Midan el Attaba

Journalism`s students of Ahram Canadian University were in Midan El Ataba. They went in a tour to get some shots for Al Ataba and streets around it.

On the 24^th April, Journalism mass communication`s students went to Al Ataba as they assigned to get some footage for their course photo journalism. The number of the students was around 12 student, they asked to shot people, buildings, streets and the life in Ataba in the morning. Al Ataba is one of the main areas in Cairo, is the commercial center for many kinds of trade goods. They reach the place at 9:00 am and they started to shot it.

Then they took photos for what remains from the national theatre after the fire had broken out in a huge area inside it on 2008. The fire caught in the Great hall of the largest and oldest theatre in Egypt which leads to collapse the main dome of theatre and burn the content of theatre.

The first building they met building called “Tiring”.it is situated in the extension of Midan EL Ataba . Tiring department store owned by Victor tiring. He chose ataba square as it was a commercial place. And it was famous street that connect the old Cairo and the new Cairo. The building was completed in 1913 and become the first selling floor shop of its kind in Cairo.

The building attracted the students.it designed in an excellent geometric way. It was hard on students to take footage for the high buildings but they tried and took some photos for the whole building. Also they meet another two buildings like sednaoui department store and Omar Afandi department store. Those buildings designed in an intelligent geometric way. They were the famous department stores. The students took footage for them.

“It is a store has an old history in the place, the original owner is victor tiring” one of the sellers that has a shop in front of the building said.

Moheb Gamil one of the student said “the buildings attracted me but it is very difficult to take photos for them. But am tiring”.

Then the students continued their tour around ataba streets walking on their legs under the sun and resisting the hot weather till they found shops of musical instruments so they noticed that they are in “Mohamed Ali Street”.

Mohamed Ali Street is named on the name of the famous Egypt ruler “Mohamed Ali”. It is the best place to sell musical instruments. Earlier only handmade instruments were made and sold but today, mostly imported instruments can be found in that place. Also this street associated with many artists and musical groups like “Hasaballah”.

The students took a permission from the sellers to take photos for their shops that full of the ouds and other musical instruments. They also entered the place which ouds maker occurs, they took footage of how the musical instruments made and it was marvelous pictures.

The students took footage for how the workers did their work, and the life in the Mohamed Ali Street. They focus on ouds makers and how they were professional in their work. By interviewing Mohamed Hassan one of the ouds makers he said “I have been in that work 25 years”, he also added that “the industry of ouds is very difficult and people from different nations come to visit that street and buy musical instrument”.

The students continue walking till the end of the street and they found the famous café called “katbk`na café” it is situated in the end of Mohamed Ali street. Nowadays it is known by “Dar El Kotoub” as Dar el kotoub beside it. It witnessed an important public figures and events.

From the old people that used to sit in it, they are the poet “Hafez Ibrahim” , “Sheikh Abdel Aziz el Bushra” and “ El Sheikh Hassan Alalaty”.The responsible of the café called “Haj Mohamed”. One of the students conducts a short interview with him, He said “This café witnessed many important events”, he also added that many artists used to spend time in the café till now like “Mohamed sobhy” , “wahid saif”, “ saed Salah”, “ montaser beallah “and other important figures.

Haj Mohamed said “Mohamed Ali Street witnessed Mohamed Ali Pasha the famous Egypt ruler and Jamal Abdel Nasser the President of Egypt”. This street also produced many actors and actress as it was full of all kinds of arts. He also said “from the famous family that lived in that street are Akef family.

The famous actor Naaima Akef is came out from them and El Helw family that works in the Egyptian circus till now”. At the end of the interview he brought an old version of New York Times newspaper as the newspaper mentioned the café and its value in a good article besides that it is also mentioned in a famous book called “cafes in Egypt”.

The students took photos for the cafe and the area surrounds it, the students turned to the museum of Islamic art which is situated in the place called “Midan Bab El khal`a”. The museum of Islamic art is the largest museum of Islamic world, bringing together a group of Islamic Art from India, china and Iran, through the arts of the Egypt, North Africa and Andalusia.

The students continued their tour till they reached a famous street called “ Abdel Aziz Street” that is considered the main center for the trading applicants and mobile phones in Egypt. This street was very crowd and full of many mobiles shops, the shops sells and buy electric appliances and mobile phones.

Then they turned to a narrow street that started by fruits and vegetable markets. All fresh goods occurs there all kinds of vegetable and fruits are sold in this markets, continuing their tour walking the street became narrower then they asked a man carried a wooden chair what is that street? Then he answered, this is “El Manasra Street”. The street is full of wooden Furniture with different designs and colours.

It is the main center of trading furniture; it has a great history in the industry of furniture. The process of taking photos in that narrow street was very hard as the narrow street full of people walking and furniture in front of every shop and the 12 student so everyone can’t take any photos.

They entered the workshop where they can shot the process of the industry of the furniture and the workers while they were working. Many wooden pieces have turned into a special collection of furniture.

The tour had ended at Midan El Ataba. The students were able to take a large number of photos for Al Ataba and streets beside it. They gain a great experience in taking photos and interviewing people.

