Fustany Launches its New Venture “Fenun”
Cairo – November 9, 2020 – Press Release
The pandemic has made us all take a deeper look into our lives and how we are investing our time, whether it’s a hobby we wanted to practice or a dream project we wanted to work on. We also at Fustany had the same opportunity to reflect and work on our dream project which is helping our users reach their potential and learn something new every day. continue reading ..
Bracelet for a Cause | Promoting Women Empowerment and Gender Equality
Saturday October 24, 2020
Launching Awareness Campaign to Promote Women Empowerment and Gender Equality
WoEgypt, Global Project Partners, and Fair Trade Egypt (WGF) join hands to support women empowerment and gender equality, and to promote their safety and rights, through a unique handmade bracelet. The campaign, which includes the design, production and sale of the bracelet, aims at raising awareness and funds for various issues relating to eliminating all forms of violence continue reading ..
Female Cyclists Ride Past Stigma | Lara Ahmed
Friday September 11, 2020
By: Lara Ahmed
In many ways, cycling is seen as not just a forgotten sport, but also a lost art. Thankfully, it is a money- saving means of transportation that many still use today. Yet, if you were to walk around an average Egyptian neighborhood, you’d have trouble spotting a woman on a bicycle. The fact remains that cycling is considered taboo for women in Egypt. Why does such a beneficial sport still spark controversy? .. continue reading ..
INTERVIEW: Up Close and Personal with Model and Social Media Influencer Laila Ezzat
Tuesday August 18, 2020
By: May Allam
Laila Ezzat lives in Egypt with her family where she also attends college. At 21, her hobbies and interests are similar to most young people her age. She loves to bake cookies and muffins, listen to music, follows fashion trends, travels and spends time on the beach with her friends. Laila’s life, however, is not entirely similar to young people her age. With her charm, beauty and wit, she became a social media sensation. In no time, the number of her followers surpassed 70K, and growing… Continue reading …
Why the panic over getting older? | Dr Laila Alghalban
Saturday August 8, 2020
By: Dr. Laila Alghalban
Why do we want to stay young? Why do we ask for the impossible? And would life be better off if there were no aging? These questions I have been mulling over for many years. However, this week I was taken aback by a freaky news story on a rising, even revolutionary, trend among Silicon Valley’s male tech employees. They “are having facelifts (because they’re over 35)!” continue reading ..
How Do Young People Find Their Matches in the Time of the Pandemic?
Saturday July 18, 2020
By: Nermeen Tarek
Looking for a life partner in Middle Eastern societies is not easy, especially for women. The fast pace of life no longer leaves room for family gatherings either, which had previously allowed young people to make new acquaintances with the opposite sex. Hence, new apps, like Hawaya, have emerged lately to help young people find compatible partners online without violating the traditions of the Middle Eastern societies… Continue reading..
Tend to Your Garden: What You Plant in Your Mind, You Shall Reap. | Dr. Abeer Elgamal
Wednesday July 1, 2020
By: Dr. Abeer Mostafa Elgamal
What would you call a person who plants onions and expects to reap apples? Crazy maybe? Or at best an idiot, Right? Can a cactus tree possibly produce watermelons? Of course, it is impossible. Unknowingly, we go around our daily lives assuming the above “crazy” or “impossible” attitudes without evening noticing it. We plant seeds of negativity, lack, and intolerance in our own minds every day and expect them to germinate happiness, abundance, success, and love… Continue reading ..
The Darker Side of Keto Diet
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
By: Lara Ahmed
Celebrities like the Kardashians, Le Bron James, and Megan Fox live by the keto diet. While many have heard the name, few understand what it means or how it works. The ketogenic diet is a weight loss plan where the dieter cuts down on carbohydrates instead of sugar, sometimes consuming less than 30 grams. The diet also eliminates flour, corn, rice, and potatoes along with low dairy products. High fat diary products are allowed. Ketone bodies are produced from fat instead of carbohydrates. Continue reading ..
Nadia Gamal El Din Wins Cartier Women Initiatives 2020
Wednesday June 24, 2020
Nadia Gamal El Din, Founder and CEO of Rahet Bally received the 2020 Cartier Women’s Initiative Award, announced virtually on June 16th, on both the Cartier and the Cartier Women’s Initiative’s websites and social media channels. The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an international business competition designed to support social impact-driven businesses led and owned by female entrepreneurs… Continue reading..
Capturing and Sharing Life’s Beauty and Cultures
Sunday June 21, 2020
Capturing and sharing the world’s beauty and cultures became Amira Ihab’s new found purpose in life after discovering her passion in exploring new cultures and destinations in 2016. Since then, the travel photographer and Co-Founder of Middle East Art and Design invested all her time and effort to document whatever inspired her by capturing those special moments. Continue reading …
Dayra: Save the Environment and Support Social Causes in Style
Sunday June 21, 2020 – By: WoEgypt
Save the environment, support social causes, and most importantly, do it in style. This is in a nutshell the core of Dayra, a purposeful sustainable online platform for buying and selling preowned clothes started by the innovative social advocate Basma Tawakol who has over ten years of experience in Entrepreneurship, Technology Industry, and Community Development; and completed her Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. Continue reading..
WoEgypt Seeks to Profile 40 Success Stories of Women Over 40
Saturday May 30, 2020 By: Dina Al Mahdy
Women in their 40s sometimes go through a tough period in life. They can’t help but think, “We’ll never achieve success,” when everything around begins to look pretty bleak. But keep your heads up ladies! Women all over the world are increasingly achieving significant success later in life. We don’t have to achieve our life-time goals before reaching 30 to be successful. Continue reading.
