After the recent revolution, many people including myself anticipated some changes in Egypt. In spite the fact that changes cannot happen overnight or over a few months, but we had hoped that at least change would have effect in peoples’ attitudes towards things – unfortunately this has not happened. This Ramadan we saw numerous commercials encouraging people to make a contribution for the poor and needy. For example; to improve Abu El Reesh Hospital for kids, the Children’s Cancer Hospital - 53753, Food Bank, and the Health Bank just to mention a few. Among these commercials was the Pepsi ad, which in my opinion has been brilliantly written and acted by the multi talented Donia Samir Ghanem. The idea that Pepsi would help in  Improving Education, Sports or serving people new clothes for the Feast. People voted for the Kheir ( helping people), which I think is not bad in the sense that we recognize that there are so many people who need clothes - and a new outfit would make them happy. However, I had expected that people after the revolution would be different and vote for something more productive such as improving Education. We have one of the worst education systems in the world. In Egypt, if you want to be educated you have to go to private school, and parents spend a fortune for that. Our universities are not even listed in the top 500 universities in the world. What we don’t realize is that education does not only improve a person’s life and way of thinking, but it changes and enhances the whole society. Ignorant people can easily be enslaved.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
Nelson Mandela If you think about it, people have voted for something perishable such as clothes. Yet, if they’d have voted for education, they would have helped develop the brains of young children, and I’m sure they would have made a difference. However, we usually go for the easy way of giving people things without thinking of the consequences, as an English proverb says “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The previous regime has done horribly towards improving the education systems and strategies; it is surprising to me that none of the Education ministers that have assumed office in the last three decades have managed to improve and develop the Egyptian education system on all levels, (primary, elementary, high school, university and vocational education). They have failed to realize that education in the cornerstone of growth and development. It is deplorable to admit that we have a forty percent illiteracy rate, and even some of the educated are not up to standard. That said; I hope in future we can be more productive in society and assume responsibility in helping build-up our country since it is our obligation…

“Education is more than a luxury; it is a responsibility that society owes to itself”

Marwa Hashem    
Director of Operation