruits and vegetables in cold water you can reduce up to 98% of the bacteria. Careful: don’t wash the fruit for too long, otherwise you will damage their natural protective layer and lose important vitamins. Make sure that you wash your fruits and veggies right before consuming them - bacteria loves to multiply in moisture.

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Still have doubts on how to wash specific fruits or vegs? We listed the most common ones and the techniques to clean them:

Apples And peArs: Did you know that most of these fruits’ vitamins are stuck in the skin? Instead of peeling the fruit, wash it thoroughly.

This way you make sure to take the recommended daily dose of vitamins - and really stay healthy!

Berries And grApes:

Soft fruits should be washed carefully by soaking them in water instead of squashing them under running water. Let the fruit dry on a paper towel.

Melon, MAngo, AvocAdo: Even if you don’t eat some fruits and vegetables’ skin, there will be germs and pesticides that can reach the fruit’s pulp while peeling and cutting them - through the blade or your hands. Rinse the skin with warm water before preparing your next fruit salad. Another trick to really disinfect them is: in a spray bottle, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar and one of lemon juice with one cup

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of water. Spray the mixture on the skin of melon or similar fruits and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse the fruits under water.

Potatoes, carrots, radishes: Scrub away the dirt on vegetables with a rough surface (with a vegetable brush for example). After doing so, wash the products, peel them and then wash again you never know what can be hidden.

salad: Do you have to wash packaged salads? Yes! Ready-made salads are often full of yeasts and mildew, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Let the lettuce soak in cold water, so that minerals won’t wash away. Dry the leaves in a salad spinner. Extra tip: acidic salad dressings can have disinfectant effects! In combination with a prior washing, the vinegar reduces the bacterial count in your salad to less than 1 percent!

the right Way to treat your Food in the Kitchen 1) clean your WorK surFace That is, counter-tops, cutting boards. You can wash the surfaces with warm water, or a commercial preparation specifically made for countertops. Remember, sponges harbor bacteria, so if you use them be sure to clean them frequently. It is safer to use paper towels for cleaning the surfaces.

2) let your inner decorator out: Invest in several cutting boards, maybe a blue for chicken and a red for vegetables. Using different cutting boards for raw meat, fruits and vegetables is an easy way to cut down on the risk of contamination. You can run them through the dishwasher, as well, to get them good and clean.

3) invest in a good Food thermometer: Don’t just go by time, or color, when checking to see if your chicken or meat is cooked. Many recipes advise how hot the meat should be when it’s done, and when in doubt, you can always look it up as well.

4) storage containers: And while you’re out buying multiple cutting boards, purchase some more storage containers (such as glass ones with all different color lids that you can microwave in as well as use for storing leftovers in the fridge).

You can store food in plastic or glass containers, but it isn’t recommended to microwave in some plastics. p

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MIND, BODY & SOUL

The Champions of egypT

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f you still believe, like so many others, in the non-sense stereotypical concepts surrounding women and weight lifting, you got to watch out! Because we have two extraordinary Egyptian women in master weightlifting.

The 2012 London Olympics was her gate to making history. Weightlifter Abeer Abdelrahman is the first-ever Egyptian woman athlete to win an Olympic medal, after the suspension of three athletes for doping offenses. She had originally placed fifth, but lately moved up to claim the silver medal.

The gold medal for the 75 kg event had originally been awarded to Svetlana Podobedova of Kazakhstan. Russia’s Natalya Zabolotnaya was the silver medalist and Belarus’ Iryna Kulesha was the bronze medalist.

At the end of Abdelrahman’s attempts, she felt pain and was rushed to the hospital after a weight bar of 151 kilograms fell on her.

She is considered to be the second Egyptian weightlifter to be gifted an Olympic medal at the London Games after Tarek Yehia was automatically promoted to third at the men’s 85 kg event following the suspension of Russia’s Apti Aukhadov last month.

In North Carolina, the 2016 US Masters Swimming National Championship was held, and the surprise was in the 7074 years division, Egyptian swimmer Nagwa Ghorab, 73, was representing Heliopolis Sporting Club (HSC) when she won the silver medal in the 50-yard backstroke.

However, this was not the only victory she achieved at the championship, as she also came in fifth place in the 100yard backstroke and sixth place in the 50-yard freestyle.

Ghorab managed to obtain 3 medals 1 silver and 2 bronzes in the French swimming open master championship 2013 in the phase of 7075- years. p

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Culture

Nesma El Shazly, A Rising Star in Songwriting with a Lot of Optimistic Messages to Communicate

By Ola El Soueni

Lyrics can linger into people’s minds forever, making the songwriters’ words unforgettable, not only that, but they can actually make the soundtrack of different stages of our lives.

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esma El Shazly is a rising star in songwriting who has made it to the Egyptian music scene. Her words radiate with positivity and optimism, which is much needed these days with the uncertainty that the world is going through.

and was played on the radio, making it a happy tune loved by many. This was followed by their huge success with “Shouf B’ Albak” (See with your Heart), which was part of the Ahl Masr Campaign for funding a hospital to treat burn victims.

Her debut collaboration was with the Egyptian talented musician Hisham Kharma, where she wrote the lyrics and he composed the music for their hit “Sahla W Bassita”, which translates to “Easy and Simple” featuring a number of young singers. The song was all over social media

The Ahl Masr Burns Hospital is the first hospital of its kind to be built by the non-profit foundation and specialized only in treating burn injuries in the Middle East & North Africa region. The song was frequently aired on TV during Ramadan and had positively contributed

CT held an interview with her to know more about her work.

and as soon as I arrived, I felt positive energy radiating from Ahl Masr’s dedicated team. I got so emotionally attached to the cause and wanted to help in any way I can, especially after the great deal of information I learned from the interview on burn victims. They asked me to write a song to help raise donations for the hospital and also create awareness to the public. Needless to say, I was instantly on board! Later that day, I went home and the song lyrics literally flooded in my mind inspired by the passion and dedication of everyone involved to make the lives of those who are victim of burns easier, so “Shouf B Albak” was then born.

What was your first job?

There is a story behind “Sahla W Bassita”

I used to work in our family business handling marketing and PR for our import and export company, then I realized that I do not want to continue doing that, so I decided to focus on writing, which later led me to work in the music business, which I absolutely love.

“Sahla W Bassita” was inspired by all the struggles I overcame especially the ones that took place over the last three years of my life. I’ve experienced plenty of changing events; the biggest was the death of my youngest brother in a car accident. As much as it was an unbearable experience for me, as much as it made me comprehend so many lessons in life. We make a huge fuss about so many meaningless things, while life is too short to be wasted in vain. Thankfully, what kept me going and made me adapt with such a tremendous loss was gratitude. If you are grateful to what God brings your way, whether it is good or bad, you will find peace and happiness in everything that surrounds you, you will feel blessed and thankful and that on its own is priceless. I just wanted to share this message through “Sahla W Bassita” to help anyone who’s struggling to find hope again and be happy with whatever comes.

to raising awareness on the cause and to reach out for as many patients as possible.

Thirty two year old El Shazly is a Mass Communication graduate, and also a wife and mother. She has been working as a freelance writer/copywriter, where her writing career evolved recently to songwriting, which is something she’s been very excited and passionate about.

How did you start your collaboration with Composer Hisham Kharma?

I’ve always dreamt of working in anything related to music, but never really got the proper chance until I was offered this amazing opportunity by Kharma to be the executive producer of his live performance after interviewing him for an article for my freelance work. Since I’ve always been a big fan of his music and humanitarian work, I didn’t hesitate and immediately accepted.

We were on the same wavelength musically and we both believed that we could establish a unique approach that will set a new trend in the Egyptian music scene. So, putting a show together showcasing a talented musician like Kharma is a true privilege.

Handling the preparations, auditions, rehearsals and above all the excitement, was very thrilling and self-fulfilling and definitely worth the effort, especially when you see the final outcome that makes you proud. I was then asked by him to write some lyrics as a trial for a very cheerful melody he composed. To be honest, I was intimidated at the beginning as I’m used to writing English lyrics only and the song was in Arabic, but I decided to give it a shot and I am glad I did. I loved the outcome and that is when I decided to pursue my passion. It was an amazing opportunity and I am grateful for Kharma that he managed to discover my potential in writing songs.

What do you consider your major hits?

I have three releases to date “Sahla W Bassita”, “Shouf B Albak” and last but not least, “Fel Sekka Di”. The three of them were loved by the audience and became a great success.

your association with Ahl Masr Campaign?

I have always wanted my songs to be close to people’s hearts, so writing a song for a cause that will help in saving lives was very overwhelming and a true blessing. It was simply meant to be, as I was at the right place at the right time! I went to meet with Heba el Seweedy, founder of Ahl Masr, to interview her for an article,

What are your most favorite verses of the lyrics you wrote?

‘See with your heart and not your eyes and you will realize the beauty of those around you’. It is very dear to my heart because I really wish people would start seeing one another with their hearts and realize inner beauty. Life will be so much simpler and people will appreciate one another more and less hatred in the world.

Who are your favorite writers?

JK Rowling and Stephanie Meyer, I just love their imagination and creativity.

What are you future plans?

I’m working on a new piece for one of my favorite Egyptian bands and I really hope it works out for the best. I also would like to write more songs and hopefully tour all around the world with our show.

What are some of the obstacles that you face?

I’d rather call them challenges. Balancing between a demanding job and my family is never easy. I try to manage both in parallel, but it is definitely hard, yet I still do my best. Also, dealing with people who lack vision and passion is another challenge because if you are not surrounded with passionate people whom you are in harmony with, or driven by the same goals you have, problems start occurring as well as misunderstandings. p

juLY 2016 | Ct

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Culture

El Morabba3 to release much anticipated second album Taraf Alkhait worldwide on 9 September 2016 Following a triumphant album crowd funding campaign in summer 2015 and a worldwide distribution deal with Universal Music MENA, El Morabba3 announced the release of their much-anticipated sophomore album, titled Taraf AlKhait “tip of the thread” with nine tracks that signal a dramatic shift in the band’s sound.

Formed in 2009 as an alternative rock band, in 2012 El Morabba3 released their debut album titled El Morabba3 (the square shape), which firmly cemented their status as a hugely popular act in the region.

Taraf AlKhait reveals itself as an intricate album, far-reaching in influences for El Morabba3. The trio’s usual instrumentation with Muhammad Abdullah on bass and vocals, Odai Shawagfeh on electric guitar and keys/synth and Dirar Shawagfeh on drums and percussions is taken into new grounds with electronics becoming a distinct staple throughout the album and string and wind sections making appearances in some of the tracks. The album’s lyrics, with dreamy and melancholic overtones, were penned by the band’s vocalist, composer and bassist Abdullah.

Ab3ad Shwai [part 2] features feel good guitar lines, funky rhythms and synth riffs coupled with falsetto harmonies, while in Shiber Maii - one of the band’s favorite tracks - they’re heard dipping their toes into trip hop with a spoken word rendition.

Another band and fan favorite is a revival of El-Ra3i, written back in 2005, which stands out as a stripped down ballad with vocal harmonies and tribal percussions.

In El-Bath El-7aii, warped string-section melodies written by Abdullah, shifting from classical Western to classical Arabic music, are heard with arrangements by Odai Shawagfeh and Jordanian violists Yarub Smairat. Other artists featured on the album include vocalist Nemat Battah singing a duo with Abdullah in Biddeesh A3raf Ana Min Wain to a syncopated maqsoum groove and hints of oriental jazz by Egyptian trumpeter Mohamed El Sawah. p

Kathakali Dance is Touring The Egyptian Governorates A nine-member Kathakali Dance, one of the classical dances of India, led by Mr. Rajumohan Padinharey Kizhikkilode will participate at the 14th Summer Festival organized by Bibliotheca Alexandrina on August 1st 2016 at the Open Theatre, Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Kathakali is a complex art, a combination of many different forms of art. It includes dance, drama, literature, music, both vocal and instrumental, and plastic form of art, such as painting and sculpture. The perfect and balanced combination of all these fine arts makes Kathakali a unique, and at the same time very complicated art form.

