'My life': Egyptian women speak out

BBCArabic.com spoke to eight girls from underprivileged
backgrounds about their lives in modern Egypt, their
attitudes towards education and their hopes for a better
future, both for themselves and their families.

Fatmah Younis:
22, university student

"I would like to be an interpreter"

Jacqueline:
22, unemployed

"I dropped out of school and regret it"


Nesma:
15, factory worker

"My parents want me to work in a factory"


Rana:
16, student

"I wish they'd change the education system"
Rawiya:
20, unemployed

"I wished I completed my education"


Reda:
16, factory worker

"I once considered running away"


Sarah:
18, university student

"I wish I lived in a less crowded place"


Walaa:
17, worker

"I never had friends of my age before"

They took part in a workshop entitled "My Life", run
jointly by BBC World Service Trust, BBC Arabic Service and
Egyptian non-government organisation The Association for
the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW).

The programme, which focuses on young underprivileged women
in several Arab countries, asked them where they would like
to be by 2015.

Their answers showed that, while a generation of women keen
to gain independence and an education, many still feel
stifled by the pressures of family life and custom.

Fatmah Younis

 My name is Fatmah, I study Oriental languages at Cairo
University.

I would like to talk about my mother because she made a lot
of sacrifices for our sakes.

Fatmah says she has her mother to thank for her education
I would like to deliver a message to all children because
there are a lot of them out there who are ungrateful
towards their mothers.

Some of them send their parents to old people's homes when
they get on in years.

How can they show no gratitude after all the hardships
their parents went through to make them succeed in their
careers?

I speak here about my mother because she did a lot for me,
she supported us since our early years and gave up her job
to look after us and educate us.

When our father was ill, she took up his job till he
recovered. I cannot thank her enough for what she has done
for us.


Fatmah's brother was able to go to technical college
My sisters Heba and Nema are in the third grade in
secondary school.

My mother has always helped them in their studies, but at
the same time made them rely on themselves, because this is
what everyone should do at the end.

She also supported my brother who is in the faculty of
architecture. He didn't go to high school but studied in a
technical institute for five years. I think my mother is
very proud of what she did for us.

After my degree, I would like to become an interpreter or a
television anchor in Hebrew.

I hope my children will be well behaved and decent like us
and I really hope I will be like my mother.

Send us your comments on Fatmah Younis' views using the
form below.

I really appreciate the way you came out boldly to talk
about those taking their parents to old people's home for
care and attention after old age.
Mohammed B. Bello, Abuja, Nigeria

Hi. You have the ambition to progress further, and you know
that you can overcome obstacles no matter what, but there
is also a sacrifice and yet a gain.
Locky, Canada

I completely agree that we should more respect our mothers
and have a feeling of gratitude towards them, because
no-one in this world is going to worry about you and try
his best to make you happy as much as your mother does.
Iroda, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Hi Fatmah Younis, you are definitely a symbol for bright
future lady with her parents' blessing. What I would like
to say to you is that; be an example for disadvantaged
girls' parents in Egypt and the Arab world in order to
educate their girls. Also keep in touch with that life is
full of mistakes - learning from mistakes is a good way
forward!
Elmi, Mogadishu Somalia

Thanks for your frankness. This article is very close to my
heart. My mother has three children ( I am the oldest). A
few years ago we lived together with our mom but now I am
far away from her and my small sister as well. But my
brother lives with mom and almost every week I get e mails
from my mom complaining how her son ( my brother) treats
her. He insults her, blames her for his loneliness, etc.
Our mom devoted whole her life to us, she gave us
possibility to study, she was always concerned about us,
and she still continues to help to my brother.
Sanobar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

I think she is one of the very few girls who appreciates
what a female parent can do and ask her to follow the
footsteps of her mother and try to uphold the human rights
that for a long time have sidelined a woman in this world.
Thandiwe Tembo, Lusaka-Zambia

