‘Actors of Change’: Exploring the future of Women in Egypt
Women come together in discussion at the Soteria Programme.
Embrace has worked with partners in Egypt for many years. Despite our long history there, we know that many supporters are unaware of the challenges and complexities that this fascinating country faces. Egypt is home to the largest Christian community in the region: 10-15% of the population are Christian.
Despite being classed as a middle-income country, it is one of the poorest states in the region, and more than a third of the population live in poverty. Egypt is also a difficult country in which to be a woman. Many of our partners, including the Anafora Institute, run programmes that give women access to basic education in rural areas, safe accommodation for victims of abuse and facilitate community dialogue and awareness around women’s issues.
Our partner Sara Hana at the Anafora Institute runs the Soteria Programme (meaning deliverance or safety in greek), which trains women to be ‘agents of change’ in their communities in Upper Egypt. In celebration of International Women’s Day, former Trustee of Embrace Mariam Tadros spoke with her about her vision for women in Egypt.
Can you give us an insight into what everyday life is like for the women you work with in Egypt?
Through the Soteria programme, we work mainly with women from the South where Bishop Thomas oversees the Diocese of El Quossia. Ten years ago, it was not the same as it is now. The women didn’t have any work or a place of leadership in society. They were in the shadows, behind the men, encouraging and supporting them rather than being leaders. When we first tried to encourage the women to take leadership positions, it wasn’t easy. When we first started people said, ‘it probably won’t work. We can try, but we’re probably going to have problems with the men.’
We wanted to make a group who could be leaders, as actors of change in society. With the message that ‘You’re not only a woman – you’re an actor of change in your church, your house, your community.’
Initially the main challenges we faced were with the norms around gender roles, particularly when the men began to see the women taking their place more prominently. This led to us starting a parallel programme with the men in the diocese as well as the women, to show them that women are important and show them how to be supportive. The women have many great ideas – they have ambitions and dreams, but society limits them. We need the men to support them, not to be the ones that close the doors around them – because the reality is that they can if they want to. They can close every door, every window if they wish.
The church really helped us a lot, right from the beginning, and gave their support. The priests started to talk in their services about the strong women in the Bible who were leaders. Before Soteria, the women mostly stayed at home, taking part in limited activities in the church where the men were leaders, or working with their husbands in the shadows. But now after years of Soteria, we can see that the women are leading their own projects, doing their own work and following their own dreams.
Can you give us some insight into the difference having women involved in that way has made on society, and what are the dreams and ambitions of the women you mention?
Many of the women are now continuing their studies, going to universities and even doing masters degrees. This is a huge step for them, as often they stop after their diploma because of family expectations to get married. But now it’s no longer just about marriage, it’s about getting more educated and having creative ideas. Many of them want to continue their studies so they can earn money, get a job. Some of them even start their own companies doing things like weaving, making bread, catering. Now, if there’s an event the Bishop asks the women from the programme to do the catering. These may seem like small things, but actually, it’s a big change. The Soteria women are good examples to other women. They can stand up for themselves and pave their own way, even when it’s not easy.
Is there one story you can share with us from the programme?
At the end of the programme we ask the women their dreams and they list their priorities, so they can start to think about what they need to do. Many of them apply to university in Cairo, or stay at Anafora so they can travel to their classes in the city. These are really big steps.
There is one particular woman who has a really strong personality, and through Soteria I felt like she found herself. She had a disagreement with her manager at work, and she told her colleagues she didn’t think what he was asking of her was right. They warned her not to speak to the manager as he might treat her worse as a result, but she spoke to him anyway. He didn’t listen, so she went to the director above him, and luckily he did listen to her. She was so glad she didn’t listen to the people around her, in the end, and stood up for herself.
For me, it was beautiful that she stood up for herself, even when people tried to tell her not to. Now she is one of the leaders with us at Soteria. I tell her story because what she did is not easy and the outcome was worthwhile.
How do your personal experiences inform your work at Soteria?
I come from Cairo, and it’s important to understand there is a big difference between Cairo and Upper Egypt. I had the opportunity to have an education and go to university, but I still know the pain and challenges the women in Egypt face. You can’t walk safely in the streets as a woman – you always have to be careful when you’re out and about or on public transport. Every woman in Egypt experiences sexual harassment. I have had years to heal from this and share my experience, but it’s something all women experience here. Even if you go to university and live in a good environment, you can’t go out alone – your brother or father goes with you.
We all face the same challenges, but if we face the problem together, we can heal. That’s what we do with Soteria.
We found there was a need for a trauma healing programme, because you have to address the trauma to stop it from eating you up inside. We are together in this. I share my experiences because I have started my journey of healing, and we can go on that journey together because we all feel the same thing. We want the women to look to the future, to be examples for other women and for themselves, and to be an example to their families.
What do you hope the future for women in Egypt looks like?
That’s a very hard question! For me it’s not about taking the men’s place, it’s about being accepted as partners, and being respected, hand in hand and equal in everything. We want the same opportunities as men. I want us not to look at one another as ‘man’ or ‘woman’, but just as human beings. It’s about mindset – if we change our mindset then everything can change, but it’s difficult!
Is there anything you’d like to share with Embrace’s supporters?
First I’d like to thank them for their donations, their hearts and their prayers. We want to thank them for their friendship and for helping the women to make their transformations. It’s always beautiful to me that people far away in another country think about the women in Egypt. It helps us feel like we are not alone when we have people supporting us with their prayers, their donations – even thinking about us. We feel like we are doing this together.
Sara Hana runs the Soteria Programme at the Anafora Institute, which trains women to be ‘agents of change’ in their communities in Upper Egypt. It challenges gender stereotypes and brings healing from trauma that many women experience as part of their daily lives. Mariam Tadros is a former Embrace Trustee; she works for Tearfund as a peacebuilding specialist.