About their opinion in this tour Ahmed fathi said “ it was a new experience and I enjoyed” also Olivia another student said “ it was a tiring tour but it is interesting to discover a place. And finally Dina Tarek anther student said “I feel an interesting feelings in interviewing people, the people was very helpful”

On Tuesday 25^th April, the students attend the lecture of photojournalism and put their photos on a slide show to show them and know what are the mistakes that they fell in it and what is the best pictures.

My first graduation

It was a great day I tasted in it the taste of success.it was my first graduation in my life
On the 12th July it was the graduation party of Orouba Language School. The school is set every year a graduation party for its graduates as an appreciation for them in addition that this school includes all the stages of education so the student enters this school as a baby and graduates from the same school so it produce a new class every year. the school calls the student at home informing me that our graduation will be held on the 12th of July.

when I knew that I will graduate I was so glad I said to myself “Finally my graduation” as I spent bad moments in the secondary stage like unfair exams and low scores I feel that it will be a nice party I will renew my confidence.my school call me to come to school to take my graduation coat and the invitation cards. So I went with my mum to receive everything.

The party will be held in “Kaat El Motamarat” on the 8:00 pm. I had to prepare for that day so I went with my mum to buy my graduation dress, she did all her best to make me pretty in that day. she is always said “this day from the important days in the life, so I have to be fine to enjoyed it”. While I am preparing to that party I was so happy and very exciting for it. So days passed after I had my collage exams the day of the party come.

Firstly I went with my dad in the morning to make a try on the party ,there people teach us how to walk, look on the stage.it was a nice feeling to see my school friends. After I know what I will do in the party, I and dad returned to home to wear my new dress. I was so excited and afraid that anything wrong may happen to me there or on stage.

I went with my family to the party on 7:00 pm, all the parents entered the hall but the graduates still outside the hall.in this time I and my friends were taking photos with our graduation coats, celebrate the day and the headmasters come to have a photo with all the students.it was nice picture. Its 8o`clock they started to arrange the students to enter the hall my heart was beating quickly because I was happy as mum and dad were waiting for me and scared that I may fall off from stairs as I wear high heels. This is always the fear of any girl in any party!

My turn is come and I entered the hall I found all people clapping for all the students. I see the happiness in the eyes of the student`s mothers and then the party started by a speech said by the head principle Hussien el Rashdy, this speech was including appreciation for us as we study hard. He was thanking us for our efforts and he wished for us a successful future. After the speech two teachers started to call the names of the students to come to the stage to receive their certificates.

They stopped to listen for anther speech.it said by two students who spent all their life in that school, the speech was very sensitive it made people cried. They were saying that they were entering the school babies crying need to leave the school and now they are crying because they didn’t like to leave the school.

It was a nice speech I` ve ever heard. Then they started again to call the names and my turn comes to go to receive my certificate they call my name, I was very afraid but happy I feel a strange feeling when I was on the stage taking my certificate especially when I saw mum and dad happy proud of me and clapping, and all people clapping it was a wonderful feeling I` ve ever feel. The party had finished by singing the first song we learned in the school and we finally the national anthem.

After the party has finished I took photos with my friends, I was so sad because this images may be the last images I will take them with my friends as everyone has its own life ,collage so I will never see them or if I will see them it will be long periods. The party was perfect. I consider that party a celebration for my success. I wish that day repeated and feel again what I felt when I received the certificate.

My first experience sad one

My first experience

It was a day engraved in my memory. I will never forget that day as my dreams were fading away in it.Raghda Hany reports.

It was 17^th august the day of the results of second year of secondary stage. My family was staying at home worrying about the result. They were waiting for the end of this tiring journey that lasted for two years. I was at my room sitting in front of my computer waiting for my result very afraid thinking of my future remembering the days of the exams and the suffering days of the study. Remembering my dad`s promises and the party that will held for me if I get high score dreaming of my mum`s hug when she feel that her daughter is clever. I wished in that day that I please my parent and God crowned my hard study with high score. It was the most difficult two years I `ve spent.

From two years I choose to study science because I like biology and

Chemistry. I want to be a doctor to help poor and other dreams as well as dad always expressing his hope in me to be successful doctor and take a pride in me that his daughter is a doctor so I entered. I did all my best in studying I was staying late till 5:00 am only studying. A year passed and the time of exams came in the first stage the exams were easy. I got 90% and when I heard that score I saw all people were fade away as a I took a shock so I fainted. This score is low score. It gave me a sign that my way in science is considered to be a failure but I didn’t give up. after crying and being sad for nearly a month. Dad entered my room encouraging me to continue to study science and he promised me if I get the same score in the next year he will let me join a pharmacy faculty in any private collage. I was in that time breaking just thinking that I want to study literature to get high score and to enter mass communication in the Cairo University.

All my hope in that time that I study and gain high score just feel that I am a successful person that can please her parent easily and gain from her study good marks. Of course I was feeling bad when I heard that my friends that were with me in the private lessons got scores more than me. Finally I thought in my dad`s offer and I accepted this offer believing that God will give me my suffering in the study in a double way in the score so I continue studying science. The second years started and I never give up I started to study again harder than the first year trying to get high score the most difficult subject I `ve ever studied, it was the physics. Physics means the failure to me. I was studying it and have a fear.

