Staying in Egypt

Amid all the problems, Egyptians have much to celebrate in themselves, and to be thankful for, writes Sara Abou Bakr

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"Why stay?" A question, I suppose, every other young person in Egypt asks himself along the way. The situation in Egypt nowadays, whether economically or socially approached, is deteriorating in spades. Recession, unemployment and moral disintegration are only the tip of the iceberg of the dilemma of current Egyptian "life".

In a country where people are literally killing each other for bread, why are some young middle-class people refusing to leave the country to start afresh somewhere else? Not really believing in the usual national sentimentality of culture and heritage, I started probing around. What I discovered was astonishing to say the least.

Egypt at present is a nation of youth, with 29.2 million in 2006 under the age of 18, according to UNICEF, and almost half the country, if not more, under the age of 25. Young people are this country's ultimate resource for they constitute up and coming labour. But unfortunately they are an unused resource -- a wasted one if you will. Schools are deteriorating. Universities are packed to the brim while jobs are scarce. The outlook is bleak at best. So the question is, when possible, why not emigrate?

There seems to be a trend among young Egyptians. They are tired of the current political and religious movements sweeping the country. That does not mean they have unsound political views or are atheist. Actually, quite the opposite; they are mostly of devout belief, unwavering principals and diverse political backgrounds. However, they all have one thing in common: an ultimate conviction that change in this country has to come from the inside, coupled with a deep disbelief in the current system.

Another notable fact about these young people is their refusal to be moulded into the image of either of the country's two major sparring political contenders: the state's National Democratic Party and the banned Muslim Brotherhood movement. Most wonder why there is not anything in-between these two camps that have their own agenda and that can serve the people of the country. Why not a third camp simply for "Egyptians"?

Many of these young people are found working or volunteering in development projects and various civil society groups. In their opinion, this is the main way to serve the people; helping in building schools and hospitals, supplying medical services, spreading awareness about human rights, teaching crafts to the unprivileged and much more. The change they foresee is coming from the people to the people. The change starts with oneself. It's a simple formula: if you incorruptible, corruption would find no place. Idealistic? Probably. Feasible? Absolutely.

Egypt is filled with these idealistic youth who are willing to work to make it better. Unfortunately they are overshadowed by the strenuous situation of the state. The media focuses on the negative aspects of life, forgetting the important role of leading by example; showing the masses that there are still young people who are not concerned with the trivialities of life and the bright lights beckoning them across the Mediterranean.

But these special young people have the odds stacked against them, be it via the state, the current immorality of society, mental extremism and omnipresent corruption. In my opinion, it's a fight to the death where their will and convictions are pitted against the phantom shadows that swallow everything in front of them. But still they stay, and most important they believe.

A dear friend of mine once told me that Egyptians are really not fully successful in emigrating: "We long for our country, even if we live in palaces abroad. We may have everything one would desire, but when our time is up, we ask to be buried in our homeland: in Egyptian soil. Why does it matter where you buried? It just does."

Sentimentality? I believe not. This feeling of connection to one's country goes deeper than mere emotion. I'd say renowned Professor Gamal Hamdan put it best in his encyclopaedia, The Character of Egypt, blasting Egyptians for overstating our positive points, but at the same time accurately describing the sweet peace-loving nature of Egyptians that makes us intricately bound to our land.

So why stay in Egypt? Simply, hope.

Sara Abou Bakr is a young journalist