The Indian dance troupe will also travel to Port Said, Ismailia and Cairo as per the following programme: Wed, 3 August

Port Said Cultural Palace

Thur, 4 August

Ismailia Cultural Palace

Sat, 6 August

ESCD Cultural Palace, El Golf Area, Heliopolis p

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Bahgaga on August 6th at Geneina Theater, Azhar Park A vocal-musical band that performs whimsical and entertaining songs that combine contemporary music and comedic monologues. Established in September 2015, the all female choir presents original songs alongside classics from Egyptian monologue stars. The singers of the project are Asmaa Abo Elyazid, Raghda Galal, Samar Galal, Nihal Kamal and Weaam Essam. Music is composed by Ayman Helmy. p

Darwasha on August 11th at Geneina Theater, Azhar Park Guitarist, oud player and composer, Mohamed Darwish founded Darwasha in January 2012. The band presents a new fusion of Arabic, Progressive Rock, and Electronic music.

Members: Guitar: Mohamed Darwish Drums: Ahmad El Azazy Melodica: Shadi El Hosseiny Bass Guitar: Hossam El Azazy Percussion: Amr El Zanaty Oud: Soka Visual Arts : Tefa Former members: Mohamed Faisal - Bass Kareem Abo Reda - Vocal Tamer Abo Ghazala - Oud Ahmed Omran - Oud Shereen Abdo Vocal Safey eddin.p

Shokran Jazzilan on Saturday 13 August at Geneina Theater, Azhar Park

Almena on August 11th at Geneina Theater, Azhar Park Almena presents a combination of music genres like blues, rock, reggae, hip hop, light Jazz with sufi and Oriental fusions. Originally from Alexandria, the band members are Eslam Nasr, Youssef Nour, John G sadek, Ahmed Abd Elrasol and Mohamed Affara. p

Shokran Jazzilan is an Egyptian Jazz project founded by Rami Attallah and includes musicians playing piano, bass, drums and oud. The ‘Shokran Jazzilan’ album was released in 2014. p

Sweet Sound Band on August 20th at Cairo Opera House, Open Air Theater Sweet Sound Band will perform the Tango, Salsa and Rumba along with Mounir Nasr El Din. The concert takes place in the Open Air Theatre and tickets are available at the Cairo Opera House box office. p

El Nafikha on August 6th at Geneina Theater, Azhar Park El Nafikha presents different music genres in a theatrical form using instrument, body language, costumes, sound and light effects, and singing. The group aims at developing music composition using brass instruments and offering modern arrangements of older Egyptian heritage music.

The group’s members include Mohamed Sawwah, Amir Ibrahim, Waleed Gabr, Ahmed Ismail, Masky, Khaled ElSayed and Sameh Shaaban. p August 2016 | Ct

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Culture Books

Slaves of love OR

Gawari El Eshq When a slave touches the door of love and finds her freedom, when a free woman gets gripped by love which enslaves her in the court of her love, when a man becomes a jailor imprisoning his lover’s ideas and her ambition behind his bars of selfishness or becomes an executioner whipping her with the whip of acquisition; that is when women’s hearts wither and their wills fade, hence, they become slaves of love…

(Gawari El Eshq) is the story of three generations of women starting from the Mamlukian era to the period of the 70’s under the rule of President Sadat when women were struggling for their rights and finally during the period of the Egyptian revolution in 2011. It is a novel discussing the freedom of women and their dreams to find their entity.

This is Dr. Rasha Samir’s 7th published book which came to light two years ago and has been on top of the bestseller list in most bookstores ever since. The 10th edition of the book was released a month ago.

The novel starts with Qamar who lived during the Mamlukian era. She was taken by a slave dealer from her hometown Georgia by the Black Sea to serve in the palaces of the sultan, promising her parents a different life for them all.

He teaches her art, music, and above all, how to deal with men intelligently, which means how to please them and get a chance to reach the chambers of the sultan which will lead her to freedom!

Qamar falls in love with poetry and has learned how to talk and write in the language of poetry, especially, in the Mamlukian parties. She then writes her life story and places it in a box along with some of her poems and asks that this box be in her legacy lineage to inspire her descendants.

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The box is then passed on to Mahshid, the second heroine in the story; she is a medical student that falls in love and marries a doctor and discovers a secret that also changes her life.

The box then travels to the third heroine, Isel, a beautiful young lady who is a feminist that doesn’t stop fighting for her freedom at any cost. She joins an organization for women’s rights, protesting at every opportunity for every restriction facing women. She too suffers from falling for a man who also enslaves her like her ancestors.

The novel comes to an end by answering a very important question; Qamar, Mahshid or Isel… which one got hold of the freedom they all longed for?

Gawari El Eshq was bought a few months ago by a production company (03), a branch of MBC channels, to produce it as a historical TV series during the month of Ramadan.

Mr. Fadi Ismail, head of O3 says that he is planning for a huge outcome that no doubt will require professional make-up artists, graphic designers and art directors from all around the world.

He has also asked Dr. Rasha to adapt the novel into a series and be one of the scenarists since he has trust in her abilities to make those characters come to life.

Dr. Rasha is a dentist who started writing novels at the age of 15. She is also a journalist and has a weekly column in the well-known Egyptian newspaper (Elfagr).

(Gawari el Eshq) is her second long novel after the first highly inspiring one “Girls in Stories” (Banat fi Hykayat) published in 2013 that has changed her career when she sold nine editions of the novel.

When asked about her upcoming plans, she says that she has just finished her third novel that is now in the revision phase and will be published soon. The book title is still undecided and it seems she will leave the announcement for later.

She says that it is a purely romantic novel that takes us through an emotional journey of experiencing all sorts of feelings along with the fate of two characters in the book.

Over and above, two of her books, a collection of short stories (Love behind the Mashrabia) and (ya3ni eh ragel?) are currently being reprinted, since her fans asked for them many times and they weren’t available after the editions were sold out.

It is worth mentioning that (Ya3ni eh ragel?) is her first trial in satirical literature, which is, in her own words, a completely different new challenge. p

Upcoming film releases • Cell A graphic novelist (John Cusack) begins a desperate search for his estranged wife (Clark Sarullo) and son (Ethan Andrew Casto) after a mysterious cellphone signal transforms New Englanders into savage killers.

• Lights Out When Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) left home, she thought that her childhood fears were behind her.

As a young girl growing up, she was never really sure of what was real when the lights went out at night. Now, her little brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that jeopardized her safety and sanity. Holding a mysterious attachment to their mother (Maria Bello), a supernatural entity has returned with a vengeance to torment the entire family.

• Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Mike and Dave Stangle are young, adventurous, fun-loving brothers who tend to get out of control at family gatherings. When their sister Jeanie reveals her Hawaiian wedding plans, the rest of the clan insists that they both bring respectable dates. After placing an ad on Craigslist, the siblings decide to pick Tatiana and Alice, two charming and seemingly normal waitresses. Once they arrive on the island, however, Mike and Dave realize that their companions are ready to get wild and party hard.

• Skiptrace A detective from Hong Kong teams up with an American gambler to battle a Chinese criminal.

• Mechanic: Resurrection Master assassin Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) turns the tables on a criminal organization that wants him to take out the most dangerous men in the world.

• Hands of Stone At age 72, legendary trainer Ray Arcel (Robert De Niro) comes out of retirement to coach world-class Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán (Edgar Ramirez). Arcel becomes a mentor to the ferocious fighter, convincing him that winning ultimately comes down to strategy.

After scoring knockout after knockout, Duran prepares for a bout against Sugar Ray Leonard, the undefeated lightweight champion.

Five months later, on Nov. 25, 1980, the two titans meet for an infamous rematch that makes boxing history.

• Don’t Breathe Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex and Money are three Detroit thieves who get their kicks by breaking into the houses of wealthy people. Money gets word about a blind veteran who won a major cash settlement following the death of his only child.

Figuring he’s an easy target, the trio invades the man’s secluded home in an abandoned neighborhood.

Finding themselves trapped inside, the young intruders must fight for their lives after making a shocking discovery about their supposedly helpless victim.

• Cafe Society Looking for an exciting career, young Bobby Dorfman leaves New York for the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood. After landing a job with his uncle, Bobby falls for Vonnie, a charming woman who happens to be his employer’s mistress. Settling for friendship but ultimately heartbroken, Bobby returns to the Bronx and begins working in a nightclub. Everything falls into place when he finds romance with a beautiful socialite, until Vonnie walks back into his life and captures his heart once again.

• Viral Separated from their father (Michael Kelly), two teenage sisters (Sofia Black-D’Elia, Analeigh Tipton) try to survive an apocalyptic viral outbreak that leads to a quarantine. p

August 2016 | Ct

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FEATURE

Belly dancing,

by Ahmed Kafafi

betwixt & between

The changes in the perception of belly dancing over the centuries Since time immemorial, belly dancing has been an innate and spontaneous expression of joy in Egypt and other countries in the region, yet as a profession, it is still rejected by the more conservative people due to its association with nudity and sex work, says researcher Noha Roshdy, who is perhaps one of the few to exclusively highlight the issue from a socio-cultural perspective.

P

erhaps few are those researches and studies that exclusively focus on belly dancing as an integral part of Egyptian culture. The majority of studies, including those of orientalists and academics, tended to look upon it as part of treatises on oriental thought, tradition and lifestyle. Not many have cared to consider the origin and development of a dance form from a sociological point of view. Unfortunately, It’s a hot spot that has been shunned due to it being associated with slave girls and sex work. However, over the years, this dance form has paradoxically developed into an art that attracts locals as well as foreigners.

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The official cultural authorities continue to recognize it as an important cultural aspect, in spite of a reserved public and the denial of conservatives and religious extremists that insist otherwise.

There have always been top and less reputed belly dancers whom have been part of the entertainment industry including nightclubs, theatrical shows and film productions. The paradox is that when it’s an innate and spontaneous expression of gaiety among ordinary men and women, the majority sees it as a negative reflection on the national identity and local culture for its link with

A 19th century belly dancer

over the years, this dance form has paradoxically developed into an art that attracts locals as well as foreigners.

remains the most common, and although many have received ample praise and appreciation for their skills, “This is rather an exception to the rule that considers them ‘fallen women’…”

Underlines the researcher: “The practice of (al-raqs al-baladi) by ‘ordinary’ Egyptians is thus popularly sanctioned inasmuch as it is a leisure activity that serves as an expression of festivity on special occasions.”

For Roshdy, this is today’s general perception about the issue, and analyzing all what has been written about belly dancing by orientalists as well as by contemporary Arab sociologists, she concludes that this perception has been the result of the political, economic and sociocultural transformations witnessed through the 19th and 20th centuries.

This type of dance is characterized by three traits: it is oriental, sexual and feminine. In the writing of orientalists, belly dancing is the less respected profession of ‘awalim’ (the belly dancers who performed in wedding parties and Belly dancing at tourist locations

nudity and prostitution. But why have Egyptians continued to fall into that kind of contradiction?

Researcher Noha Roshdy, of Boston University’s Anthropology Department, conducted a study that dealt with the implications of the issue. Titled (Baladi as Performance, Gender and Dance in Modern Egypt), the study is devoted from beginning to end to the analysis of the historical premises that have led to this contemporary outlook on belly dancing.

Roshdy has undertaken several studies on the subject including (Femininity and Dance in Egypt: Embodiment and Meaning in al-Raqs al-Baladi) and (Dancing in the Betwixt and Between, Femininity and Embodiment in Egypt). Roshdy was in Cairo last May to lecture on a subject that was seen for the first time from a fresh socio-cultural perspective.

Through her research, she referred to belly dancing as ‘el raqs el baladi’, that is practiced in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

In Egypt, she stresses, it isn’t associated with any ethnic or social group.

According to her, “It’s the most frequently observed dance form that accompanies Arabic dance tunes today and is performed by women and men on many festive occasions.” The solo performance of female professional dancers AUGust 2016 | Ct

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FEATURE both Oriental and Occidental cultures is what makes the difference. Says Mousa: “Europeans also surpass us because they learn to dance, and perceive in its practice an exercise for love and a discipline for the instincts…. What this community (Egypt) has known of this art is limited to the practices of slave girls…. We have inherited these lascivious moves, following our awakening in 1919 that saw fit to abolish.