I am very pleased and truly impressed by your comments
about your mother. I bet if all the mothers of this world
read this statement,they would love to have daughter like
you.
Imran, Birmingham, UK

First of all I really admire Fatmah and her family for
having respect and gratitude for their mother. I respect
their appreciation of the mother's sacrifice and the will
to make her children get the best out of life. Here in
Egypt the woman or the mother has many great
responsibilities - more than ever, she supports the
husband, raises the kids and in many cases the husband does
not work at all and the wife has to be in charge of
everything which is a really tough job. I think in our
country we have to facilitate for women more job
opportunities and give a chance for the ones who are
educated but don't have university degree diplomas in order
to have a better life for themselves and their children. I
hope Fatmah will be able to fulfil all her dreams.
Perihan, Cairo, Egypt

Rawiya

 My name is Rawiya and I am 20-years-old. I live in Old
Cairo.

I wish I had completed my education but I dropped out of
school four years ago for family reasons.


Rawiya longs to live in a quieter neighbourhood and finish
her education
I want to register my brothers in schools and I hope they
won't drop out. I also want to live in a better area.

My mother works in a factory from 0800 until after 2200 at
night.

My father is of limited means, my elder brother is in the
army and my other brother doesn't have a fixed job.

My younger brother is in a technical college and my younger
sister is in second year of preparatory school.

I hope she and my other sisters, who are now three and six
years old, do not drop out of school.

I hope to leave the neighbourhood I am living in right now
and live in a quiet, leafy area and to finish my education.


Send us your comments on Rawiya's views using the form
below.

Don't despair Rawiya, because you are only 20. I am not
sure about the education system in Cairo, but is it
possible for you to combine part-time work with part-time
studies? I know it would take you longer to complete your
studies, but at least you would be making progress in
achieving your ultimate goal. Maybe your family could help
out in slightly rearranging daily schedules to make your
life a little easier. Time management is the key in this
area and also flexibility. If you find that study can only
be done during daylight hours, you may need to find a
part-time night job and vice versa. Maybe your Mum can help
you gain day/night work at the factory that she works in. I
hope my thoughts help you in some way. But always
remember.....never give up your dreams or your goals. There
are always people willing to help you if you have the
courage to ask!
Lynette, Gladstone, Australia

Rawaya, it hurts my heart reading your lines. Nigeria is
also affected by this African disease of dropping out of
school. I really welcomed your idea of making sure your
younger ones finished their education at the same time as
pursuing your own education.
Lazarus Uduma, Aba - Nigeria

Unfortunately, in my country Egypt, we have all the
extremes from very wealthy people to too poor families. I
dream that one day we can find a solution for this problem
which arises/grows due to several factors
Ismail, Cairo

Jacqueline

 My name is Jacqueline, I am 22 years old and I live in Old
Cairo. I have a problem walking home up a very steep slope
outside our house.

I have to go up and down this road to go on errands to buy
daily provisions.

Jacqueline wants a cleaner environment to live in
Transport vehicles are crowded and broken down, and many
accidents are caused by that slope.

Houses in our neighbourhood are not clean, and there is
neither a waste bin nor a proper system for collecting
rubbish.

Trash is often dumped near the houses. Everything is made
worse by the growing birth rate, as the neighbours leave
their offspring to play by the rubbish.

Naturally, people would like to live in a clean and quiet
environment, without rubbish, bugs or noise.

As for my wishes for 2015, I wish that this place will be
clean in less than 10years, and hope to see waste
collecting points there.

I wish I lived in a clean place and that I could resume my
studies because I dropped out of school and regret it.
Send us your comments on Jacqueline's views using the form
below.

