ZAMALEK ASSOCIATION REVAMPS FISH GARDEN

Yasmine Altawdy
Jul 27, 2017 · 17 min read

“Zamalek Association is the contact between Erteka2 and the Fish Garden. Erteka2 donated to the Fish Garden to take over hygiene work for a year. Today is their first meeting after a month to see what has been accomplished and what challenges they faced.

Volunteers Alia Defrawi and Shahira Idriss took over the project of revamping the Aquarium Grotto, better known as the Fish Garden, and this has been their experience as Zamalek volunteers.

We also managed to get a few choice comments from Zamalek’s First Lady, Tawfika Tawfik, affectionately known as TITA, who graced us with her presence.”

Zamalek Association is the contact between Erteka2 and the Fish Garden. Erteka2 donated to the Fish Garden to take over hygiene work for a year. Today is their first meeting after a month to see what has been accomplished and what challenges they faced. Volunteers Alia Defrawi and Shahira Idriss took over the project of revamping the Aquarium Grotto, better known as the Fish Garden, and this has been their experience as Zamalek volunteers. We also managed to get a few choice comments from Zamalek’s First Lady, Tawfika Tawfik, who graced us with her presence. Donations were generously offered by Mrs. Youssriya Sawiris and her son Samih Sawiris.

ALIA: Erteka2. One of the main projects we have been working on for a long time in the association is the cleanliness/hygiene/garbage campaign. This is the biggest problem facing Zamalek Association now, and it is continuous. This is the biggest project with daily updates and meetings and we meet with the head of the municipality.

YT: What is the relationship like between the municipality and Zamalek Association?

ALIA: It’s fine they say they are helping but it takes time and bureaucracy. But they meet and talk with us and want to help but we all at the end of the day are waiting for the time, every paper takes a long time to be signed, which is a problem.

TITA: Alia has been with us since the beginning in revamping the fish garden.

YT: So what are the latest developments of Zamalek Association including Erteka2 and what’s happening with Erteka2? Can you give me background on Erteka2.

ALIA: Erteka2 is a private garbage collection company that is founded and owned by Mrs. Youssriya Sawiris, and they have been actively cleaning up a lot of areas in Cairo not Zamalek. Zamalek is stuck with a very hopeless contract with a company called AMA and their problems are beyond my understanding but we cannot get Erteka2 to Zamalek yet, so we managed last year to finally get the ok to get their car to the fish garden exclusively, as an exception, to clean up the garden and we managed to get funds from Mrs. Youssriya and her son Samih as a donation for free. Erteka2 are going to be responsible for cleaning the garden for one year. In that year we are trying our best to find a formula where we can have a bit of a channel, of a liaison, from the government and the authorities and the hierarchy to be able to find a protocol where the garden can eventually sustain itself by having proper workers, qualified workers.

YT: So you want to train the employees of the garden, you want to give them the knowhow?

ALIA: Exactly and to draw the attention to that as a pilot project for them to accept to give the garden more employees from the government because they’re not allowed to have more people now so we only depend on three people who are actually doing the cleanup and the gardening and they’re not gardeners, so we’re trying to push, push, push by showing them that they’re making events, they’re making more money, we can have a lot of activities happening and this is the result of the Association, we got donations for that, we cleaned up, we changed the bathrooms as you’ll see in the pictures, we did a lot of work and right now we’re going to start raising funds to improve and redo the pond because as you see there’s no filtering, the white ceramic doesn’t go with the style of the Grotto. So slowly, slowly we’re trying to have them feel us and cooperate.

YT: Did you sit down with Zamalek Association and conduct a proposal or feasibility study or projected what you want to do in a year, 5 years or 10 years from now?

ALIA: We did a presentation that we worked on and it was finished last July and it was supposed to be a joint venture — me as part of Zamalek Association — and what we would like to do in the garden and how to do it and the situation now. What we would like to see and we need a green light from the government to be able to go start collecting funds like going to the Canadian embassy, German embassy but we cannot take the money. We have to have an ok from the authorities. The garden has to be able to sustain itself later so the money that’s given to us is not going down the drain.

YT: So are you facing any issues with them right now?

ALIA: We’re not facing any issues. Actually they’re extremely welcoming and it’s just that they are trapped in the way they work the bureaucracy and they’re trapped in lack of proper awareness and education generations through generations and they cannot work differently and people change and you go to the minister and he’s very cooperative then he leaves and you have to work with the channels. So this garden reports to something called Centralized Gardens which is located in the zoo and then the zoo it reports to the ministry of agriculture and then the grotto reports to the ministry of antiquities and two little buildings belong to the ministry of irrigation so you are talking about — for example if you are walking in the grotto you will have somebody from the antiquities write a complaint against the manager of the garden that we’re interrupting the antiquities. They said it belongs to the antiquities, exactly.