Yet, European dance is not like ours.” Adds Mousa: “It is a grand art. May the reader note that the European dancer looks up ahead as she dances; she rises, while belly dancers look down when performing, hence, we understand why Europeans think positively of dance and we, so negatively.”

A ghawazee dancer costume other public occasions) and ‘ghawazi’ (rural belly dancers), all of whom were believed to belong to slaves and working classes.

The model of the ideal educated woman promoted by Egyptian feminist reformer Qasim Amin and others in mid 19th century, focused on the middle class females that were to mother new generations which aspired to emulate Western modernity. In this welter of changes, the impoverished girls that had to take up belly dancing and other menial jobs, were not figured in these reformers’ agenda. Not only that, those middle class aspirants were shocked at the orientalists’ writings which were dominated by the presence of belly dancers and their role in Egyptians’ sex life.

Of course, this triggered an adverse reaction towards the issue, especially when what was considered a more refined Western dancing style had created a psychological block among the middle class people toward (el raqs el baladi) and many aspects of local lifestyle.

Citing Salama Mousa, the Egyptian secular intellectual, who is perhaps the only one of the classic writers to comment on dancing, he underlines that the meaning of dancing in

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Late poet Ahmed Fouad Negm was severely criticized as he called for establishing a syndicate for belly dancers.

Also a rumor that a higher institute for teaching belly dancing would be launched, caused an uproar at the Egyptian Parliament in 2009.

The process of Westernization, says Roshdy, was to negate what was local (baladi) including belly dancing. At this point, the local outlook on Cairo ghawazee dancers

It is a grand art.

May the reader note that the European dancer looks up ahead as she dances; she rises. Hence, we understand why Europeans think positively of dance and we, so negatively.

Nagwa Fouad

the issue coincided with that of the 19th century orientalists who, still armed with their Christian conservatism, highlighted belly dancing’s erotic undertones, seeing it as a kind of degradation of women. But it seems that the fascination of European travelers with belly dancing had become widespread, so much that it reflected badly on the reputation of Egyptian females.

That had propelled Mohammed Ali, the then ruler of Egypt, to issue in 1834 a decree banning the dancing and singing of females to foreigners.

Soehir Zaki

Belly dancers at Cabarets Samia Gamal featured by Life magazine But the moral aspect of the ban was implicit and paled in comparison to the official justification, which was to curb the murder, theft and sex work associated with the practice. The ban was lifted as his successor Abass I assumed power, and was further persued with Khedive Ismael’s modernization plan that necessitated the presence of cabarets, music halls and theatres. Who could have breathed life into these businesses other than belly dancers and singers? In 1873 Mohammed Ali Street was built to become a hub for the entertainment industry that provided staff to these places and later to film production companies and throughout the first half of the 20th century, many rules were in effect to regulate work in cabarets and nightclubs.

With the outbreak of the 1952 revolution that introduced several transformations to Egypt, dancing in general thrived, not only as part of a modernization state but due to the fact that in all the socialist regimes

of the time, it was considered part of the national identity. To reinforce dancing in that direction, the Reda Folklore Troupe was established in the late 1950s. Its launch was met with a lot of reserve at first, because dancing was still linked in the minds of people with (el raqs el baladi) and not folklore.

However, because most dancers of the troupe were either university graduates or coming from good upbringing, the perception changed. Over and above, their unprecedented success in Moscow in 1957 had reversed some of the negative connotations of dancing. This time, the dance was conceived as folkloric in terms of movements, garments and stage decoration. It was also the first time that men danced side by side with women.

Roshdy’s research is a worthwhile piece on the socio-cultural aspect of belly dancing in Egypt. In her own words, it has remained “betwixt and between”, meaning that in spite of the popularity of folkloric shows presented by the Reda Troupe and the emergence of other ethnic dance forms, belly dancing has never taken a back seat in post-colonial Egypt.

As Samia Gamal was pronounced official belly dancer of Egypt by late King Farouk, in 1979 famous belly dancer Nagwa Fouad officially performed before Henry Kissinger, the then American foreign secretary. Both Soheir Zaki and Nagwa Fouad, Egypt’s top belly dancers in the 1960s, were invited to perform at the wedding ceremony of late Gamal Abdel Nasser’s daughter.

But, eventually Roshdy’s research has fallen short of the analysis needed

AUGust 2016 | Ct

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FEATURE to highlight the recent development witnessed in the 21st century.

Reda Folklore Troupe

At the close of the 20th century, belly dancing was no longer considered by the West as a sign of women’s degradation.

The dissemination in the West of erotica related features like nudity performances, fashion shows, pornographic film productions and others, has changed its common perception about belly dancing as promoted by the 19th and early 20th century orientalists and local reformers. It is now more acceptable compared to these new features that came up and thrived with the upturn of capitalism and globalization.

Now, many Western females take a special interest in the art, practicing it sometimes as a profession and at other times as a therapy or a physical exercise.

The West has reversed its outlook.

Egyptians haven’t. Although they remain antagonistic against belly dancing as an established cultural institution, some locals practice it now at home and in sporting clubs offering special belly dancing classes as well as in wedding parties where a belly dance number is an integral part of celebrations. Even guests at weddings from all socio-economic classes join in the celebration with a belly dance.

In touristic areas and at bazaars belly dancing costumes are on sale and are recommended for wives for the lure of spouses, or so it is said. But along official lines, the stigma of belly dancing has,

in fact, ballooned to hit other professions like acting in cinema and working in media.

We are stuck in the dilemma of to abolish or not. But ironically, abolition can’t transpire with a decision. It’s all part of a deeprooted culture.

Belly dancing classes

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Belly Dancing Facts From Wikipedia Belly Dance in Egypt Cairo is the center of all Middle Eastern art. Historically, public dance performers in Egypt were known as Ghawazi, whilst entertainers who performed in private settings were known as Awalim. The Maazin sisters may be the last authentic performers of Ghawazi dance in Egypt. Khayreyya Maazin was the last of these dancers still teaching and performing as of 2009. Classical and well modern music that is produced in Egypt that usually have Arabic rhythms is the most common kind of music that Egyptian style belly dancers dance to. The dance technique that is used in Egyptian style dance is very small and precise movements. Floor work is very uncommon in Egyptian style dance. Some terms that are often used to describe this style of dance is solo, elegant, smooth, internalized movement, controlled, flows, graceful, full of emotion.

Belly Dance in Turkey Turkish oriental dance is referred to in Turkey as Oryantal Dans, or simply ‘Oryantal’. The Turkish style of belly dance is lively and playful, with a greater outward projection of energy than the more contained Egyptian style. Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zils. Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say a dancer who cannot play the zils is not an accomplished dancer. Floor work, which has been banned in Egypt since the mid-20th century, is still an important part of Turkish belly dance.

Another distinguishing element of Turkish style is the use of a 9/8 rhythm, counted as 12-34-56-789, often referred to as Karsilama rhythm. It is not a rhythm but a folkdance performed in a line, where as a 9/8 rhythm defines the count of the rhythm and is used both karşilama and Roman havasi.

Music in Turkish style dance is very similar to Armenian and Greek music. It is very fast paced and energetic like the dance.

Belly Dance in Lebanon Lebanese style belly dance is more outgoing than Egyptian style, but more toned down compared to Turkish style dance. Some would say that this style dance is an equal blend of the Egyptian and Turkish dance. Lebanese dance takes from the classic oriental dance, but still incorporates a fiesty, modern edge.

There are large steps, backward leans to the torso, twisting hip rotatations, large and busy arms and lots of shimmies. The types of techniques that are used in Lebanese style dance are quicklayered shimmies and subtle internal movements. Lebanese dancers sometimes include kicks, splits, deep back bends, and Turkish drops.

Belly dance in North America Little Egypt When immigrants from Arab States began to arrive in New York in the 1930s, dancers started to perform in nightclubs and restaurants.

In the late 1960s and early ‘70s many dancers began teaching.

Middle Eastern or Eastern bands took dancers with them on tour, which helped spark interest in the dance.

Although using traditional Turkish and Egyptian movements, American Cabaret or American Restaurant belly dancing has developed its own distinctive style, using props and encouraging audience interaction. Many modern American dancers also make use of the music of Egyptian Sha’abi singers in their routines.

Belly dance in Australia The first wave of interest for belly dancing in Australia was during the late 1970s to 1980s with the influx of migrants and refugees escaping troubles in the Middle East, including drummer Jamal Zraika. These immigrants created a lively social scene including numerous Lebanese and Turkish restaurants, providing employment for belly dancers. Rozeta Ahalyea is widely regarded as the “mother” of Australian belly dance, training early dance pioneers such as Amera Eid and Terezka Drnzik. Belly dance has now spread across the country, with vibrant belly dance communities in every capital city and many regional centres.

Belly Dance Costume in Egypt In Cairo, belly dancers wear fully beaded, sequined with rhinestones bras and belts. A separate decorated bra and skirt, or dress with mesh cutouts, is the most common costume. All beadwork is done by hand. The Egyptian style costume is very elegant and glamorous. It is very classy. Any embellishment is embroidered directly on to the skirt, which is often tightly fitted around the hips and made of Lycra fabric. In Egypt, dancing in public with an uncovered navel was considered illegal at one time, so many dancers wore a body stocking or netting to cover their skin. In time, the body stocking has been removed by many of the dancers.

Costume in Lebanon As there is no prohibition on showing the stomach in Lebanon, the bedlah style is more common. The skirts tend to be more sheer than Egyptian outfits, showing more of the dancer’s body.

The veil is more widely used than in Egypt. High heels are commonly worn. Lebanese dancers have more freedom than Egyptian style dancers in the type of costume they choose to wear.

Costume in Turkey Turkish costumes are usually in the bedlah style. Distinctive features of many Turkish costumes include a V-shaped or triangular belt which may be shaped or contoured around the top edge, and a great deal of embellishment and beaded fringing on both the bra and the belt. Skirts are often fuller than their Egyptian counterparts, and are likely to be made of chiffon or velvet rather than Lycra.

In the 1980s and ‘90s a very revealing costume style developed with skirts designed to display both legs up to the hip, and plunging bras or even pasties. Such styles still exist in some venues, but there are also many Turkish belly dancers who wear more moderate costumes. Even so, many Turkish belly dance costumes reflect the playful, flirty style of Turkish belly dance.

Unlike in Egypt, where costumes are more conservative, it seems that in Turkey the more skin that is revealed the better. p

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FEATURE

What does The Devaluation of the Egyptian Pound Mean &How Long Can It Float?

By: Mohamed Bably

T

he devaluation of a currency means to lower the value of the country’s currency within a fixed exchange rate system, by which the monetary authority formally sets a new fixed rate with respect to a foreign reference currency.

Basically, it means to lower the value of the Egyptian Pound based on Egypt’s ever declining foreign currency reserve of the US Dollar.

In this case, we’re going to be discussing the devaluation of the Egyptian pound with respect to the United States dollar currency.

The EGP VS the US Dollar The US dollar continues to reinforce its value and position in front of the Egyptian pound, with the latter’s value weakening.

As the dollar continues to increase in value, Egyptians are getting more and more worried about their bank savings, that consequently decreases in value and affect the day-to-day standard of living.

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The devaluation of the Egyptian pound has been a crisis the country has been facing for a couple of years now. Back in 2010, the US dollar was trading for 5.5 EGP. Today, the US Dollar is going for 12 and even 13 EGP in the Black Market (depending on where you trade it).

The vast majority of Egyptian citizens rely on making ends meet and obtaining money from certificates of deposits in banks.

These certificates offer very appealing return rates that could reach up to 15% interest a year.

As a result the devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the dollar directly affects Egyptian living standards because the purchasing power that citizens have decreased amidst growing prices of goods and necessities. This has lead to Egyptians seeking alternatives to bank certificates.

Past Alternatives Towards the end of the 1970’s, this alternative was to invest money with investment companies that started appearing during the time of late president, Anwar Sadat.