Men Busting Misconceptions About Women and Cooking
Friday, May 22, 2020 By: Dina Al Mahdy
In many cultures around the world, misconceptions and double-standards hold back half of society, especially when it comes to women’s roles. One of the most common sexist misconceptions is that a woman’s place is “in the kitchen”. In Egypt, until recently, men bragged about their inability to even boil an egg. Continue reading..
Grandmas Want to Have Fun Too; The Stigma of Aging in Egypt
Friday May 22, 2020
By: Alexandra Kinias
Misogynistic cultures shape women in social molds. In these societies women are labeled and shamed if they deviate from the standard expectation dictated to them. Young girls are perpetually bullied if their hair texture, skin color or weight don’t conform with the convention beauty standards. Single women and divorcees, are stigmatized. Menopause in these cultures is labeled, “The age of despair”. Continue reading..
Because She is A Woman: A Campaign to Re-appropriate Sexist Phrases Against Women
Saturday May 2, 2020 By: Dina Al Mahdy
“You define your success, not your gender.” This is the message that Women of Egypt would like to deliver to the whole world.
In light of WoEgypt’s core missions, WoEgypt launched a new campaign titled “Because She Is A Woman” for professionals to share their success stories as well as breaking boundaries and stereotypes, and re-appropriating phrases of prejudice, patriarchy and paternalism against women to actually reflect their great value, potential and power! Continue Reading…
Ramadan Kareem |Dr. Laila Alghalban
Sunday April 26, 2020 By: Dr. Laila Alghalban
Ramadan is back, a breath of fresh air and a lifeline for us to oxygenate our lives. Everything got an eerily different taste. Every single moment of the day is unique. Dawn is not the same dawn, morning is not the same, sunset is not the same, nor are nights. Continue Reading..
Beyond Paradise, Beyond the Surface | The Unrealistic Expectations of Social Media
Thursday April 23, 2020 By: Dr. Abeer Elgamal
You open your eyes yawning and the first thing you do is reach for your cellphone on the bedside table. You surf social media to see what is going on in the world you are about to face in a few moments. You start with Facebook, or maybe you prefer Instagram and you scroll. What a lovely world! Continue Reading…
Dear Time… thank you: The gift of time | Radwa Moussa-Youssef
Monday April 13, 2020 By :Radwa Moussa- Youssef
The endless running, multi-tasking, color coded events on our synced E-calendars, kids’ practices, work meetings, school events, texting instead of calling, voice notes instead of texting, scheduling family gatherings weeks in advance to accommodate everyone’s schedule, unfinished projects, extended deadlines, stressful time management, effective time management, juggling work, health and social life…. Continue Reading..
Whatever your parenting style, you are walking a tightrope | Dr. Laila Alghalban
Are you a helicopter parent who hovers around kids, throwing a lifeline to them and sparing them all likely hardships and adversity? Do they feel that you are a panacea for all big hurdles? Do you keep cultivating with steely determination a protection shell in which they grow up and stay? Continue Reading ..
Like parents, like children: how we inevitably become copies of our parents?
Wednesday March 18, 2020 By: Dr Laila Abdel Aal Alghalban
As you grow older and become a parent, you usually want to travel “the road not taken” by your parents as you are not so much in love with their parenting style. Over time, how do you paradoxically end up doing most of the things you used to criticize your parents for when you were a teenager and an adult? Continue Reading…
La Vie En Rose: The New Jewelry Collection By Yasmin El Shibawi
Monday February 3, 2020
Egyptian jewelry designer Yasmin El Shibawi borrowed the title of the famous French song La Vie En Rose, by Édith Piaf for her spring 2020 collection, and for a good reason. Her pieces are classic, romantic, just like the lyrics of the song, and soft and delicate like the rose petals. Continue Reading..
Paris Haute Couture Week; Zuhair Mourad pays tribute to Ancient Egyptian Queens
Thursday January 23, 2020
The runway of Potoko Hotel in Paris shimmered with the latest designs of Iconic fashion designer Zuheir Mourad. Mourad’s summer 2020 collection was inspired by the ancient queens of Egypt, “who left a mark on history by their beauty and power,” Mourad said. The models dazzled the audience with their sparkly and glittery, gowns adorned with metallic embellishments and colored stones. Continue Reading…
Iman Moussa Introduces Egyptian Street Food in Clarksville, Maryland
Monday December 6, 2020 – By: Alexandra Kinias
Iman Moussa moved to the US in August 2011. After settling in Maryland for few years, she started her company, Misteka, LLC, to produce and distribute packaged Mediterranean inspired desserts and snacks. Misteka’s products hit the shelves in cities like Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Continue Reading..
Fashion Designer Farah Wali Launches Her Brand at Fashion Forward Dubai
Sunday November 3, 2019
International award winner fashion designer and mixed media artist, Farah Wali launched her fashion brand Maison Farah Wali, with Autumn/Winter 2019 collection, METAMORPHOSIS, at Fashion Forward Dubai, the definitive fashion platform for Dubai and the Middle East held between Oct 30 – Nov 2. continue reading ..
Interview With Master Chocolatier Mervat Dissoky
Sunday October 13, 2019 By: May Allam
After living for many years in Europe, where she learned to make chocolate and pastries in some of the best Chocolate Academies in Belgium and the UK, the passionate Chocolatier and Pastry Chef Mervat Dissoky settled back in Egypt. She turned her passion for chocolate into a business. After living for many years in Europe, where she learned to make chocolate and pastries in some of the best Chocolate Academies in Belgium and the UK, the passionate Chocolatier and Pastry Chef Mervat Dissoky settled back in Egypt. She turned her passion for chocolate into a business… continue reading ..