The time of exams of the second year came. I considered this time my last chance to join pharmacy faculty in the cairo university my dreamy faculty! But unfortunately this year I don’t know what`s happened to the professors who set and write the exams, the exams came in unusual way .they came out of the syllabus. The students in this year were crying shocking from the exams. Finally I got 88.9% and it was a disaster again .when I heard again that bad score I remembered my bad luck and I smile. The feeling of success I didn`t feel it unfortunately.

My parent was very sad as they believed in me especially my father. He always says Dr. roro this was my nickname, but it`s over now I got 88% no Dr. roro no more, according to the Egyptian universities Business Arabic faculty accepted me and this was unacceptable atoll after all that study I became an accountant. Then my parent searched the private universities. They played a great role in my life, they helped me, they encourage me in all ways. They were beside me while I am breaking .they were supporting me under any conditions.

Finally I choose to enter the faculty of mass communication a brunch which is very interesting to study I was escaping from science. I refused to enter anything related to science. Thanks god in the first year I got high GBA, I was very happy as it has been so long since I feel that feeling, the feeling of success I considered this my first experience .when the university started I was losing my confident in myself always remember that if I study hard I will get nothing but the opposite happened and I studied and got high GBA and please my parent. I hope now to continue that success till the fourth year. Always God give the best. The person has to try millions time to be a successful person and to do his best even he entered something he didn’t planned one day to do it or enter it.

The largest demonstration

A largest demonstration

A Largest demonstration occurred in Alexandria. It is the latest in a series of protests in the case of Khaled Said.Raghda Hany reports.

On 25 June, the largest demonstration occurred in Alexandria at Sidi Gaber district after Friday prayer demanding to put an end for police brutality.

It is the first time to the former UN nuclear chief, Mohamed ElBaradei to join a protest himself. The demonstration become largest since Mohamed ElBaradei involved in it. There were from 2,000 to 5,000 people in the protest, making it one of the biggest opposition demonstrations occurred till now.

They were shouting “Change” and holding posters of “khaled said” who has killed by hands of police officers.

ElBaradei has paid a visit to Said’s home to offer condolences to his family. Then he moved inside the demonstration.

Hundreds of police and anti-riot forces surrounded the protesters, not only ordinary citizens who participated in the protest but also the 6^th April youth movement, Muslims brotherhood and opposition politicians.

Protesters were holding signs written on it “Our condolences to Freedom" and "Long Live Egypt". And others shouting "Down with (President Hosni) Mubarak".

They were asking the ousters of the interior minister “Habib El Adly” as he failed to secure the Egyptian citizen.

According to the witnesses, said killed after being beaten by two police officers then dragged him out of the internet café and beat him till death.

On other side the interior minister said that said died after swallowing a package of narcotics when approached by officers.

Pictures of khaled said with his bruised face are spreading on internet networking and websites and all these protests make the issue public opinion ,as he is become victim of the emergency law

Campaigners say “Said's death is evidence that Egypt's emergency law has created a culture of police impunity”.

In addition to the political activists said “this incidence is a proof that the emergency law created a legacy of police impunity”.

"There were thousands of people, and thousands more in the streets near the mosque," said Hassan Nafaa, the coordinator for the National Association for Change set up by ElBaradei to call for political reforms.

Khaled said who 28 years old he died on 6^th June after being beaten by a pair of police officers and dragged him out of the internet café and beat him till death.

A Sudden Visit

A sudden visit
The minster of transportation had paid an unordinary visit to the railway station .Raghda Hany reports.
The minister of transportation “Alaa Fahmy” had promised the citizens to set up urgent plans to improve the railway stations in Egypt, besides the building of bridges and tunnels to make the movement of transportation easier.
After he had taken a normal not conditioned train from Tanta railway station to Kafr El Sheikh Railway station talking to people within the train and they told him about the poor conditions of the trains they had.
The minister insisted to sit beside the driver in the new American train and talk to him till Banha.
He promised to advance an urgent plan to develop all the railway stations in Egypt.
He also confirmed that all the plans for improving the transportation in Egypt depends on the establishing several longitudinal and transverse axes to link the streets in Egypt with each other.
“I will not accept any road except if it follows the international tips that maintain the safety of citizens” he stated.
As he clarified that the cost of the projects and bridges in the two governorates reaches more than one billion pounds.
He also added that the government started to build a high bridge over Tanta agriculture way with the intersection of kafr el sheikh to avoid accidents.
“There is an urgent plan to develop 345 tunnels in different governorates with modern techniques” he said.
The minister “Alaa Fahmy” during his tour inspected the duplication process of mahala and kafr el sheikh which costs450 million pounds.it includes three lanes in every direction
Along the 35 km and below 7 tunnels, 12 bridge with a view to Make the movement transportation simple.
He also inspected the process of creating a way of Kafr El-Sheikh and Desouk as well as by Tanta Kafr El-Sheikh length of 35 kilometers at a cost of 250 million pounds.