Sadat had thought to increase economic investment and allow for a free market. However, Egyptians later faced a catastrophe, when the government realized that these investment companies used their money to influence politics and make their way into parliament and other political branches.

The government chose to close these companies. Egyptians then once again returned to their sanctuary of investing their money in bank certificates and depend on the banks rate of

return, by the end of the 90’s these rates of returns had reached 18% and so they served as a safe haven for families to invest their money.

The Present Alternative for Investment In recent years, the Egyptian pound has begun to devaluate greatly in front of the dollar, which has lead to a decrease in disposable income to most families, this has lead them to pursue new measures of investing money, that measure being real estate development.

Real estate development allowed for high lump sum gains from buying and reselling properties. This came as a result of a high demand from Egyptians that lived abroad who chose to transfer their money to Egypt instead of placing the money in banks, to invest it in real estate.

The demand and supply curve for the past ten years has become a major role in ways to overcome the devaluation of the pound to Egyptian families as the profits somewhat surpass the devaluation of the pound. Consequently, many new sub-urban communities have been formed such as New Cairo, Shorouk City, 6 October and others.

These cities have made their owners a large fortune out of buying the land at a time when prices were low, developing them and then selling them at an extremely expensive market price. The demand for these properties lead to many construction and development companies in Egypt to offer various payment facilities that allowed for almost anyone to purchase housing, with payment packages reaching to ten years of installments without interest, this lead to a sudden rush in purchasing and an overall increase in demand. This demand had to be saturated and so more and more of these development companies emerged.

As a result of the sudden surge in development and the wide variety of choices a consumer now has, a noticeable drop has appeared in the real estate market, with economists stating it to be a state of saturation, the markets have begun to slow

down and Egyptians abroad have regressed in their transfers of money back home. Many have come to believe that for them to save their dollars as opposed to transferring them to Egyptian pounds would be more profitable than investing the money, this also comes with the fact that so many different sub-urban communities exist now so Egyptians abroad feel that they will be able to purchase whenever they see suits them as opposed to leaping at new opportunities to invest.

This inevitable saturation has lead many to believe that ultimately, the real estate market will crash in Egypt and the high priced communities will see a noticeable drop as the supply simply surpasses the demand.

How can the Egyptian pound stabilize?

This ultimately brings us to the question of how did we get ourselves here, and who is to blame for where we are. The reality is that the current economic situation of the country is a natural state given the events that have taken place within the past five years. Countless countries have gone through much worse experiences and have found ways to overcome them, such as France and Germany; both being countries left in ruins after the second and first world wars. Arguably those were different times and different world economic states, but they recovered nevertheless and currently both have high GDP per capita.

In order to help stabilize the Egyptian pound, the country needs to focus on the measures in which foreign currency was acquired in the past. The current balance of payment deficit that pulls down the Egyptian pound is largely due to the fact that imports far exceed exports. Import & export companies have been struggling with business, the country as a whole imports many of its basic necessities and far less goods and products are exported now, this leaves us with a huge deficit in the country’s balance of payments. As a result, incentives have to be made for more use of domestic product. The country needs to industrialize itself more and become more dependent on its own products, as well as focus on high levels of quality control in order to allow for these products to be exported and sold to other countries.

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FEATURE Also foreign investors have to be attracted back into the country, incentives and motives should be made for investors to start returning to Egypt and bringing with them countless new job opportunities as well as help with the economy in the process. Emphasis should not only be on bringing foreign investors to the country but also to attract tourists back. The tourism sector has always been a very profitable sector in Egypt and the current lack of tourism is slowly decaying Egypt’s touristic areas, these areas once flourished and were often described as the most beautiful places in Egypt, they are now deserted cities that are only occupied during annual holidays by Egyptian tourists for much lower rates than before.

The Black Market The black market has played a vital role in the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, due to the decrease in supply of US dollar, the black market managed to fill the gap in the market by offering to buy or sell foreign currency for extremely high rates. These rates a considered high due to the fact that the Central Bank of Egypt has the price of the dollar to EGP fixed in banks, therefore when the black market offers to buy the dollars for a more expensive price, people choose to sell to them as opposed to banks.

This leads to a higher decrease in supply of dollars because the money then is not recirculated but instead stored and kept by black marketers for when the price might increase later on in time. As a result, strong measures have to and have begun to be taken place in order to eliminate the emergence of a strong black market, because these markets exist above the rule of law and therefore cannot be controlled by government.

They consequently have a direct impact of the devaluation of the Egyptian pound because it leaves the Egyptian pound price to be determined by the owners of foreign currency exchange shops. The Egyptian pound was devaluated by the Central Bank by almost 15% last march in an effort to defeat the black market and consequently bridge the gap between the bank price and black market price, however that gap continues to grow, and with that grows the Egyptian people’s fear of another devaluation of the Egyptian pound.

Tourism Tourism was a main source for foreign currency in Egypt. Foreigners and tourists visiting Egypt’s beloved Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh came with their currencies. However, after the 2011 revolution, tourism has fallen. International tourism has halted and with it the flow of foreign currencies. Local authorities have tried to promote Egypt’s tourism internationally with a campaign of billboards with a slogan “This Is Egypt.” However, international tourism has not risen at all.

Local tourism has helped keep the tourism industry alive, but a lot of tourism companies have closed. Without tourism, the foreign currency flow has significantly decreased,

Imports and Exports A major part of the problem is our imports vs. our exports rate. Today, Egypt is importing a majority of its products. Manufacturing has slowed down since the revolution, and our exporting has decreased tremendously.

The main problem with the devaluation of the Egyptian pound is that it causes traders to stop selling their products. This occurs because many Egyptian traders believe that a second devaluation of the Egyptian pound is inevitable and that the exchange rates will sky rocket even more than their record level. This subsequently drives them to store away their already purchased products in the hope that

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they would later sell them for a higher price and thus a higher profit.

This has been reflected on many various products such as the price of electronics and the vehicles, with may vehicles now being on hold or on a waiting list for at least a year.

Today A team from the IMF is currently back in Egypt arranging another bundle of credits thought to be worth $12 billion for more than three years. The country desperately needs the money. The administration confronts vast spending plan and current-account shortages (just about 12% and 7% of GDP, separately), as Egypt’s remote stores run unsafely low. Exaggerated money, twofold digit expansion and a jobless rate of 12% complete the troubling picture. Potential financial specialists are saying endlessly In any event, policymakers are considering courses around Egypt’s administrative framework. President Sisi utilizes the armed force for a significant number of activities, expanding its effectively substantial part in the economy. Conventional firms, however, are choked by formality. Nothing moves without an influence. Egypt comes at an unfortunate 131st in the World Bank’s simplicity of-working together positioning. A financial specialist must get licenses from 78 distinctive authority bodies to begin another business venture, as indicated by the legislature. Its guarantee of a “one-stop shop” to supply all of them, made year and a half ago, has so far come to nothing.

However, casual undertakings think that its difficult to obtain cash, and in this manner difficult to develop. This year, the administration ordered that 20% of bank credits go to little and medium-sized firms, however it is not clear how casual ones will be dealt with (or whether there are sufficient promising little ventures to assimilate that much money at any rate). Banks may battle to back this arrangement and still continue loaning to the legislature.

Egypt is likewise neglecting to supply its youth with job opportunities.

More than 40% of them are unemployed. A college instruction is in reality free, however the quality is poor and colleges attempt to instruct abilities that nearby managers really require. Egypt produces numerous specialists—however a greater amount of them wind up in Saudi Arabia than in Egypt. Different graduates depend on the general population area to give work, yet employment opportunities are progressively rare.

In any case, Egypt’s future is uncertain. The Egyptian pound will continue to suffer unless we start exporting goods. The Egyptian population has been optimistic, and it remains to be seen what will happen next. p

As a result the devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the dollar directly affects Egyptian living standards because the purchasing power that citizens have decreased amidst growing prices of goods and necessities.

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Entrepeneur

The InTernaTIonal PlasTIc Modelers socIeTy

Comes to Egypt

S

cale modeling has been with us since the beginning of recorded history.

Whether it be defensive military installations, or castle breaching catapults, models have been from time immemorial an important method of limiting the expenditure of resources prior to an inventor’s vision being approved for larger construction by those with power and resources.

Whether it be Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of a united China, gazing at the latest scaled proposal for the Wall, or the conceptual design for massive Spartan fortifications, modelers have had an impact on the history of the world we can only now vaguely understand.

Leonardo Da Vinci, of course, has been nominated by history as the world’s most gifted scale modeler. From the design of catapults, tanks and paddle wheeled marine transports, to designs for mechanized robots, Da Vinci was a master of the possible. Only Leonardo himself was aware of the full measure of his modeling prowess.

Moving on to 20th and 21st century science, models have been used for decades to depict the world of molecules, atoms and electrons, a world which otherwise would be difficult for the layman to grasp. Skeletal and soft tissue models of biological organisms have assisted millions to become familiar with the substructures of the natural world, a world that in vivo is often difficult, not to say frightening, to access. Modern architects continue to design, and engineers test, gargantuan

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bridges and skyscrapers in preparation for presenting them in reduced scale to the business community. In the realm of motion pictures, directors and special effects personnel have done, and currently do make use of models to demonstrate the ferocity of their nightmares.

Finally, we venture into the delightful world of the hobbyist who is able to capture the fruits of imagination at his or her leisure, the only limitations being those represented by the boundaries of creative spirit. Today, scale modelers create miniature models of our everyday life using versatile materials. Despite the fact that this hobby is extremely popular around the world with hundreds of clubs, groups, exhibitions and contests, it wasn’t introduced to Egypt until recently.

Several years ago, a group of Egyptian modelers met with the goal to share their passion for the scale modeling hobby, together they created the club ESM “Egyptian Scale Modelers” and step by step more enthusiasts for the hobby began to join the club. A couple of years later, the club got accredited and affiliated to the British Society IPMS “The International Plastic Modelers Society” and became IPMS Egypt. This affiliation allowed the club to gain global support for developing the hobby in Egypt.

Today, the club has grown to include 15 modelers and around 5000 followers on facebook. ESM club members have also participated in modeling exhibitions in Europe and earned several awards.

Scale-modelling includes many different specializations; some modelers specialize in civilian objects such as sailing ships, classic and modern cars, motorcycles, commercial planes and figures as well as military subjects such as tanks, fighting (combat) vehicles, military ships, jet planes and panoramas. They use different base materials such as plastics, wood and metal. Each model creation requires dedication over long periods of time that could extend to months or years in order to create a project in some cases. Scale modelers must practice patience and great attention to details in order to achieve a high level of accuracy.

Today, the club has taken a major step to promote the hobby in Egypt by announcing the first scalemodeling exhibition to ever take place in Egypt, “EGYHOBBY2016”. The exhibition will be held at El-Sawy Cultural Wheel in Zamalek from 1st- 5th September 2016.

The exhibition will feature static models from more than 15 modelers displaying all the different categories and styles of the hobby. The club will also hold several workshops during the exhibition to explain different approaches to start practicing the hobby and the most common techniques for different types of objects.

Modelers will help beginners locate all the needed materials and tools and offer them step-by-step support in building their first models.

The Egyptian Scale Modelers’ Club aims to spread the hobby and increase its number of members and followers in Egypt. Future plans include holding EGYHOBBY exhibition on annual basis with a larger display area, more workshops and a modeling competition. p

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Education

Egypt’s Higher Education Scene:

Public vs. Private Universities By: Basma Mostafa

In a typical state-funded Egyptian university, lecture halls are usually overflowing with students, professors are unwilling to change their outdated teaching methods, and the learning environment does not foster any real development or progress. In 2015, the Global Competitiveness Report placed Egypt near the bottom for education. The overall quality of the system, primary education, management schools, and staff training all ranked at 139 out of 140.

F

rom primary schools to universities, the entire educational system in Egypt requires serious reform if the country is to have any real chance at development. To fill in a market gap, private universities have emerged as an alternative, hoping they could compensate for what the government has failed to offer.

Community Times aims to shed light on the higher education system in Egypt and on the role of both public and private universities in the development of education.

Egyptian Higher Education: What’s Wrong with the System?