Behind the Cosmetic Craze in Egypt
Saturday September 14, 2019 By: Gihan Shahine
It is 9am in a branch of one of Egypt’s most famous private eye hospitals in the working class district of Al-Sayeda Aisha. The clinic is teeming with patients from different social classes and backgrounds. Most patients seem to be seeking professional medical advice, but many are also opting for surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including rectifying upper and lower eye-lids, Botox and filler injections. continue reading ..
“It Gives Me Joy to Make People Laugh Out Loud”: Up-Close and Personal with Ute Devika Meinel
Wednesday August 28, 2019 By: Alexandra Kinias
Believing in the healing powers of laughter, Dr. Ute Devika Meinel, Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, initiated a movement called Cairo Laughers. For two years, Devika together with a group of her students, offered laughter sessions for free at Al Azhar Park every Friday morning. Many people attended with the sole purpose of laughing. “Laughing is the most precious thing in life. It gives me a tremendous joy to get people to laugh out long and loud in groups.” Dr. Ute Devika Meinel tells WoEgypt. continue reading ..
Skinny-Shaming | The Other Side Of The Coin
Wednesday August 7, 2019 By: Lara Ahmed
Summer is clearly in the air, and the heat wave has people rushing to beaches to cool off and have fun. Everyone is slipping confidently into their new swimsuits and favorite shorts. Everyone, except for the women who can already hear the whispered disapproval of their bodies. continue reading ..
Untangling Egypt’s Beauty Standards
Wednesday July 3, 2019 By: Nehal El Meligy
Coiled wire: this is the best description for my hair. Well, soft coiled wire. It looks a lot rougher than it feels, and if it’s long enough, it could resemble an Afro. I still remember the little boy with the beautiful silky hair in day care when I was 4 or 5, making fun of my kinky tresses. There was a new TV commercial at the time for a product made of rough coiled wire, used for rubbing sinks and pots. He looked at my hair and laughed, making the sounds you hear when you pull something and then let go. That’s what my hair does when it’s long enough – you pull, and it recoils back to its tiny curls. continue reading ..
“Be Yourself”: A Campaign For Women To Embrace Their Unique Beauty.
Tuesday June 25, 2019 By: Sandra Magdy
MY NEVER-ENOUGH BEAUTY
Like many girls, I want to live like the olden dayswhere elegance, decorum, and clean streets were the norm. However, this is not the only reason why I want to live there, but also because in this era beauty standards were simply your own uniqueness. As I was scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook, I found a post with pictures of actresses from that era, Soad Hosny, Nadia Lotfy, and others. OMG! I was amazed at how different they looked from each other. Different body shape, different style, different skin tone, hair color, and even the shape of their eyebrows was different. continue reading ..
AUDITION: The Beginning of My Career as A Real Ballerina |Magda Saleh
Sunday June 23, 2019 By: Magda Saleh
Word reached us in Alexandria: the Soviet ballet professor had arrived, and an audition date was announced. Hurry! Hurry to Cairo. Came the day. Excitement and trepidation! My anxious mother carefully braided my long, black hair and pinned it up around my head in a coronet. She arrayed me in my best and prettiest dress. An amazing seamstress, she made all my clothes. How well I remember that favorite confection- a three-tier flounced skirt, with a boat neck top and short puff sleeves, Egyptian fine cotton fabric in a design of red cherries scattered over a white background. continue reading ..
Meet Zi, the Woman Behind Kefaya Plastic Campaign
Wednesday June 19, 2019
Plastic, the scourge of the oceans and the imminent danger to marine life; It’s dangerous impact on the planet has reached a critical point. And while we are absorbed in our daily lives, we tend to forget that with even a minimum effort, we can make a difference and help combat this epidemic. Each one of us can play an important role to save our plant, simply by avoiding the excess use of plastic and recycle it. And because we often forget, awareness campaigns become essential to remind us. Kefaya Plastic (Enough Plastic), the virtual campaign that raises awareness on plastic pollution was launched earlier this month to bring into focus and raise people’s understanding on the gravity of the issue. continue reading ..
Homemade Cooking Business Brings Financial Independence to More Women.
Saturday June 8, 2019 By: Fatma Lotfi
In patriarchal societies, women have been occasionally urged by men to stay in the kitchen, with arguments that they are incapable of competing with them in the labor market, and thus they should focus on what they know best, cooking. Challenging such mentalities, and amid harsh economic conditions, some women chose to transform their cooking talents from daily housewives’ chores to a profession that generates income. continue reading ..
Egyptian Mezzo-Soprano Farrah El Dibany Receives Prix Lyrique 2019 de l’AROP
Wednesday June 6, 2019 By: Kismat Mokhtar
Mezzo-Soprano Farrah El-Dibany received “Prix Lyrique 2019 de l’AROP” Award by the Paris Opera House, to become the first Egyptian and Arab to ever receive this award and to sing at the prestigious Paris Opera House. “Prix Lyrique de l’AROP is awarded annually to a female and a male Uprising Opera Singers. The award ceremony was held at Opera Garnier (Paris Opera) where Farah sang an extract from Carmen, by Bizet in the presence of HE, the Egyptian Ambassador Ehab Badawy and his wife, and French dignitaries, including CEO of BNP PARIBAS. continue reading ..
