“They are our future leaders and with their passion, talent and hard work, this country shall see the light of day,” says Hanan Ezz Eddin in an enthusiastic tone, explaining the purpose of her new project, "Dear Egypt."
The outbreak of 25 January revolution inspired Ezz Eddin, a 27-year-old English language arts teacher at Misr Language School, to encourage her middle school students to pour their hearts out by writing.
“The idea emerged when my students felt extremely insecure and confused about the situation in the country. So, I encouraged them to express their hopes, fears, expectations, wishes, dreams and love by writing letters to Egypt,” says Ezz Eddin.
“Children must understand, feel and grow up knowing that their voice counts and that they can make a difference through expressing their opinions in civilized and respectable ways,” Ezz Eddin says of the message behind her project.
The outcome is an amazing collection of letters and pictures captured during the revolution, reflecting the children's sense of ownership of the country and optimism for the future.
As a result, Ezz Eddin decided to take the next step and reach out to other children all over the country, setting up a “Dear Egypt” Facebook group.
“Writing is an excellent channel for expression. Teenagers in Egypt unfortunately don't have a lot of media where they can vent out and be heard. When I found out that other children outside of my circle wanted to join in our efforts, I was thrilled,” Ezz Eddin says. “The more leaders that are inspired to write and make a difference, the better preparation they will get for their futures.”
The idea has been received with great enthusiasm, as more than 200 letters and photographs have been sent by teenagers aged ten to 18 years from various governorates. Other Egyptians living abroad have also participated in visualizing the future from their own perspective.
In May 2011, Teen Stuff magazine started publishing some of the letters each month. This has attracted more teenagers to send letters and made them believe that their opinions really matter.
Ezz Eddin believes that the experience of working on the project has changed her life. “I never fully understood [children] until this project started taking place,” she says.
“It has given me faith in the upcoming generation. Their inspiration and raw talent have been the major driver behind my passion of being an advocate for the revolution and a believer in the positive change that Egypt will witness in the near future.”
Ezz Eddin's ambition is to make Egyptian childrens' voices heard on a large scale. “My dream is to have the letters and photographs published in a book documenting history through the eyes of my teens,” she says.
Below are some letters conveying the vivid emotions of children in post-revolution Egypt. They are largely unedited, in order to maintain the childhood flavor of the writing:
Dear Egypt,
To you I give my heart, soul and life. I believe that I have the power to make you the best. My love and loyalty will never change. But I feel that you trapped me in a cage like a bird with ambition to bring you back to life. I’ve been chained once more in some jail under the earth with no one to hear me scream for help. I still held on and I never let the thought of making you great escape my mind.
I was running freely and now my steps will count. I will make them count.
Sincerely,
Mariam Raouf
13 Years Old
Dear Egypt,
I don't know why am I writing to you right now, but you're becoming more of a "diary" to me. Or let's say: a best friend that I crawl back to by the night of each day.
It’s just another ordinary day. I'm on my way right now to class tucked up in a – as usual – red shirt. Yeah, I recently wear nothing but red and I match it either with white or black. You're taking over my mind.
I finally reach there. I notice a flag hooked up out of one of the neighboring balconies. That's the same time the teacher steps in, though. So I have to show some respect. If not by standing up, then definitely it’s not by looking out of the window. I look his way but somehow a part of me is left outside with that flag and the lyrics, “They call me freedom, just like a waving flag," keep on reciting in my head a million times. Yet, I am happy about it.
The teacher, unexpectedly, asks us to stand up. We catch one another's gaze but we told what we're told. He says he has done this for the memory of the martyrs. We do what we are told, again. And each of us recites Quran or parts of the Bible. At this moment, we aren't Muslims or Christians. We are one. We are Egyptians. This is the thought that forces a smile to be drawn on my face. Not only mine, but everyone's in the place.
He then asks us to sit down and greets us for the facial expressions we have carried. He admits he has never felt this grace before. Maybe that's what I have felt a moment earlier and was incapable of describing.
He doesn't start his lesson now but goes on with a little speech about how amazing the revolution has been. He says he has seen people defending their houses but has never seen youth setting camps in the streets every night to protect their homes. He says he has seen people praying but has never seen Christians protecting Muslims during their prayers and the other way round, too. He says he has seen people making revolutions and setting the world on fire but has never seen people cleaning up the mess they've caused; due to the revolution they've already achieved its goals.
He says he is proud he has lived to witness this happening. He is proud to be an Egyptian. He also states that according to the Egyptian timing, it's time to brace ourselves for a difficult time ahead; for ourselves and our beloved country. You.
With love,
Naddah Hafez
17 years old
Dear Egypt,
Who could believe that one day the country of the Pyramids would arrive at where it is right now? Who could believe that the country of Sadat and ElBaradei the noblemen of peace would not have peace in it? Who could believe that the country of Naguib Mahfouz, the nobleman of literature and Zewail, the nobleman of chemistry, the first Arab to win the Nobel prize in science, would not have any school or university in the top 100 in the world rankings?
Who could believe that the country of the powerful Sphinx and the Pharaohs would be in the weakness it has reached? Who could believe that the country of 6th of October would take orders from other countries? Who could believe that to you “Egypt” would happen what happened on the 25 of January?
Who could believe that one day some people without conscience would rule you and harm people’s dignity, so they could burst suddenly and start protesting for their civil rights?
Who could believe, who could believe…….I wish one day for you to come back to your glory, with your people in high spirits and have the best one of us rule you.
Sincerely,
Aly al-Rafei
14 years old