Anthony Perzigian, Provost and Professor Emeritus at University of Cincinnati and Board of Trustees Chair Adviser at the Future University in Egypt, believes that the whole Egyptian higher education system needs to be reinvented.

“Many jobs in Egypt go unfilled because employers are not satisfied with the preparations students receive,” Perzigian says.

“A better connection between the curriculum being taught at Egyptian universities and the modern global economy needs to be established.”

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Educational programs at public universities are not periodically updated to meet the needs of the modern workplace.

One of the dimensions of the problem, according to Perzigian, is that too much of the curriculum was established years ago but the world has changed rapidly since then. Professors who have been working for a long time find it quite easy to go back to their lecture notes and just repeat the same material year after year.

nimble, effective adaptation to change,” he explains.

Perzigian stresses the importance of recruiting younger professors to supplement the system with “new blood” and fresh ideas.

He also suggests that partnerships should be created between the government, business industries, and universities so that professors would receive additional support in their research.

Inji Mounib, President of Globabstars for Publishing & PR Consultancy and Specialist and Lecturer of Crisis Management & Public Relations at a Canadian university in Egypt, explains that we cannot claim that a certain private university is better than another. Instead, certain faculties in certain universities have a good reputation. “The Faculty of Applied Arts, for example, at the German University is great. But this doesn’t mean that all other faculties are just as good,” says Mounib.

“This would result in new products and new services that can be put into the market and commercialized, leading to the creation of more business start-ups, more job opportunities, and more revenue for everybody. Successful entrepreneurial enterprises will directly impact Egypt’s global competitiveness and the productivity of its economy,” he says.

Moving on to the problems of public universities, Perzigian says that many of them are overcrowded and have facilities that have not been modernized. Although such universities may have distinguished professors, there are way too many students enrolled that it becomes virtually impossible to deliver highquality education. A business major, for example, may have 80,000 students in a public university, while a private university has 7000 students in the same major. Logically speaking, classes with lesser number of students lead to more student-professor interaction.

“We should also provide students with the opportunity to engage in their chosen field of study, instead of just sitting in a lecture hall and listening to some professor talk for an hour. This is not learning,” he adds.

Perzigian also refers to the importance of teaching students to be adaptable to change. “That means equipping our students with a strong knowledge base and the intellectual skills necessary for

Quality of Education at Public versus Private Universities

The strength of these faculties comes from the curriculum and how it is taught, she explains. Further, private universities offer internships and training programs and thus produce graduates that are more familiar with the job market. “When the educational system fulfills the objectives employers are looking for, graduates are seen in a more positive light,” she adds.

Mounib notes that she had to work with students from both public and private universities throughout her career. She noticed that students from Ain Shams University, for example, did not know how to work together in a team, while students from the Canadian University know how to produce an integrated campaign.

“At private universities, the focus is on developing the mindset of the students, not just the curricula, while the opposite is true for public universities. Students are not encouraged to think. They are encouraged to obey and implement,” Mounib comments.

Another problem with public education is that it mainly relies on memorization. “There is very little room for creativity and selfdevelopment. Students don’t learn how to think for themselves.

How can you expect such an individual to take decisions in the future once they join the workforce?” Mounib wonders.

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Education

“Exams at private universities test the student’s level of understanding of the curricula, while at public universities, students are expected to learn by heart and put their analytical and critical skills on hold,” she adds.

As the president of a Publishing & PR Consultancy, Mounib herself has been on both ends of the spectrum. From her interaction with several new hires, she says graduates of private universities are more open-minded and are less likely to be afraid of failure, while public university graduates cannot delegate authorities and have to do everything themselves.

But Mounib also believes that private universities are not heaven on Earth.

“They have their fair share of problems.

At the end of the day, they are still business entities and they are run with a commercial mindset, but at least they have budgets to spend on educational development, unlike public entities that receive peanuts.”

Dr. Enas Abu Youssef, Professor of Mass Communication at Cairo University, explains that not all private universities are perfect. “There are universities that are pioneers in their fields and embrace new innovations all the time, universities that produce graduates capable of attracting reputable jobs and there are universities that don’t differ much from public ones,” she elaborates.

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Youssef explains that private universities place high value on practical education, while public universities are burdened with large numbers of students, which means that it’s virtually impossible to provide each and every student with training opportunities.

Youssef also refers to a common downside of private entities, the fact that they are at the end of the day profit-making entities.

“They sometimes want to cut expenses, and do so even if this affects the quality of education they are offering,” she adds.

On the other hand, Youssef also criticizes how educational programs at public universities are not periodically updated to meet the needs of the modern workplace. “There are new departments at certain colleges wherein the curricula were supposed to be taught entirely in English. But the situation was not assessed properly and students ended up paying for a service they didn’t even receive. Many classes were taught in Arabic and many professors were incapable of teaching in English,” says Youssef.

Private universities place high value on practical education, while public universities are burdened with large numbers of students, which means that it’s virtually impossible to provide each and every student with training opportunities. the way back to primary school, Youssef elaborates. “The entire system is building generations of narrow-minded human beings who have no individuality. They are not critical thinkers and don’t learn to think for themselves.”

Youssef describes the situation as a “joke,” referring to students who major in literature and are supposed to learn how to criticize novels, but instead resort to buying booklets from local libraries to study from. She also mentions that many students do not want to work hard or learn. “If you ask them to do some extra reading for class, they would go on a strike.”

“The current educational system does not qualify students to find jobs in today’s job market. The system focuses more on quantity rather than quality. It may seem that universities do focus on the quality of education, but it’s all theoretical. It’s there on paper but not in reality,” she adds.

Youssef does not believe that the university a student attended plays that great a role in the rest of their future.

“Hard work is what distinguishes people. It doesn’t matter where someone graduated from, what matters is their commitment and perseverance.”

The failure of state-owned universities to provide high-quality education extends all

When asked about the role of the state

project, participation in class, quizzes, and so on. This understanding gives you some control over your grades,” Sabry adds.

The Workplace Perspective Amira Zakaria, HR Assistant Manager at a private bank, says that they hire fresh graduates from both public and private universities.

“You cannot put all private universities in one category. There are some universities that offer world-class education and there are others that are not that much different from public universities,” she explains.

“Graduates of the AUC, for example, are usually self-confident and know how to market their skills.”

in bettering the system, she says that universities need bigger budgets and professors need better and more frequent training. “The current training system for professors is just paperwork. All you have to do is sign a piece of paper to prove that you have been trained.”

She also criticizes how some professors expect their students to memorize the material they receive by heart. “If a student—God forbid—was to introduce their own ideas, they wouldn’t receive an A. Professors want to see exactly what they have said,” Youssef adds.

A Student’s Insight Naira Sabry, who majored in translation at Al-Azhar University and in business at the private German university in Cairo, says that the two educational institutions are so different that any comparisons between them would be unfair.

Sabry complains that in summer the lecture halls at Al-Azhar University were not well ventilated. “There were only fans and there were so many of us that it was almost impossible to stay focused,” she explains. “It wasn’t the sort of environment that fosters learning and development.” On the other hand, the GUC administration always made sure the facilities were kept clean.

She also says that at the GUC computers are an integral part of the education process; they can be found in labs and in lecture halls, while the introduction of the first computer to her college at Al-Azhar was an event worth celebrating, and even then it was solely used for archiving purposes.

Sabry comments on the education process

at Al-Azhar and explains that very few of her professors were really well-versed in the fields they taught. Most of them have been teaching the same curricula for years and their mindsets were set in stone. They were unwilling to answer new or different questions and some professors always arrived late for class.

In comparison, Sabry goes on to explain that although not all professors at the GUC were academically excellent, they had a different mindset. “They listen to students and have open discussions with them. They encouraged us to think outside the box.”

At Al-Azhar, she was always evaluated based on her ability to memorize. “During my five years of education, I had about two professors that encouraged us to think; otherwise, we always had to study by heart and pour out what we had studied in our exams,” she says.

On the other hand, the educational system at the GUC focused on practical training. “I had to receive a two-month training as a graduation requirement. When I graduated, I had already been exposed to the reallife workplace and I knew most of the companies operating in the field,” Sabry notes.

As for assessments and evaluations, Sabry describes the process at Al-Azhar as “haphazard.” She adds,“One can never really tell what grades are going to be based on as every professor has their own standards. It all comes down to their attitude and personal preference.”

At the GUC, the teaching assistant explains the assessment and evaluation process during the first class. “You get to know how much grades are set for attendance, the final

Zakaria recounts that fresh graduates from the American University or the German University possess excellent presentation skills. On the other hand, business graduates from Cairo or Ain Shams Universities don’t always have advanced presentation skills and are sometimes unable to work under pressure.

Although an individual’s education does have a role in their professional development, Zakaria believes it all boils down to their performance, intelligence, and ability to handle a heavy workload.

“It wouldn’t be fair to generalize. It’s not always about the degree someone has, but most often about their personality and hard work.” she adds.

“Even when graduates from a public university are not up to date with the market, they pick up whatever they have missed during college on the job,” Zakaria notes.

Aya Elbordiny, Healthcare Integration & Development Lead at a hospital, also echoed Zakaria’s sentiments that hiring decisions and workplace competence always come down to a graduate’s hard work and perseverance rather than where they graduated from. “I don’t really feel that one is better than the other. Even those who need to work on their skills develop their skills on the job,” Elbordiny explains. p

The entire educational system is building generations of narrow-minded human beings who have no individuality. They are not critical thinkers and they don’t learn to think for themselves.”

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Real People

Written by Tamer Hegab Photo Courtesy of Mazen Yaseen

I Quit My Job

For This!

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Give us a little bit of an introduction to who you are.

My name is Mazen Yaseen. I’m 31 years old. I just started my own company, “Just a GoProer, 3 months ago. It’s still a oneman show kind of deal. My office and home are practically the same place. I’m taking it slow and looking forward to great things ahead.”

What is it exactly that you do?

What I’m doing is called content creation. The videos & photos I post on Facebook and Instagram are my way of marketing for myself, my shooting and edit techniques.

It’s efficient so far as brands do call me to come up with creative and activation plans for their products and events.

I do not post my clients’ content on my page so I don’t confuse my audience with too many brands. Instead I hand over the content to my clients to be used on their own social media platforms.

Quitting my job and breaking out of the corporate life was definitely not an easy decision, and I’ve been asking myself, “What is it that I’m quitting my job for?”

Where did you work before you became a vlogger?

What is Vlogging?

Vlogging, or video blogging, has become very popular today.

Many people like to make videos about interesting topics, their opinions and points of views or just recording their daily life.

I graduated high school from MES (Modern Education Schools).

I couldn’t afford a private university, so I went to Ain Shams Arabic Business School. I failed, miserably. What’s actually funny is that they failed me in English, when the exams had grammar and spelling mistakes.

I started working in parallel at intoegypt.com, an online travel agency. After a while I worked at The Four Seasons as a concierge agent for 4 years, working my way up, I successfully moved to the sales department for a couple of years. Our main guests were US travelers, so after the US economic crisis hit, tourism went down the drain and I thought I should start my own business in parallel. A couple of friends and I started a French Fries & Hotdog cart called “Potato and Co.”. We used to cater for bazars in schools and universities.

In summer time when it was off season, we moved to corporates. Red Bull was our first client. We catered for their biggest event; Red Bull X Fighters which was held by the Pyramids. The event had more than 6,000 PAX and it was such a success for both Potato & Co and Red Bull. A while later, I got offered to be the Area Trade Marketing Manager for Red Bull in South Sinai. I loved the idea of moving to Sharm El Sheikh, packed my bags and went to live there for 3 years only to get hit by another tourism crisis. But this time it was because of the revolution. Luckily I found an open position to be the “Distribution Partner Manager of Red Bull North Africa”, I applied and got accepted.”

Why did you quit?

There comes a moment when you have to take a decision and in my decision to quit there was the dilemma of perusing my dream versus sticking to the financially stable nine to five. With a lot of faith in God, support from friends & family, trading my car for an iMac, I believed in myself and in my little project and I gave in my leave notice.

When did you get the idea to start vlogging?