Celebrating Eid-El-Fitr the Unique Ancient Egyptian Way
Tuesday June 6, 2019 By: Alexandra Kinias
Kahk El Eid, the uniquely Egyptian mouthwatering biscuits are made with generous amounts of butter, stuffed with honey and nuts, Turkish delights, dates or figs, embellished with decorative geometrical patterns and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They are the signature breakfast for Egyptians celebrating the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. continue reading …
How to Throw a Celebratory Spring Dinner Party
May 30th 2019 By: Thessaly La Force for the NYTimes Style Magazine
The chef and artist Laila Gohar moved to New York City 10 years ago, but it was only recently that she began to feel a longing for home. Gohar was born and raised in Cairo — where winters are mild, and summers come hot and quick — and makes a living creating interactive installations at fashion and art events (imagine, for example, cracking open a salt-baked pear with a wooden mallet at the recent Object & Thing design fair). Though she and her husband, Omar Sosa, one of the Barcelona-born co-founders of Apartamentomagazine, have made a home for themselves in a cozy third-floor apartment on Spring Street in Manhattan, Gohar admits she still feels “very much like a foreigner” in the United States. continue reading …
Egyptian Choreographer Karima Mansour Writes International Dance Day Message
Monday April 29, 2019 By: WoE
Dancer, choreographer and dance educator, Karima MANSOUR, Founder of MAAT Contemporary Dance Company, has been selected by the Executive Council of the International Theater Institute ITI to write the message for the International Dance Day. This global event is celebrated worldwide since its creation in 1982, on April 29, the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of modern ballet. continue reading..
Nour Elnemr’s Fabrics Tell A Story of Hope and Happiness
Monday April 29, 2019
By: Alexandra Kinias
Art has a healing therapy. Whether you are an art connoisseur or an artist, wandering through an art gallery or producing your own art, a colorful painting or a unique design will have a therapeutic and soothing effect on you. But for the young passionate artist and entrepreneur Nourhan Elnemr, art is not merely strokes of a brush or a home decorative accessory, but also a social responsibility. With this belief, she launched her project “Fabrics of Hope” to shed light and raise awareness on the various issues that can help change the world to a better place. continue reading …
Nourhan Rabie Turns Her Disney Princess’ Dreams Into A Business
Sunday April 7, 2019
By: Alexandra Kinias
Every little girl’s dream is to become a princess. Some actually believe they are. They dress up like one, watch princesses’ movies, know their names by heart, and even have playdates with other princesses. They buy their products, eat their cakes, wear their crowns, and then they grow up and princesses become part of their childhood memories. Nourhan Rabie was not an exception. She also loved to dress up like Disney princesses. But unlike other girls, Nourhan decided to keep living her dream. And by time, her passion with princesses grew not just to become an obsession, but a lifestyle and a business. continue reading ..
A Call for Egyptian Woman to Embrace Their Unique Identity
Tuesday March 5, 2019
By: Alexandra Kinias
While it might sound redundant repeating that Egypt was the cradle of civilizations, the matter of fact is Egyptian history dates back to five thousand years. And as the world raves about Egypt, its culture, history and identity, many Egyptians not only have taken it for granted, but some are dissociating themselves from it and adopting other alien identities; forgetting that the Egyptian uniqueness was born from the cultural diversity that had woven its rich fabric. continue reading …
Raghda Maksoud Aspires to Revive Aromatherapy in The Land of Its Birth
Tuesday February 19, 2019 By: Alexandra Kinias
Along the banks of the Nile, where the great Egyptian civilization flourished, substantial historic evidence indicates that essential oils and herbal medicines were discovered, developed and used in Egypt over 5,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians used essential oils, aromatic incense and perfume in their everyday lives for medicinal, religious and cosmetic purposes. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the lotus flower essence was even believed to help in the resurrection. continue reading ..
Pixy Shahrour’s Journey From Diabetic to Athletic
Monday February 11, 2019 ًBy: Hadeer Taha
HOW EXERCISE, DETERMINATION AND COMMITMENT CHANGED PIXY SHAHROUR’S LIFE
“Your daughter is diabetic.” This is how it all started. Nineteen years ago, when I was 9, my family and I learned that I have diabetes. I will never forget how shocked my parents were when the doctor told them the news. They both started crying at the doctor’s office and I didn’t have a clue why. All that I understood was that I was sick and I had to take an injection in my abdomen to get better. continue reading ..
Every Space Has A Story; Interview with Interior Designer Tassilia Joundi
Thursday January 24, 2019 By: Alexandra Kinias
“Home is where the heart is.” — Elvis Presley
Our homes are our sanctuaries, comfort zones and feeling of belonging. At home, we relax, play, entertain and witness the birth of our intimate memories. When we build our dream homes, we also want to create friendly inviting places, and fill them with love and warmth. We customize them to reflect our taste and style. But with all the details, choices and decisions we have to make, the decorating process gets overwhelming. continue reading ..
Press Release from HRH King Ahmed Fouad II and Official Photos from Princess Fawzia’s Wedding
Monday January 21, 2019
Press Release by HRH King Ahmed Fouad II – Copied from HRH’s Official Page
Almost 80 years after the wedding of Princess Fawzia,daughter of King Fouad I; Princess Fawzia, the daughter of King Fouad II got married. On the one hand, there were some coincidental similarities between the festivities that reflected the traditions of the family. On the other hand, there were contradictions that reflected the difference in time. continue reading ..
Beauty Sleep: 6 Benefits of Getting Enough Rest.
WoE – Web MD By Stephanie Jacob
Sunday January 20, 2019 – When it comes to your beauty routine, sleep may be the closest thing there is to a fountain of youth. Your body repairs itself and recovers while you snooze, and that leads to a long list of benefits for your looks. The key is to get enough shut-eye — 7 to 9 quality hours each night. continue reading ..