A few years ago I visited Cairo and drove through some of
the poor areas of the city every day on the way to the work
site. I was appalled at the conditions some of these people
lived under. When Jacqueline says she hopes that there will
be waste collection points soon I don't think we really
understand what she is talking about. We probably have some
idea of a little bit of rubbish floating around just as we
can see in many inner city areas in the UK. But that is not
what she is talking about. When I was there I saw literally
mountains of rubbish piling up in the middle of the streets
with children, old women, dogs and goats constantly turning
it over in order to salvage anything that could be eaten or
reused. The piles were occasionally cleared but immediately
the piles started to build up again. The stench was
appalling and I don't think anyone in the UK could even
contemplate living in such a slum.
Egil Orndal, Manchester, UK

Do not regret the situation at your place, but rather try
to come up with an organisation that will help you clear
the rubbish around you.
Thandiwe Tembo, Lusaka-Zambia

I am heartbroken by Jacqueline's situation.
Ed Iskander, San Jose, California (USA)

Can you go back to school? Can you find work and living in
a cleaner area? Listen to your heart and take advantage of
any opportunity now while you are still young. If you find
a way to remove yourself from the rubbish and ruin, then
you can help others do the same.
Heidi, Washington DC

Reda

 My name is Reda and I am 16 years old.

I have been working in the pottery factory since I was six,
so I will talk about child labour.

Reda says she once considered running away from her job
Sometimes when we see children coming from school we cry -
we can't join school because of our family circumstances.

My sister Mona and me are working. My father is a deaf
mute.

I feel very sad when people are addressing him with signs.

We work in the factory all week and we earn 1.5 Egyptian
pounds a day ($0.25).

We cannot buy anything that my little sisters crave for.

I once considered running away, but where to go? And who
will take care of my little brothers and sisters?

She says the factory is suffocating and conditions are poor

My father doesn't work because of his disability but he had
six children. He should have had only two.

Of course I hate this job. Some nice artefacts may come out
of it, but not for us, because we work in terrible
conditions.

The supervisor often beats the children and insults them. I
hope, God willing, that all the children will go to school
one day.

The smoke coming out of the kiln in the factory is
suffocating us and the dust in the air is unbearable for
the children.

I wish we could leave the factory and move somewhere
better.

If I was educated, I would have liked to be a teacher
because I love small children and love to teach them.

I am currently attending literacy classes. If I do well in
them I will in turn teach children who have been deprived
from education.
Send us your comments on Reda's views using the form below.


I am speechless...to think that Egypt offers an almost free
education system but yet the ordinary person can't afford
it. It is pathetic...maybe Hosni Mubarak should introduce
free education to everyone up to grade 12 at least then the
children might have a chance to be the captains of their
own ships.
Natashiah Jansen, Cape Town, South Africa

Egypt is getting billions in aid from America to build up
its arms. Egypt doesn't really have any hostile enemies in
the region. Isn't it time the Arab nations/governments with
a push for the West stopped thinking and dabbling in jihad
and 'glorious' ways to die and started thinking about
raising the standard of living for the poor Arab masses?
Jonathan Broder, Beitar Israel

In Cairo and many other underdeveloped Arabic cities there
are a growing number of Islamic co-operations in order to
benefit unprivileged children and families. Anyone can join
them, either to apply for help or to give any sum of money,
continuously or once. They work to support schooling and
seem to be trustworthy as they function on basics of
religious mercy. Going straight to the roots. If only Reda
had had one in her area, too... If you have a chance to
help, why wait?
Krista, Helsinki

Nesma
 My name is Nesma and I am 15 years old.

My parents want to force me into working in a pottery
factory with my brother who already works there.

Nesma wants a job that will make her more independent...
I don't want to do it because it is an exhausting job. I
want for myself a better job that pays better so I can help
my family and my little sister and be independent in the
future.

I don't like working in the factory because it is a very
tiring job, even though workers there are proud of their
creations.

I would like to work for a clothing manufacturer and for my
brothers and sisters to finish their education and live in
better conditions.

My mother had twin girls just eight months ago. One of them
died after three months.

My other sister Fayza can't walk or crawl although she is
over two-years-old.