A bad break up lead me to buy a new gadget to play around with, which was at that time my first GoPro. I started off by taking still photos of my random trips, till last year when I started shooting short fun/funny videos of random moments with friends and family.

A couple of months in, two of my close friends were getting married and asked me to shoot the whole thing. I panicked because who wants to ruin their friend’s wedding memory! So I asked them to hire another videographer as backup. When I shot the video and I went back home that night, I downloaded Final Cut Pro and taught myself how to edit through youtube tutorials.

The next morning I uploaded the video and BAM there was Just A GoProer.

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Real People

I found what everybody is looking for. My passion in life. Why would I do something else?”

Is vlogging your profession or just a hobby?

It’s both. I made my hobby my profession. I took a leap of faith and started this journey. I have tons of financial liabilities, which is scary.

But doing what I love makes me focus on how beautiful it is rather than how scary it is. Being a content creator and shooting on a daily is living the dream.

Why do you use a GoPro and not a regular vlogging camera? Or a DSLR? It’s small, compact, has a great fish eye lens that gives you great quality and angles. I just love it.

Do you make money off vlogging?

Currently no.

Do you consider yourself a social media influencer?

As in someone who receives a lot of presents and posts about them on Instagram? No I’m not. I’m just doing what I love doing, spreading positivity.

In-fact I like to inspire and be inspired.

What do you work as now?

I’m a content creator, which means I create “non traditional” photos and videos for my clients so they can use them on their social media platforms .

The hashtag #IQuitMyJobForThis? Did you come up with that? and what’s the idea behind it?

The idea basically is to encourage people, not to quit their jobs obviously, but to pursue their dreams. In my case it was both.

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Quitting my job and breaking out of the corporate life was definitely not an easy decision, and I’ve been asking myself, “What is it that I’m quitting my job for?” So besides pursuing my dream, the hashtag-ed content answers the question.

Do you have a website or do you only use Facebook and Instagram as a medium for your work?

Right now I only use Facebook and Instagram. I always try my best to make sure my content is natural and real. It only makes sense to use the platform that everyone naturally uses as a part of their daily lives.

How does being a GoProer fit in with your lifestyle?

GoPro is mainly made for action and sports. On the move. However, I use it in all kinds of circumstances. I fit my GoPro in my lifestyle and use it anywhere and everywhere.

Who else in Egypt vlogs?

No one that I know of, but I’ve been getting plenty of messages on Facebook from people telling me that they need advice on how to start vlogging. So hopefully soon I’ll have another answer to that question.

What do you think is the best service a vlogger can provide to his audience?

Entertainment, inspiration and positivity.

These are the main pillars of my videos.

I do my best to show the positive side of everything, everyone and everywhere I get in contact with.

What would be your ideal working environment?

Open space, or even better outdoors. I hate working in a closed environment. I try to get out as much as possible, as long as I don’t get affected by the heat.

How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

As funny as this may sound, I’m camera shy. I am however working on fixing that. I talk to my camera everyday. Practice makes perfect right?

Who’s your favorite vlogger on youtube (you remind me a lot of Casey Neistat)?

It is Casey Neistat, by far. He’s my inspiration. I love his videos and editing techniques, in-fact I learned a lot from him.

Is this going to be your job for the rest of your life? Or do you plan on starting another job?

I found IT! I found what everybody is looking for. My passion in life. Why would I do something else?

How would you describe your vlogging style?

Real. Non scripted. Adventurous. Fresh.

What type of networking do you think is better to enhance your traffic to your vlogs?

I want to grow steadily and naturally. I don’t want to take any shortcuts nor rise up off of someone else’s fame. Enhancing my traffic will eventually happen every time I give my audience something new, fresh, creative and fun.

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Real People What’s one of the most exciting things that happened to you while vlogging?

The Euro trip I went on in July. One night before I traveled, I came up with the ‘jumper’ idea for the video, I didn’t know how it will turn out to be, but I thought I’ll film it anyway. Twenty two days and a 102 thousand views later, I get all the excitement chills.

What is your greatest achievement outside of vlogging?

Knowing that I inspired a couple of people out there.

I have a very good day when it starts with a message from a random stranger sending me a Facebook message telling me that they got inspired by what I do and they will start using their cameras and travel more often.”

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m the kind of person who gets bored really fast, so I always encourage myself to engage in activities that includes different and new faces.

Obviously, I like to travel a lot so I spend most of my spare time exploring new areas (cultures, countries, sports, activities etc.)

Where would you like to be in vlogging five years from now?

I don’t really know, I’m just going to go with whatever I have and keep developing and investing in myself. Key is; Whatever happens, I’ll be happy.

What was the most challenging moment in your vlogging journey so far?

Starting. Taking the first step was the hardest moment of my life!

As I said, I still am camera shy and it’s something I’m working on everyday.

How do you motivate yourself to keep the vlog up and running?

What keeps me going is the positive feedback that I keep getting, the messages from random people telling me that they got inspired. I want to get better and better. It’s a never ending process.

How active are you on a weekly basis? How often do you communicate with your followers?

I respond to any messages instantly. Because I’ve been on the other side. I mean when I send someone a message, and they don’t reply to me, it never gives the right impression. So I try to keep my audience happy and respond once I see their message. I post a video once a week. I post pictures on Instagram almost daily.

Would you encourage other people to make their blog/vlog?

I grew up with this quote in the back of my mind, “If someone did it, then I can do it,” So I say: If I can do it, you definitely can. p

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Real People

Social Media

Influencers in Egypt As we live in a world of digital age, social media influencers are gaining a lot of power. These people stand out from the crowd backed up by the massive amount of followers who share, re-tweet and like every post they make. Here are some Egyptian social media stars.

By: Maha El Rayes

Abdoulrahman Ihab Ibrahim Norshek Fawzy She is many Instagramer’s favorite fitmom. If you follow her, you will see some interesting posts from a fitness guru and a dedicated mother of two. Norshek is also the co-founder of The Wellness Log with her husband who also works in fitness business. Getting over twentytwo thousand followers on Instagram, The Wellness Log is an eight-week customized plan that helps you achieve your fitness goals.

Sherif Fayed With more than 500,000 followers on Instagram and over 30,000 followers on Vine, Sherif Fayed is an Egyptian-American traveler, TV host, Internet celebrity and actor. In 2013 he became a Viner. His videos gained a remarkable success in Egypt. He is also a model.

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Like most creative ideas, his room is where all the magic happens. Abdoulrahman is able to entertain over 225,000 Facebook followers. This guy is seriously hilarious in making fun of trends coming out in Egypt and the globe. Starting with his comments about what happens in Sahel nowadays, to his opinion of 50 shades of Gray. You must watch his videos and the way he reacts to the stupid trends that we unfortunately follow.

Noha El Sherbiny She is the girl behind the fashion blog Satisfashionsn. She loved fashion & style ever since she was a little girl. Later on, she decided to have her own blog on Instagram as she features photos of herself wearing clothes from inexpensive labels. Sometimes she dresses her own little son too. With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, she succeeded to be an outstanding fashionista that everyone is talking about.

Ramez Youssef With his multi-versatile personality, he managed to steal the heart of over 25,000 followers on Instagram for his hilarious shows of stand-up comedy.

Ramez, also known as Mr. Moza, joined disalata.com team and produced and presented “Mish Impossible” online show.

Ahmed Rafat No one loves anything more than laughing from the heart out. That’s why Rafat’s funny videos are hard to miss across social media for Egyptians.

Often called “Moze3 El Share3” started an online show called “Tatch Masry” to ask random questions to Egyptians in the streets and respond funnily to their spontaneous answers. Rafat is followed by over 50,000 on Instagram and over 200,000 people on Facebook.

Hadia Ghaleb From a basketball player at college who was so involved into academic life to a fashion editor in many magazines, Hadia developed her love for fashion with a distinctive styling taste. She started a very interactive Instagram account that offers tips and recommendations on style, and soon became a role model for more than 250,000 followers.

Nour Aboulela With over 250,000 followers, and countless hits on her website and a wardrobe full with the latest trends, LoveByN, which started out as a username, has quickly become its own brand, as Aboulela turned her style and blogging competence into a business, often called upon by local and international designers and brands for collaborations.

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Real People

Radwa El Ziki – Zedified

Mohamed Hadary Known as Superman, Moe Hadary is Egypt’s first fitness model, fashion model, personal trainer and selfie master. He has over 30,000 followers on Instagram who wait eagerly to see the latest posts of his impressive physique.

Radwa El Zeki, an AUC graduate with a background in fashion writing and PR, she followed her passion and created Zedified.

The Fashion Blogger, Radwa worked and collaborated with various fashion brands like Tommy Hilfiger. She is considered as one of the fashion influencers that spreads awareness in Fashion. She sees the trends and sets them with what is available in Egypt and where it can be found.

Salma Abu Deif Salma Abu Deif, the 21 year old Egyptian model, with 85.4 thousand followers on Instagram; broke the Egyptian modeling scene. She is the most-in-demands model right now.

Abu Deif struts down runways, been the face of many fashion campaigns and many fans follow her to see her #Instatravels where she models in different locations around the globe.

Mohamed Mekawy He is an Egyptian/Lebanese entertainer.

Mekawy known for sharing funny video and crazy pranks through YouNow and Facebook, so followers picked up fast and reached over 140,000 followers on Instagram. Mekawy is also an actor in Egypt. p

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TRAVEL

London Calling!!

From history, to art, culture, parks, football, tennis, to theatre and nightlife, London’s got it all, and the good news is, many of its most prominent landmarks are free to visit!

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By Amina El Fayoumi

T

here is so much to do and see in London; the city literally caters to every taste ensuring there isn’t a dull moment on your trip, which shouldn’t by any means, be shorter than five days to a week, in order to give this awesome city its fair due! First things first, upon arriving to London Heathrow Airport, take the Heathrow Express, a speed intercity train that will take you to Paddington station in the heart of London in just under 20 minutes. Once there, consider purchasing a weekly Travel Pass to Zone 1&2. This will basically give you access to all the city’s main sights and attractions either by the famous red double deck buses or the user -friendly London tube. Mind the gap!!

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TRAVEL Hyde Park

The Parks Why not start off your sightseeing with London’s Hyde Park, one of the greatest city parks in the whole world. It has something for everyone. You can spend a glorious day boating, cycling, skating or simply having a picnic and enjoying the weather on a nice day. If you’re out and about on a Sunday, head to Speaker’s Corner to hear what London’s most vocal orators have to share with the rest of the world.

Exit Hyde Park through the Victoria Gate and cross over to Kensington Gardens, home to the peaceful Italian Gardens, Peter Pan statue, the stunning Albert Memorial, the Serpentine Gallery and Kensington Palace, the current London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. You might be in luck and catch a glimpse of Kate or Will waving from the palace window! This is also where both Queen Victoria and Diana, Princess of Wales, lived.

Kensington Gardens

Regent’s Park, just a couple of tube stations away on the Bakerloo line, includes stunning rose gardens and wild bird species. It hosts the London Zoo, the Open Air Theatre and a boating lake.

The top of Primrose Hill, separated from Regent’s Park by Prince Albert Road, offers one of the most fantastic panoramic views of the city. Step down from the top of Primrose Hill to explore Camden Town’s markets, food stalls, live street performances and the pretty canal from Camden Lock.

Pay an extra fare on your Travel Pass and take the tube all the way to London’s beautiful suburb, Richmond. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, in Richmond, Surrey is possibly the world’s most recognised botanic garden. Giant lily pads in the Water lily House, an exotic rainforest in the Palm House, as well as 10 different climatic zones in the Princess of Wales Conservatory provide visitors with an incredible experience. Next, stop over by Richmond Park, the largest Royal Park in London, and home to 650 deers.

Regent’s Park

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Kew Royal Botanic Gardens

The MuseuMs Natural History Museum

South Kensington is home to a cluster of ‘free’ museums, making it the perfect destination for families. At the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world’s greatest museum of art and design, you can see ceramics, furniture, fashion, jewellery, photographs, sculpture, textiles and paintings from the past 3000 years.