What Yoga Taught Me
Thursday November 29, 2018 By: Reem Jabak
When I started practicing yoga a few years ago, it was solely to exploit the flexibility benefit it provides. As I practiced it on regular basis, I gradually learned its true essence. The flexibility was just a tiny branch of it. Little did I know when I dived into yoga, it would not open up just my eyes, but also my heart, and teach me life’s greatest lessons. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would lead me to become a certified yoga teacher a year later. continue reading …
Harmonica: This Egyptian App is a Hybrid Between Dating and Matchmaking
Thursday November 7, 2018 By: Alex Kinias
“Harmonica is the first Egyptian dating app that allows young people to meet their future life partners, by choosing their best match for them,” explains Shaymaa Ali, co-founder of Harmonica. “The app uses scientific methods and tests developed by psychiatrists and relationship experts. The users answer 30 questions and the app, using algorithms, matches people of compatible interest.” continue reading ..
This Young Artist and Entrepreneur is Re.constructing Fashion Accessories
Monday August 13, 2018 By: Fadi Tawfik
In recent years, entrepreneurs have dominated the realm of innovation. In fact, some may even argue that we are living in the golden age for entrepreneurship. When taking a closer look at those entrepreneurs, it becomes evident that most of them founded their business to fill a void they felt was needed. Young entrepreneurs tend to surprise us the most. To be creative at a young age is one thing, and to establish a business is quite another. Nevertheless, Zeina Soliman, founder of Reconstructed, was able to overcome the challenges she encountered due to her young age and executed her innovative startup idea. continue reading
Engy Radwan Reveals the Secrets Behind the Success of Restaurant Business
Sunday August 8, 2018 By: Alexandra Kinias
Pure coincidence led Engy Radwan to restaurant business. After her graduation from the American University in Cairo, she worked at Trianon Bakeries as Assistant Marketing Manager. Radwan had never envisioned herself working in restaurant business, yet she enjoyed the work immensely. When the company acquired the franchise for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, she was assigned head of the team traveling to Malaysia for training, at the head office in Kuala Lumpur. continue reading ..
Meet Israa El-Naggar, the Visual Artist Behind Cairo Mockingbird
Thursday July 2, 2018 By: Dina Al Mahdy
Inspired by Berlin ArtParasites—a German social media art platform dedicated to publishing English quotes and excerpts from great literary chef d’oeuvres— visual artist Israa El-Naggar and her colleague Mohamed Gamal, author, and founder of Kotobna, a self-publishing platform, launched Cairo Mockingbird, in November 2015, to promote art, reading, and writing. The only difference between the two is that most of the works shared on Cairo Mockingbirdare by Arab writers and artists….. continue reading ….
Egyptian women challenge social norms by practicing Parkour
Monday July 23, 2018 By: Reuters
A group of Egyptian women gather at an abandoned park in a Cairo suburb once a week, climbing walls and jumping around in the strenuous physical discipline known as Parkour, while also challenging the country’s conservative social norms.… continue reading …
How to Get Back on Track Quickly
Wednesday July, 4, 2018 By: Dina Al-Mahdy
Have you recently lost your edge? Do you want to get back on track right now?
We’ve all been there…We all follow our diet religiously for a week and then break it with a weekend binge. We commit to working out more, hit the gym for two days, and then struggle to get off the couch after a long day of work. We set a vision for our career and get excited by the possibilities, only to get dragged down in everyday responsibilities and not return to our dreams until months later…. continue reading …
Ways to Build a Healthy Relationship with Yourself
Friday June 22, 2018 By: Dina Al-Mahdy
Here’s how you can start building the foundation of a healthy relationship with yourself:
- Do things alone. Doing things alone might be terrifying at first, but being alone teaches us so much about ourselves. We learn to make our own decisions, to manage our time, to entertain ourselves, and to find serenity in solitude. Don’t be scared to grab a book and go to a coffee shop, and enjoy a drink on your own. If people stare at you, know that they’re looking at your amazing ability to be alone, and not judging you for at your “aloneness.”…
Dress to Impress with TrendCatcher, the First Fashion Styling App in the Middle East
Monday June 11, 2018
What should I wear today?
I really like her style. I wish I know where she buys her clothes?
Am I overdressed or underdressed? This shoes or that earrings? Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Does that sound familiar?… continue reading …
Menna Shahin’s travels inspire women to follow their dreams
Sunday May 20, 2018 By: Alexandra Kinias
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
The idea of traveling the world captured Menna Shahin’s imagination ever since she could remember. “As a little girl, I dreamt about exploring the world, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures,” Shahin said. But it wasn’t easy for her to fulfil her dream. Traveling was not among her conservative family’s pastime activities. Traveling alone was not an option. Shahin never gave up. She fought fiercely for what she believed was her right…. continue reading …
The Stigma of Being “Samra”
Tuesday March 27, 2018 By: Menerva Hammad
Samra is the term used to define a dark-skinned girl or woman in Arabic. We Egyptian girls, no matter where we grow up, we will learn that a fair skinned woman is beautiful and a samra is not. We will learn, that our naturally curly hair needs to be straightened, because otherwise it looks too messy, and girls with messy hair are not beautiful. We will be brainwashed that our dark eyes are less attractive, because blue, green and hazel eyes mesmerize people, but dark eyes …. continue reading …
Eiten Zeerban – Born to be a TV journalist!
Friday March 9, 2018 By: Jaylan El Shazly
When Eiten Zeerban was twelve years old, she took all her savings and bought herself a tape recorder to interview people. From there on, she carved her way through the world of journalism.
