Citizen Participation in Historic Cairo (CPHC)
neighbourhood, the initiative has not only become an actor within the neighbourhood (via its projects and activities that have a direct impact on the neighbourhood), but has itself become simultaneously affected by this interaction with the community. The activities of the initiative are driven by the local community’s needs and are developed through time in order to be sensitive to the local context. The initiative is also seen by the community as a local actor that can lobby within governmental networks. Community Based Organizations (CBOs): There are some CBOs that do not have a legal entity registered at the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS). These groups are mostly service groups belonging to the mosques and shrines of the neighbourhood. They work throughout the year to serve the followers of religious figures buried within the area, and their services revolve around the mawlids, which are the yearly celebrations of certain religious figures. During these celebrations, they serve food and accommodation and organize chanting (zikr) groups for the followers and attendees of the mawlid. Local Community: Although the boundaries of al-Khalifa Street Area are not the same administrative divisions set by the government, the defined boundaries by the CPHC Project houses an estimation of around 20,000 people. Normally, residents of these types of neighbourhoods are extended families who have been living in the neighbourhood for three or four generations. A considerable part of the current generation tends to leave the neighbourhood and live somewhere else, either to be closer to their work places or to seek a better quality of life. This is due to a lack of development and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure in Historic Cairo. Territoriality within the neighbourhood follows a complex layer that defines it. Questions such as “where are you are originally from? how long have you or your family been living in the neighbourhood? which street or part of the area do you live in? which other families do you have connections to? which business do you own, or who do you work with,” along with many other questions can define your social network and hence your social status. The social network is very important in such an urban setting as it is the safe network during harsh circumstances. Inhabitants within the neighbourhood with a well functioning business usually have more power within the neighbourhood. They usually help people facing social or financial challenges through various way. They might offer a person a job, a loan or grant based on that person’s connection to them. Such powerful figures are considered community leaders even if they do not publicly claim it themselves 46. I.
Other stakeholders
Historic Cairo is a massive area with a very complicated legal framework and a diversity of administrative bodies each with a specific mandate and many overlapping. This has played a crucial role in the management of Historic Cairo. Below is a list of secondary stakeholders:
See El Ansary, Chirine and Al-Ibrashy, May & URHC. “Research on Intangible Heritage and Storytelling Event in the Action Area - ", Urban Regeneration project for Historic Cairo – UNESCO, World Heritage Centre, 2014. 46
56