At the Science Museum, kids and adults alike can enjoy seeing, touching and experiencing the major scientific advances of the last 300 years, with interactive galleries bringing to life first scientific principles. Displays include world-famous objects such as the Apollo 10 command capsule. Just next door, you’ll find London’s Natural History Museum, where you can come face-to-face with a life-sized blue whale, a 40-million-year-old spider, as well as the fascinating dinosaur exhibition!

Victoria and Albert Museum

Science ScienceMuseum Museum Trafalgar TrafalgarSquare Square

Tate Modern

To add to our list of ‘FREE’ entrance museums is the British Museum, which exhibits more than eight million artifacts from around the world, spanning over two million years of history, from prehistoric to modern times. Highlights include our very own Rosetta Stone, Benin Bronzes and classical Greek sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens as well as the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. The National Gallery, situated on London’s famed Trafalgar Square, displays more than 2,000 Western European paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Its invaluable collection includes works by masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir and Van Gogh. Hampstead Heath, located just four miles from Trafalgar Square, has some of the best views and highest points in London for everyone to enjoy. It’s one of London’s best-loved green spaces. A visit to London isn’t complete without a trip to Tate Modern, Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art from around the world. You can see amazing works by Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, and Dali in this lovely museum on the banks of the Thames.

Did you ever dream about brushing shoulders with your favorite celebrities, athletes, royalty, music icons and politicians? Over 300 stunning wax figures at Madame Tussauds London are sure to make your fantasies come true. From Kate and Will, to Cristiano Ronaldo, Marilyn Monroe, our late President Sadat and more. Worth every penny and all the waiting in the queues.

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TRAVEL

Tower of London

TourisT siTes The Fortress of the Tower of London is a historic castle also located on the banks of the River Thames in central London. It is home to the famous priceless Crown Jewels collection which is still regularly used by the Queen in important national ceremonies, such as the State opening of Parliament. You can’t miss the picturesque Tower Bridge on your way down from the fort. Shakespeare’s Globe, a few miles down the river, is an open-air reconstructed Elizabethan theatre that displays, you guessed right, Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Round off your visit to the area by hopping in one of the London Eye’s 32 high-tech glass capsules and enjoy breathtaking views of London from high above for approximately 30 minutes.

London Eye

Shakespeare’s Globe

A trip to London would never be complete without attending one of the famous West End shows. You can buy up to 50% discounted tickets from the half price ticket booth in the middle of Leicester Square for shows both on the day and up to seven days in advance. While you’re at it, walk over to the nearby world famous Piccadilly Circus, home to the statue of Eros and the Four Bronze Horses of Helios.

Before the show, treat yourself to a typical British afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason or the Ritz, with cucumber sandwiches, scones and all the rest. You can also line up at the theatre of your favourite show for standby tickets, which are cheap returns and unsold tickets for that evening’s performance.

The Palaces & churches

Buckingham Palace

Cross over to the other side of the river to visit the Palace of Westminster, aka the Houses of Parliament, best known for its Big Ben tower which one can comfortably claim is the very symbol of London.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Westminster Abbey

Down the road is Westminster Abbey, the coronation church of England and a must-see living pageant of British history. It’s also the official venue for royal weddings; Will and Kate are the last couple to have made news getting hitched there! St. Paul’s Cathedral, in the heart of London’s business and financial centre, is another fascinating landmark, with a magnificent interior.

Entrance fee is worth it to climb to the top and enjoy the amazing view.

Another royal landmark to appreciate and marvel at its grandeur is her majesty’s Buckingham Palace. The Palace’s State Rooms are open for public visitation every summer from late July to September. Changing of the Royal Guard occurs daily in summer at 11.30am and alternate days for rest of the year; it’s free to view. While in the vicinity, pay a visit to St James’s Park, home to water birds, owls and woodpeckers. The pelicans are fed every day at 14:30; deckchairs are up for rent from April to September.

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Covent Garden Lively Covent Garden is a mustsee attraction for anyone who enjoys shopping, theatre, restaurants, bars, history and culture. The place is particularly buzzing and vibrant during the weekend where you can enjoy fantastic ‘free’ entertainment from street performers.

London’s Royal Opera House and London Transport Museum are also situated on the Covent Garden’s Piazza. The Market Building houses food and craft stalls as well as some big-name British and international retailers.

ShoppinG If you’re into serious shopping, Oxford St, High Street Kensington and Chelsea’s King’s Road should be heaven on Earth. Head to Sloane Street and Bond Street if you’re willing to break the bank and spoil yourself with designer haute couture shopping. World-renowned British department stores include Harrod’s, Harvey Nicols, Selfridges, Debenhams, Dickens & Jones and John Lewis, all worth a visit.

Stamford bridge Stadium Queen Queen Elizabeth Elizabeth Olympic Olympic Park Park

London is home to five famous English Premier League clubs. If you happen to be in town during football season, be sure not to miss out on attending a home game for The Blues, Chelsea fc, at Stamford bridge Stadium in Fulham.

Or simply take the guided tour which will take you behind the scenes at one of the world’s greatest football clubs, giving you access to areas normally reserved for players and officials. A home game at Arsenal fc’s Emirates Stadium is an unparalleled experience even if you’re not a Gunners’ fan. A tour of the 60,000 capacity Emirates Stadium allows you to see the dressing rooms, the players’ dugouts and the press room. White Hart Lane is the home stadium of the Spurs, Tottenham Hotspur. Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park is also based in the London borough of South Norwood. West Ham United’s new stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will be inaugurated at the opening of the 201617/ Season. Wembley Stadium, the England national team home, is London’s largest stadium and definitely worth a visit.

Who said tennis fans can’t find their fix in London too? On the other side of Richmond Park is Wimbledon, the home of tennis. Its charming village is definitely worth exploring. Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour, located in the grounds of the famous All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, displays the history of the game from its medieval origins to the professional sport of the present day. If you happen to be visiting in July, when Wimbledon tournament is in action, you can enjoy watching the world’s top players on the huge screen set up outside the wall of Court No 1 while eating traditional strawberries and cream. This is the place to go if you can’t afford the phenomenally pricy tickets for Centre Court.

If you’re feeling home sick and crave a piece of home away from home, head to Edgware Road, adjacent to the famous Marble Arch. At the turn of a corner, you are instantly transformed to the Middle East. You would find ful and falafel outlets, coffee shops with small round tables situated alfresco and serving hookah and mint tea in small tinted glass cups, small grocery shops with Arabic signage and even pharmacies selling prescription medicine without prescription!

Bayswater is another area known to be of strong Arab/Middle Eastern affiliation.

London has something for everyone. Capitalise on #Brexit and benefit from the falling Sterling/Dollar exchange rate, while you still can, and pay this magnificent city a long overdue visit!! p

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Out & About Cuisine

healthy Simple quick Recipes Community Times picked several simple healthy recipes made

by Instagram blogger Salma El-Ziki ‘Her Healthy Life’

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alma El Ziki, is an architect with a love for health and wellness. Due to her busy life she is forced to create simple and easy recipes in order for her to maintain a healthy life.

Most people believe that for you to be healthy and fit, you are required to eat sautéed vegetables and grilled chicken for the rest of your life. However, Her Healthy Life shows that for one to be healthy, they don’t have to hate it. The blog documents her daily delicious recipes that aid in weight loss, weight maintenance and most importantly break the idea of restriction and instead create a new love for cooking, eating well and juggling a busy schedule.

Here are a few recipes that will boost your energy throughout the day while feeling light and guiltfree.

(All ingredients can be found in all supermarkets and at Gourmet stores.)

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Caramelized Banana & Walnuts Oatmeal Ingredients : 1 cup skimmed milk 1 pinch Sea Salt or regular salt 1 cup Quick Cook Oatmeal 1 tbs coconut oil 2 tbs olive oil 1 tbs cinnamon 2 tbs honey 1/2 cup blueberries 1/2 cup raspberries 1 whole banana 1/4 cup walnuts Optional: Chia Seeds and shredded coconut for topping and added nutrition.

Directions: • On medium heat, pour the milk into a pan with a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of coconut oil, stir and wait until it boils, lower the heat and add the oatmeal. Keep stirring until thickened.

• In another pan, add olive oil, honey and cinnamon, stir on medium heat, then add 1/2 inch banana slices on each side. Add walnuts in the mix as well.

• Plate the oatmeal, with the fresh fruit and the caramelized bananas and walnuts (pour the extra sauce on top for added sweetness). Then sprinkle on the coconut and chia seeds for added nutrition.

There you go, sweet and nutritional start to your day! p

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes with Almond Butter Honey Sauce Ingredients : Pancakes: 2 bananas 2 eggs 4 tbs grated coconut 2 tbs oatmeal flakes 1 pinch salt 1 tbs coconut oil

Sauce: 1 tbs almond butter 2 tbs olive oil 2 tbs honey

Toppings: Fresh fruit of your preference, with chia seeds and shredded coconut for added nutrition

Directions: •Mash the bananas, the eggs, the grated coconut and the oatmeal flakes in a bowl and add 1/2 tbs of coconut oil.

• In a pan over medium heat, add coconut oil, and use the batter to fry the pancakes, 2 minutes on each side until they’re golden.

• Add the fresh fruit toppings and the optional chia seeds and coconut • For the sauce, simply mix together the olive oil, honey and almond butter over medium heat on the stove, and drizzle on top of your masterpiece. p

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Cuisine

Sweet Potato Waffles Ingredients : 1 sweet potato 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1 egg 1/2 cups of (skimmed) milk 1 tbsp baking soda 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 pinch salt

Directions: •Peel the sweet potato and boil until soft.

•Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, including the softened sweet potato.

•Simply pour the mixture into a waffle machine. p

Baked Figs Ingredients : 5 fresh figs 1 tbsp coconut oil 1/4 (60ml) maple syrup (Light) 1 tsb cinnamon 1 tsb shredded coconut

Directions: •Preheat over to 350 degrees •Grease baking dish with coconut oil •Cut the figs in half •Drizzle the maple syrup over the figs evenly •Sprinkle the cinnamon and coconut on the figs •Place the figs in the oven for 20 minutes, take them out and let them cool for about 5 minutes. p

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Chocolate Coconut Truffles

55 calories each (vegan, glutenfree, sugar free)

Ingredients : 3 cups shredded coconut plus more for rolling (optional) 1 cup cocoa powder ½ cup coconut oil ¼ cup light maple syrup 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract Optional: protein powder, chocolate chips, chia seeds, cinnamon

Directions: •In a small bowl, combine coconut and cocoa.

•Add coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla, stir to combine.

•These truffles are hard to ‘roll’ together as they tend to break apart. Instead, take about 1 tablespoon of the batter and squeeze together in your hand, then move it to your other hand and squeeze. Continue squeezing until it forms a ball shape.

•In a small bowl, put a few tablespoons of shredded coconut. Roll each ball in the coconut and place into a container.

•Fridge for 6-12 hours to allow the coconut oil to harden. These taste best when cold and just from the fridge. p

Chocolate Avocado Mousse You’re having chocolate and it’s good for you, what can be better?

Ingredients : 1 large avocado 2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder 0.25 cup (skimmed) milk 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Directions: •Place avocados, cocoa powder, milk and vanilla extract in the jar of a blender •Puree until smooth (stop when you start to scrape down the sides as the mixture will be very thick) •Place the mousse on a plate, and garnish with almonds and coconut if desired. p

Simple Guacamole Ingredients :

Directions:

1 avocado 1/2 tomato 1/4 red onion 1 tbs olive oil cumin, paprika & basil seasoning

•Mash the avocado in a bowl, cut up the tomato and onion into small pieces and mix them together.

•Add the oil and seasoning and mix together.

Simple, quick, and so delish. p August 2016 | Ct

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Society

International Clubs hold a Hawaiian Night The International Clubs of Cairo held their 12th end-of-season gala dinner organized by club Nefertari at the Cairo Marriott hotel, with a Hawaiin theme. Guests showed great enthusiasm in dressing up and the decor was a great inspiration.

The Crazy Beat Band was amazing, getting people off their feet dancing the night away, followed by a dancing troupe from Russia and singer Natalie ending the gala.