After years of experience working in television journalism in Egypt, Lebanon, the United States, and England, Zeerban now presents a successful online weekly show called Cold Coffee with Eiten….. continue reading …
She Can- 2018, Unleashing the power of women in Egypt!
Thursday March 8, 2018 By: Jaylan El Shazly
The highly anticipated “She Can – 2018 ” conference took place on the first weekend in March at the Greek Campus, Downtown Cairo. The event brought together over 28 speakers and hundreds of women and men to showcase successful female entrepreneurs and listen to their experiences. Under the warm Cairo winter sun, a main stage was set up throughout the two days. Entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and scientists delivered Ted-style presentations that focused primarily on their professional journeys and the challenges they encountered in their careers…. continue reading….
Hala Aboulela aspires to improve education in Egypt, one school at a time
By: May Allam Sunday March 3, 2018
With a vision to provide better learning opportunities for children in Egypt, Hala Aboulela, shifted her career from web design to education. The founder and president of Montessori Foundation of Egypt, and the mother of two, spent a significant amount of time researching and learning about different education methods. She developed a passion for Montessori education and decided to bring the authentic Montessori education to Egypt, for the first time…. continue reading …..
Aconcagua – Nourhan Refaei’s Incomplete Journey
Wednesday February 28, 2018 By: Alexandra Kinias
Honeymoons are among the most romantic experiences for newly-weds. However, Nourhan Refaei and her husband Amr Gouda didn’t pick a tropical island with exotic beaches, or other dream destinations like most honeymooners. Instead, they packed their gear and hiked the Italian Alps. That should not come as a surprise from the couple who is passionate about hiking….. continue reading ….
A Sneak Peek at Entreprenelle’s – She Can 2018 – Mega Women Empowerment Event.
Saturday February 10, 2018
As communities thrive when women are economically empowered, it’s imperative to invest in women, not just because it is right, but because it is important and necessary for the growth of healthier societies. With this understanding in mind, Rania Ayman founded, Entreprenelle, a mission driven enterprise that strives to bridge the gender and economic gap. It also aims to empower women with the needed skills by educating, training and linking them to all the resources possible…. continue reading ….
Discover Egypt With Yoga Guru Aia Faham
Monday February 5, 2018
The yoga revolution that’s gaining momentum across the world, is spilling over in Egypt. The stressful lifestyle most Egyptians live and the frustrations they encounter on daily basis have contributed to its growing popularity. More people are resorting to yoga for mental relaxation and inner peace. Some do it as stress reliever while others do it for meditation, or wellness to improve their strength, balance and flexibility. …. continue reading …
Meet 6 Inspiring Egyptian Women in Their Traditional Costumes
Sunday January 28, 2018
When the brothers Mohamed and Ali Reda formed their Folkdance Troop in the late fifties, they travelled across Egypt to capture the essence of the communities around the country. Their travels reached the most remote oases and nomadic tribes. They documented their costumes and music and studied their choreography. Their creations were outstanding. The government sent them in world tours to exhibit their productions, which depicted the immense cultural diversity that spans across Egypt…. continue reading ….
Hear them roar! – Leela Hazzah’s inspirational journey to preserve Lions
Friday January 5, 2018 By: Jaylan El Shazly
Imagine living in the middle of a forest in Kenya, surrounded by wildlife and locals who speak a language that is completely foreign to you. You spend your days walking, up to 30 kilometers, to explore the area, search for lions, and meet locals who are surprised to see you. ‘We didn’t know foreigners could walk!’ said the locals when they encountered Dr. Leela Hazzah, on one of her many treks in the area…. continue reading ….
Beautiful and Strong Inside and Out
Saturday December 30, 2017 By: Alexandra Kinias
With their commitment to and support of women empowerment, the latest Garnier- Color Intensity commercial, embraced this concept. The young women starring are neither movie stars nor commercial models. They are real life Egyptian women who broke social taboos and proved that women can raise above their social restrictions. The new commercial reflects Garnier’s message that “every woman embraces her unique beauty while reinforcing her innate sense of self-worth.” It’s a very powerful message to young Egyptian girls, whom media and society have shaped them in a different mold… continue reading …
Yogis are not who never fail, but who never quit
Thursday December 28, 2017. By: Aia Faham
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me one of the following misconceptions about yoga, I’d be a Millionaire.
– “Yoga is Boring.”
– “Yoga? Is it the thing that you do nothing while sitting still for long time? Oh, Sorry, I cannot.”
– “Yoga is for the flexi bendy people, that I am not one of.”
– “Okay, wait for me until I gain some flexibility, then I would start Yoga. Pinky Promise.”
– “Yoga? It is a Girly Thing. Real Men Do not do Yoga.” … continue reading …..
Queen of Dunes
Saturday, December 23, 2017
By: Haitham Mohamed and Mohamed Farid
Yara Shalaby, 33, has become the first professional female rally driver in the country, winning several races of the 25 she has participated in, and overcoming stereotypes of what a woman can or cannot do with a car in Egypt… continue reading…
7 Things That Made My Year Even Better
Thursday December 21, 2017 By: Amany Zayed
The stress and responsibilities we encounter on daily basis often make us want to run and hide, or worse, escape entirely while looking for balance and inner peace. On our journey through life, it is important to adopt new habits and embrace change to make our lives more enjoyable. Over the past 12 months, I learned new practices that helped me improve the quality of my life, and made it better… continue reading …
Does My Background Shape My Identity?
Wednesday December 6, 2017 By: Nada Reda El Kharbotly
He came from Turkey. She came from Palestine. He came for a better career. She came to escape a war zone. Two generations later I was born, in Egypt. My family has given me a lot over the years, but nothing will ever come close to the multicultural background I was born into. Over the years, there was always a question that consumed me. Which country do I truly belong to? … continue reading ..
