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Al-Ahram Weekly 20 - 26 January 2000 Issue No. 465 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 20 - 26 January 2000 Issue No. 465
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Plain Talk
By Mursi Saad El-Din
There is no denying the fact that the children of Egypt are receiving their share of attention from both the government and the private sector. A number of projects have been aimed at them -- children's clubs are attached to palaces and houses of culture, Reading for All addresses the young and at least half a dozen children's magazines are displayed in book shops and by pavement book sellers.
At the same time grown-ups cannot complain, they also have a diversity of cultural services: books, music, theatre and other literary and artistic manifestations.
One important group, however, has been grossly neglected -- those who fall between two stools, who are neither children nor fully fledged grown-ups. Nobody seems to be caring for them. True there is a Ministry of Youth, and a Supreme Council for Youth, but their interest is almost wholly directed to sports. I remember how, in a meeting of the National Specialised Councils, one of the elder members claimed that the youth of Egypt have their brains in their boots, meaning, of course that their main interest is football.
Lately, however, a few magazines for this age group have appeared on book stalls.
One new magazine -- the flyer claims it is intended for those aged up to 23 -- has the fascinating title Kalimatuna. "Our Word" is a beautifully produced magazine containing articles, short stories and poems by students in secondary schools and universities. The publisher claims, and rightly too, that it is the first and only magazine in Arabic that caters for this age group. Its cover bears a challenging motto -- "the day has arrived when our voice is communicated".
Going through the magazine one gets to know the problems, the dreams and the aspirations of our young women and men.
The majority of the articles can be described as confessional. They are honest and challenging. One article by a girl, a student at the Faculty of Pharmacology, has the intriguing title "A Diary of an Adolescent Smoker" in which she records, in a frank and brave manner, her day to day involvement in, then addiction to, smoking. It is written in a beautiful, almost poetic style, and in it she traces the way she became the slave of this habit.
There is also a section of poetry by university students which reflects maturity, imagination and aspiration in equal measure. It is poetry, more than any other literary forms, that reveals the secrets of the soul. Naturally there is a sports section, "Eyes on the Apex", which focuses on local and international sporting heroes.
The issue also introduces an artist, not yet 20, who displays a real talent. Samy Ilias, a student at the American University, tells the story of his attachment to art.
What I noticed most is a balance between entertainment and knowledge. Recent films and songs (by young singers) are reviewed, but with these critical essays we get a wonderful article about Mahmoud Mukhtar, and the great Arab poet Al-Gahez.
What really attracted my attention is the frank manner in which the young described some of their problems.
What touched me deeply was a short article, more like an appeal, that deals with the problem of parents not listening to their children. The article, by a female student at the Suez Canal Faculty of Commerce, ends with a plea -- a call to every mother and father "to listen to us, listen to us... please show us the right path, make us good citizens, deal with us as irresponsible children!"
Well, my heart broke when I read those words. Yes, do listen to our young, gain their confidence, be their confidants, otherwise you will lose them.
Welcome to this magazine which should be displayed in every school and university library.