The gala was sponsored by H.E. Ambassador of Singapore, Ahram beverages and Coca-Cola. p

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Society

Credit Agricole Egypt indulges its Fidele Club members in the loyalty night and offers 3 packages to travel to France to attend the EURO Cup Credit Agricole Egypt hosted a lavishing event to express its appreciation to its Fidele Club members for being loyal customers.

Launched in 2012, Fidele Club counts more than 10,000 members.

The Club offers a tailored bouquet of privileges from Credit Agricole Egypt to its valued customers.

Loyalty by the Nile was the theme of the event held at Fairmont Nile City by the pool side. The guests were greeted in person by the bank’s Chairman and Managing Director – Mr. Francois-Edouard Drion as well as the Proximity Banking senior management team. The Fidele Club members enjoyed the spectacular voice and performance of the young star Nesma Mahgoub. The surprise of the event was a raffle draw to win 3 packages to travel to France to attend the EURO cup since Credit Agricole Group is the sponsor of UEFA 2016. p

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Jumeirah Bay Ras El Hekma Launches with a Bang In a star-studded event held at the Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Egypt’s top businessmen and celebrities came together to celebrate the official launch of phase one of Jumeirah Bay Ras El Hekma. p

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Press Releases

Majid Al Futtaim Ramadan Campaign Marks Another Successful Year in Donations El Nenny at the Cairo Marriott for the African Zone Final Qualifications Draw for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia The African Zone Final Qualification Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was held at The Cairo Marriott Hotel for yet another historic event at Aida Ballroom.

Reporters lined up around the stage to witness Mohamed El Nenny, the Arsenal Star who was present to participate in the draw.

The draw was lead by Mr. Gordon Savic, the head of FIFA World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers, where four legendary gentlemen drew the names of 20 African teams to be divided to 5 groups of 4 teams each; Mr. Aliou Cisse; Senegalese former football player and coach, Mr. Henryk Kasperczak; Polish football manager of the Tunisian national football team, Mr. Alphonse Tchami; retired Cameroonian football player, and of course the Egyptian speedball Mr. Mohamed El Nenny.

It was a moment of pride having El Nenny being a part of this draw out of his numerous accomplishments in this past year.

The tension was quite high in the Aida Ballroom as the results were revealed. The groups assembled are of grave importance for all soccer fans as only the final winner from each group with the most points will have a chance to play for the Russia World Cup in 2018. p

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts names Olivier Chavy as new CEO

The Board of Directors of the international Swiss hospitality company Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MH&R) has appointed Olivier Chavy as new CEO. Chavy will take over the leadership from JeanGabriel Pérès in September 2016.

The new CEO is a veteran of the hospitality industry with a 28-year track record in hotel operations and brand management.

He has a solid operating experience including hotel openings on three different continents.

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Majid Al Futtaim’s 10th annual ‘Make A Difference’ Ramadan campaign was launched at his pioneer retail and leisure malls across the Middle East and North Africa in June 2016 across the region.

In Egypt, the donations collected at City Centre Alexandria and City Centre Maadi amounted to a total of about EGP488,000, in addition to over 2000 bags of toys, books and clothes; reflecting the philanthropic nature of Egyptians during Ramadan.

By placing special donation boxes at its shopping malls, leisure and entertainment destinations and Carrefour stores, the Ramadan launch campaign encouraged visitors to donate a selection of everyday items, including books, clothes, food, toys and electronics, to help families in need. Majid Al Futtaim partners with Life Makers charitable organization in Egypt to ensure timely and appropriate distribution of all donated goods during Ramadan across the country.

Majid Al Futtaim ‘Make A Difference’ campaign was also launched in Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, and the UAE, in partnership with charitable organizations across the region. p

He served as International Head, Global Brand Performance of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Worldwide. His experience in brand building and development in the hospitality industry has led him to his current role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wilson Associates, the leading global interior architectural design firm.

Olivier Chavy received his Master in Business Administration from Cornell University, a postgraduate diploma from ESSEC Business School and a BA in Hotel Management from SaintQuentin-en-Yvelines Hotel Management School in France. He is a dual citizen of the United States and France, fluent in French, English and German. p

Jumeirah Bay Ras El Hekma Launches with a Bang

In a star-studded event held at the Nile RitzCarlton Cairo, Egypt’s top businessmen and celebrities came together to celebrate the official launch of phase one of Jumeirah Bay Ras El Hekma.

Samsung’s New Twin Cooling Plus Refrigerator Summer vacation—where the memories and anticipation keep you going all year long- is the most exhilarating season of the year.

And if your ideal summer getaway includes enjoying the comfort of your own home, surrounded by the people you love, there are few things better than a generous meal prepared with fresh, delicious ingredients.

As the kitchen becomes the heart of your home this summer, you’re going to need a refrigerator you can count on to keep up with the heat wave and the constant stream of family and friends.

Samsung’s all NEW Twin Cooling Plus refrigerator, designed with maximized humidity levels and space efficiency, is here to lift a weight off your shoulders and keep things running smoothly. With its Smart Conversion feature, you can turn the freezer into a fridge, giving you the additional space, so you’ll never run out of room for food again As for the leftovers, the high humidity levels of up to 70% ensure that your foods, whether fresh or leftover stay fresher for longer, due to the moisture retention rate, which enables your food to preserve its color, texture, and fresh taste without drying out. The Twin Cooling System independently cools and freezes ingredients via separate airflows. p

Earmarked to be the destination of choice on the North Coast, Jumeirah Bay Ras El Hekma is the third largest development on the North Coast, sprawling over 6,000,000 sqm of land.

Ras El Hekma which is famed for its virgin beauty; pure white sands and clear turquoise sea, is expected to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the coming years.

The night which was attended by several well known celebrities including Football Player Mohamed Zidan, Singer, Haitham Saeed, Actor, Ahmed Fahmy and many more, started with an electrifying ariel violin performance, before ending the night with a performance from the musical superstar Ragheb Allama. p

The Inauguration of Mountain View Diplo 4 in the Presence of 22 Ambassadors and Diplomats World Class Pianist Zade Dirani entertained the inauguration of Mountain View Diplo 4 - Ras El Hekma North Coast “Mountain View” the Real Estate Development and Investment Company has organized “IL CONCERTO” live performance. The event took place on a Friday afternoon August 5th, in the presence of ambassadors, diplomats and Mountain View clients.

The ceremony, which was held at “Diplomats Resort” Ras El Hekma was attended by 22 ambassadors and diplomats from different countries, including Switzerland, Mexico, Ecuador, Finland, Venezuela, Ukraine, Paraguay, Chile, Japan, Croatia, Senegal, Mexico and Uzbekistan. p August 2016 | Ct

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CALENDAR August

2016

ART

August 3rd to 24th

A Summer Exhibition

Painting and Sculpture Exhibition

August 13th

Ubuntu Art Gallery 20 Hassan Sabry St., entrance from Ibn Zinki, Zamalek Daily 11 am to 8 pm except Fridays

Summer Music Festival

FESTIVALs

Boghdady Band

Cairo Opera House, Open Air Theater Time: 8 pm Ticket: 35 LE

Music August 16th & 17th

Piano Concert August 15th

Mohasseb Band

Veteran pianist Omar Khairat

Music

Great Hall, Bibliotheca Alexandria Time: 8 pm.

Mohasseb’s reputation for drawing large, highenergy crowds with his progressive house sets on these manic nights precedes him.

Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St., Agouza, Giza Time: 9 pm

trade show August 8th – 21st

Egypt Building Show This event showcases products like iron & steel, foundations & bridges, facade & wall coverings, paints & coatings etc. in the Building Construction, Industrial Products, Hand, Machine & Garden Tools, Natural Stones, Home Furnishings & Home Textiles, Architecture & Designing industries.

Cairo International Convention & Exhibition centre (CICC), Cairo, El Nasr Rd. Nasr City, Cairo Governorate

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August 26th

Festivals

Summer Music Festival: Basata Band The name was chosen due to the simplicity of the instruments and the deep meanings presented by the lyrics and melodies.

Cairo Opera House, Open Air Theater Time : 8 pm Ticket: 50 LE

August 17th to 2nd september

FESTIVALs

The 25th Citadel Festival for Music and Singing Every summer the historic Salah Eddin Citadel hosts a Festival for Music and Singing organised by the Cairo Opera House.

The opening will start with Les Petits Chats.

Program follows with: 18th “Malwy’s Stick” 19th “Spanish Folklore by Mona Borkhart troupe” 20th “Amr Selim” 21st “Ali el Helbawy” 22nd “Iftakasat Band” 23rd “ Emdan El Nour Band” 24th “Ayamena El Helwa” 25th “Rif Jazz Band” 26th “El Ekhewa Abo Shaar” 27th “Glass Onion” 28th “Mawlaweya El Masreya” 29th “Ahmed Rabie and Said El-Artiste”

ART

August 23rd to September 1st

“Blossoming Inspirations“ Come see the world , through the eyes of three of Egypt’s most prominent young artists. Artist Amina Salem, Hend El-Falafly and Klay Kassem, Three very different perspectives and styles, as diverse and stunning as our world today.

Al Kahila Art Gallery 15 El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz St., Mohandessin 0122 864 7511

Salah El-Din Citadel Entrance 5 L.E For more info: 27390188 – 27360361

August 19th & 20th

Theater

Lost And Found The play was produced by the Culture Resource with the support of Al Fanar Foundation and Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Al Darb Al Ahmar Arts School. Directed by: Hanan Hajj Ali August 18th

The Jets Band

music

Established by the Egyptian arranger, Samir Habib in 1975 along with six composers and singers. The band members have introduced a lot of songs of their own writing and composition, such as; “Linda Linda” and “Banat El-Eshrin” Cairo Opera House, Open Air Theater Time: 8:30 pm. Ticket : EGP 30.

Time: 8 pm AUC Falaki Theater Tickets: 10 EGP Tickets will be available starting from the 13th of August at Studio Emad Eddin Foundation (18 Emad Eddin street, Downtown Cairo) on weekdays from 10 am until 10 pm Tel: 0122 864 7511

august 2016 | Ct

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CALENDAR August

August 27th – 31st

2016

Theater

Measure for Measure Measure for Measure is a Jacobean play written by William Shakespeare. This is the first time it is ever performed in Egypt. It explores the fine line between justice and mercy, giving a range of characters having to adapt to different forms of extremism. The play’s script was translated into Classical Arabic by Dr. Mohamed Anany, and adapted into Colloquial Egyptian Arabic by Waleed Hammad and Omnia Taha.

Time: 8 pm AUC Falaki Theater Tickets: 10 EGP Tickets will be available starting from the 13th of August at Studio Emad Eddin Foundation (18 Emad Eddin street, Downtown Cairo) on weekdays from 10 AM until 10 PM 0122 864 7511

August 14th & 17th

Festivals

Mona Burkhardt & El Melodias Encantadoras Orquesta - Granada For The second time in Egypt Mona Burkhardt & El Melodias Encantadoras Orquesta will present a huge paso doble and classical Latin tunes of 40’s & 50’s...

Mona will sing and dance the Spanish folk paso doble plus many kinds of classic Latin singing & dancing Dates: 14 Aug- at 8 pm Cairo Opera House & 17 Aug : ElSawy Cultural Wheel (Wisdom Hall) - Zamalek Time: 8:30 pm

August 24th

Music

Classic x el sat7: “Awtar Quartet” The band will present western classical music from the 17th Century to the 20th Century.

Ticket Price: 50 EGP Tickets will be available at the gate of Darb 1718 main building.

For queries please call: (02) 27412129 Darb 1718 Contemporary Art and Culture Center.

Kasr El Sham3 Street, Al Fakhareen – Old Cairo, Behind the Hanging Church and Amr Mosque.

Time: 8.30 pm

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August 25th to 27th

China Homelife Egypt

Trade Show

China Homelife Egypt is a 3-day showcasing products like textile and garments, home electronics, building materials, furniture, lighting, household & gifts etc. in the household consumables and the household services industries.

Cairo International Convention & Exhibition centre (CICC), Cairo, El Nasr Rd. Nasr City, Cairo Governorate

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