I wish she can be treated so she can be able to walk like
other kids.

I also wish my brother Hussein, who is in the third primary
year, will finish school.

I hope that some day he will become a teacher or an officer
and that we will be as well-off as other people are.
Send us your comments on Nesma's views using the form
below.

I feel very bad about Nesma's ordeal where parents are
forcing her to work in a factory. What I would like to tell
her is that she should first talk to her parents and tell
them how she feels about her starting a job in a factory
which is bad and she is still vey young. I should just
encourage her to go to school and aim very high so that she
can in future look after her brothers, parents and sisters.
I wish her good luck.
Arnold Simachembele, Lusaka, Zambia
Sarah

I'm Sarah, and I am 18 years old. I study commerce at Cairo
University.

I always like to be on time, that's why I hate congestion
because it ruins my appointments.

One of the situations I encountered was when I had my to
attend my final high school exam, not very far from where I
live.

I took transport but there was a traffic jam, so I had to
walk to school and I was half an hour late, which affected
my performance during the exam.

As I study in the faculty of commerce, I want to attend
computer and language courses to develop my skills so I can
work in a bank or a corporation in which I can progress.

Commerce Studies is closely connected to computer sciences,
a field that I like and wish to work in.

I also wish to live in a less crowded place - so I don't
miss my appointments.

Rana

My name is Rana and I am 16 years old.

I am in the second year of secondary school. I have two
sisters, Menna is in the second grade in preparatory school
and Mayar is five years old.

Rana hopes to be able to help other students
I want to speak about the final year in secondary school
because it is distressing to us.

Students work hard all year round, but twisted exam
question always take us by surprise.

We study for example old history and question papers are
unexpectedly on contemporary events.

The final year in school is crucial because it paves the
way to university. If the final average marks are not good
enough, this will prevent us from joining the faculty we
like.

We don't study at school courses we like, as we are taught
the whole curriculum.

We should rather study the subjects that we are keen on, in
order to excel in them.

When compelled to take courses we hate, we score poorly and
consequently end up spending college years studying
uninteresting subjects.

As a result, we will be going to college just for the sake
of it and our dreams will never be fulfilled.

On the other hand, studying a much preferred subject is
very enjoyable.

That's why I really wish they change the education system.

My dream for 2015 is to be in a position that enables me to
help other people fulfilling their dreams.

I also wish to change school curricula and establish a
system that will make it possible for students to take up
subjects they like.

 Walaa
 My name is Walaa and I am 17 years old.

I dropped out of school when I was in the first preparatory
year because of my family's poor financial situation.


Walaa says her education has helped her work with others
I do a literacy course and I like my teachers and my
classmates a lot, because I never had friends of my age
before.

I made many friends through a "Girls' Dreams Class" and
whenever I have a problem, they stand by me till the end.

The class infused us with team spirit and good behaviour.

We learned how to work together during excursions or when
we make pictures and how to make up a nutritious meal.

We also learned how to colour gypsum, draw, as well as how
to read and write in the literacy courses and we are very
grateful to them.

I use to like to work with beads and now I love it even
more. They provided me here with all the beads I wanted and
now I make wonderful necklaces.

Send us your comments on Walaa's views using the form
below.

There is no hope unless secularism is followed in my
country. I have been born to a Muslim family and have been
raised in that society till the age of 20 years, when I
began to understand the reality and know the terrible
mistakes of these societies. I hope that civilised world
will help those suffering people. Sure this will benefit
the stability of the whole globe.
Egyptian, EU

Walaa tells a sharply moving life story. How can I not be
moved, if I call myself a being with a soul? She is part of
the grinding planetary struggle of women, and children, to
find reasons to live, to hope. Artistic expression is often
borne out of such pain: art can even be a few simple beads
and coloured gypsum. That gives me hope too, so much hope,
even though I live in the empire of the USA.
Eduardo Delanderos-Tierre, Vancouver, Washington, USA







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