Heya Masr: A Story Within No Borders
Tuesday November 20, 2017 By: Shereen G. Eldin
Sometimes, we have ideas on what is wrong with our world. Sometimes, we have feelings. And sometimes, we have the numbers that give roots to our ideas and our feelings. So, it came as no surprise when we learned that from 2010 to 2011, 26,000 Egyptian children were estimated to have dropped out of school, of that whopping figure, seventy-six percent were girls… continue reading …
Sherouk Ibrahim: An Accountant Turned Fashionista
Monday November 13, 2017 WOE Staff
Zagazing University Commerce graduate, Sherouk Ibrahim, has been passionate about clothes and fashion since she was a young girl. It became challenging for her, as she was growing up, to find clothes to fit her. That forced her to buy whatever was available in the market and adjust the sizes. On many occasions, she ended up designing her own clothes… continue reading ….
How A Car Accident Changed Marianne Awad’s Life
Saturday November 4, 2017
By: May Allam
Life can change in a blink of an eye. No one expects to be a victim of a car accident, and survivors are never prepared for a life after. It brings some of your dreams to an end, puts your life on hold, and changes your priorities. It’s a fate twister, a moment you wish to re-wind or delete. It leaves you with anger, shock, and many unanswered questions. It changes your life forever…. continue reading …
Maggie Riad’s Inspiring Journey from Economist to Jewelry Maker
Saturday October 28, 2018
By: Jaylan ElShazly
“The things worth doing seldom come easy” – Author Unknown
Sitting on a Red Sea beach for the first time after recuperating from a devastating accident, Maggie Riad pondered about her life and where to find strength to continue her journey as a jeweler. She hadn’t regained yet full function of her legs and arms after a maniac driver hit her while jogging one early morning. With her limited mobility, her only source of entertainment was ruffling through the seashells on the shore…. continue ….
6 Amazing Egyptian Opera Singers You Should Meet
Monday October 23, 2017
Opera singing was first introduced to Egypt in 1869. Khedive Ismail instructed the building of an opera house to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal. He commissioned the famous Italian composer, Guizzepi Verdi, to write his famous opera Aida for the inaugural ceremonies. … continue …
Real Women Ride Motorcycles
Wednesday October 4, 2017
By: WOE Team
A Ladies of Harley’s member, Dina Wassef ranks among the pioneer female bike riders who are breaking social taboos in Egypt. After graduating from the University of Fine Arts in 2007, Wassef worked as Sales Manager for Harley Davidson Egypt. That’s where she discovered her passion for bikes, learned to ride and hasn’t stopped since…continue reading …
Egyptian Girls Galloping Off Into A New Sport
Saturday September 17, 2017
By: WOE Staff
Tent Pegging is an equestrian game that requires the rider to pierce and pick a target off the ground with a sword or a lance while charging at it. The sport is played in many countries around the world, Egypt included. Because the sport is not popular in the country, many people are unaware that Egypt has a national team, not to mention that its coach Ayah Eissa is the youngest certified female tent pegging coach in the world…. continue reading …
Why Natural Birth?
Saturday September 23, 2017
By: Habiba Elhady
Women have been giving natural birth since the dawn of man; that is the way it has been documented in ancient books and written on the walls of pharaonic temples. Believing in women’s continued ability to give natural birth and bringing that concept back into the mainstream, is the focus of Dr. Hana Kassem’s work…. continue reading …
5 Tips To De-Stress Your Life
Saturday September 2, 2017
By: Alexandra Kinias
Today’s life is a magnet for stress. Demanding jobs, chaotic traffic, noisy environment, provocative people and frustrating situations, all contribute to elevating our stress level. For many of us stress has become such a chronic manifestation of our over stimulating lifestyle that we no longer notice how stressed we are. Stress affects our mood, relationships, social life and professional performance. Living a stressful life can become harmful to our wellbeing in …… continue reading …
The Four Biscuits-Underneath the Icing
Sunday August 20, 2017
By: Shereen G. Eldin
“If clouds are blocking the sun, there will always be a silver lining that reminds me to keep on trying.” – Matthew Quick, The Silver linings playbook
Down, a four-lettered syndrome, a heart-breaking challenge to some and a superpower to others. That is what-now friends-Nada and Nura thought as they sent off their special talented sisters to a special education school. With a sky high tuition bill, and a student skill development outlook that was lacking at best, they put their heads together, pooled their resources and thought about what they could really do to enhance their sisters’ lifestyles, grow their abilities and change the way society views them…. continue ….
Schirin Salem Teaches Women Wen-Do to Fight Sexual Harassment
Friday August 18, 2017
By: Jaylan El Shazly
With the soaring rates of sexual harassment in Egypt, Schirin Salem, together with her friend Emmeline Lavender, launched Igmadi (Be Strong) Initiative in 2014, to empower women to stand up against harassment through Zumba fitness and Wen-Do self-defense training. With the series of events they organized across Egypt, Igmadi has since grown into a full-blown phenomenon….continue reading …
She Can – Entreprenelle’s Empowering Event
Thursday July 27, 2017
By: Jaylan El Shazly
Undeterred by the blazing July sun, some 200 women gathered at the Greater Cairo Library to participate in ‘She Can 2017’, an event organized by Entreprenelle. A mission driven enterprise that strives to empower local women economically, Enreprenelle organized this event to bring together women who push their limits and want to develop themselves as future leaders and entrepreneurs….continue reading …
Egyptian Beauty Queens of La Belle Epoque
Tuesday July 25, 2017
Written by Doaa Ahmed
The first Egyptian beauty contest was held in Egypt at the beginning of the 20th century. The photo of Yolanda Kassar appeared on the cover of Al-Musawwar Magazine – dated October 21, 1927 – claiming the title. Under her photo was written The Most Beautiful Girl in Egypt…. continue reading …
Bakeaholics is More Than Just a Passion for Baking
June 3, 2017
By: Habiba Elhady
The number of women home-based small businesses in Egypt is on the rise. The declining economic situation has contributed to the influx of work-at-home moms, but many corporate employees are also leaving behind lucrative jobs to a more relaxing work environment. Sarah Arram, founder of Bakeaholics, a leading cake decorating company, knows exactly the stress, the long hours, and the mental drain associated with the corporate environment. She’s has been there, done that… continue reading …
The Eternal Pearl – Short Story
Sunday May 29, 2017
By: Amany Zayed
I sat on this comfortable lounge feeling relaxed, almost floating. I had just finished eating my delicious, yet healthy meal, always served on time and in abundance. The temperature was just right; the lightening was perfect. It was so relaxing here, I spent most of my time sleeping, or thinking how life can be any better.
Although I wished to stay there forever, days proved that this once cozy place was no longer convenient for me. As weeks went by, the spacious room that I comfortably floated in became tight, uncomfortable, and it was getting hard for to move …. continue reading
Egyptian Women of La Belle Époque
Saturday May 6, 2017
By Alexandra Kinias
Black and white photos evoke nostalgia to another life that had once been. A life reminisced by older generations who witnessed it firsthand, and envied by the younger ones who watched its elegance in black and white movies, often not believing their eyes. Black and white photos evoke nostalgia to another life that had once been. A life reminisced by older generations who witnessed it firsthand, and envied by the younger ones who watched its elegance in black and white movies, often not believing their eyes…. continue reading ….
A Strategy for Happiness
Saturday March 18, 2017
By: Nada Rafaat
We have no choice in the circumstances which we are born into, but our life experiences and what we make out of it depends on how we shape, steer and direct our thoughts. We often think that becoming successful and getting what we want in life requires only hard work. Of course, hard work is the key to success, however, to be able to truly shape our lives, we first have to change the way we think. Improving the quality of our lives, will require us to learn to practice gratitude… continue reading ….
Maha’s Brings a Taste From Home to Canada
Saturday, March 4, 2017
By: Habiba Elhady
After moving to Canada in 2000, Maha worked as an interpreter and a translator. For a work event, she cooked a vegetarian macaroni bel béchamel, substituting the ground meat with mixed vegetables and feta cheese, in between two layers of penne pasta and topped with béchamel sauce. The casserole was raved by her colleagues who urged her to start a catering business, which she did, with the help of her two kids, Monika, 16, and Mark, 13, then… continue reading …
My Idea of Happiness
Tuesday February 7, 2017
By: Habiba Elhady
For small talk, people often ask stupid and meaningless questions, like asking kids if they love their moms more or their dads, or asking adults if they are single or what’s new in their lives. As trivial as they are, these questions may unconsciously influence their recipient in a negative way. I was really happy with my life until people started asking me questions like, ‘what are you up to’ or ‘what are you doing with your life?’ I would shrug and mutter, “Nothing!” …. continue reading ….
Follow Your Dreams
Thursday January 18, 2016
By: Iman Refaat
“All dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” ~ Walt Disney.
It was a matter of courage, the lack of it, to be precise, that held me back from pursuing my dream. I wanted to write a novel in English, but neither my French education nor my degree in Mass Communication matched up to this dream. My inner voice, my worst enemy, interrupted every fantasy I had to become a novelist, continuously reminding me that I neither had the …. continue reading …..
A Unique Woman’s Creative Journey
Friday November 18, 2016
By: May Allam
In 2007, computer engineer, Theresa Khalil moved from the polluted and chaotic city of Cairo, to start a new life in Sharm El Sheikh. Not quite common for a single woman to live alone, but for Theresa, a person guided through life by her passion for creativity, change and doing what she enjoys best, she followed the path she believed in…. continue reading …
We Have a Choice
Written by: Nevin Elgendy
Thursday November 3, 2016
I am intrigued by how our brains operate to give us full control over how we feel. I’ve been going through a big transition in my life recently. I sold our house in Ottawa and decided to move to Toronto on temporary basis. The date to close on the house was set for the end of the month, which means the change became imminent and inevitable…. continue reading ….
The Matchmaking
– By: Caroline Emile
Saturday October 1, 2016
Caption: Gerard van Honthorst, The Match-Maker (1625)
I finally arrived in Cairo after an absence of four years. I was really looking forward to an exciting Christmas/New Year holiday, where I could hang out with friends at the latest hip and trendy venues that had sprung up across the city since I’d last visited, and just generally have a good break from London and the dreary English winter.
One small matter though that I expected would interfere with my plans for a carefree holiday: the ‘blind dates’ that I knew I was going to eventually have to face….. continue reading …
Giving Up Perfection To Perfect!
— By: Nevin Elgendy
Saturday October 1, 2016
I swapped perfection and became myself by adopting the color “pink” instead of hanging on to the perfect “orange”!
One summer day, not too long ago, I approached a talented life coach, who is also a friend, and invited her to collaborate with me on a project. We both got excited and within a very short time, we started planning our workshop together, breaking down the tasks that needed to be done. My friend was responsible for writing the program and working on the material to market it. I was responsible for the rest. As we proceeded with the plans, my friend became less responsive to my emails and when I …. continue reading …
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