YT: Do they feel like you’re encroaching upon their territory?

ALIA: I don’t know what they feel no. I think that they’re very happy that we come and we do petty work. The garden is clean, people are coming, we have the events, your people can come now. They think it’s good like that. The grotto is in a condition where you cannot make an aquarium in it because it will cost a lot and it’s really a bit old so we wanted to turn it into a museum and kind of find something about Egyptian sea life in Egypt, the history of the Nile, the fish, and they have an office building where it’s a villa in the back it’s completely ruined and they have pools where they used to grow fish in the 70s and the 80s and they’re completely obsolete. So we said we can get a grant to make a new aquarium that won’t cost millions and currently even children that come in ask where’s the fish? It’s very interesting I mean the potential, and it’s right here in Zamalek, people live here, people are ready to pay. The cafeteria for example, this guy has a contract that ends in 2016, he’s exclusive. You cannot come and put a kiosk, and look at the way it is, look at the furniture. So at least what we want is to improve the facade of the kiosk, change the furniture completely and then try to interfere with the new people that are going to come because we want to ensure they won’t have shisha, they won’t turn it into a junk food area and then it’s expensive it’s not like it’s here for the poor people because it’s not. So whoever has to be here has to cater for not privileged people but from anybody from Egypt who wants to come.

YT: And your position in Erteka2?

ALIA: I have nothing to do with Erteka2. I’m the middleman. I got Erteka2 to the garden and I’m kind of taking care of the garden out of love to the garden.

YT: So you’re doing it as sort of social responsibility and community work.

ALIA: And Shahira Idriss my friend is in charge of the gardening.

YT: Are you both Zamalek residents?

ALIA: We are Zamalek residents, we are part of the Zamalek Association, so they created a committee for the fish garden and the two of us opted to do things, Shahira and I. However, the legalities with the municipality and the governor it’s all channeled through the Zamalek Association. Where we’re at right now is preparing reports, arranging meetings for them to come and see it as we need their support. You know it took Erteka2 nine months until Tita was able to get clearance for Erteka2 to go in. I met Youssriya Hanim in Eid and she told me I have a budget, 120,000 LE from Samih, should I return it? I said please don’t return it, we’re hoping to get you in and luckily we didn’t return it and she paid a hundred thousand from her pocket so that’s the budget and it’s a lot of money for Erteka2 in a year.

TITA: It was not easy and I did everything myself because I said I will not delegate to anybody.

ALIA: Tita is the person who actually very smoothly is persistent since years and perseverant with the officials and the police. Today what I’m doing is I bought again rolls of mesh to put it on the back fence because we didn’t have time to plant the back fence because the police station threw all their garbage from the kiosk inside the garden, just like that, through the fence. Anyway so this is what we’re doing so far.

YT: So this is your understanding as service delivery in the community, this is part of what you do.

ALIA: It’s what I can do and deliver. I cannot do bigger things because if I start something I have to be able to do it so for me it’s the garden which is already a big thing so I’d rather go through that and concentrate on it with the time I can give.

YT: So if I understand you correctly Zamalek Association currently now is working on pavements, Erteka2 and the garbage. But we’ll focus on the garden.

ALIA: Our garbage problem has been there for years, and there is an update every single day, there is no final decision. The thing we are working on today is we limited the cars entering Zamalek.

YT: Are there any policies or any rules or regulations that you want to change in the garden?

ALIA: Yes of course, we are trying. Eventually if we want to do something like the perfect solution for this garden we need to have a committee like a board of trustees. I mean us, people who are from Zamalek, people who are from the government so in the future nobody will come and take over that garden if the government changes and changes it into this joint where you really don’t have anything to do with the essence of the garden. You need to develop the plants, you need to develop the grotto, you need to do it in the same spirit when it was built in the time of the Khedive and this is what we’re aiming at. So far, they don’t want that. They say you do it we’re not interfering, why do you want a committee? We are here. The money that comes to the garden doesn’t come to the garden, it’s like a guardianship that goes to the centralized gardens and when you need a plumber they send you a plumber, they send the salaries. So ok today you need to collect anything you have no asset. You have to wait, write a demand and so forth. So we want somehow to find a channel where part of the income of the garden which has increased by the events that took place and all is to be in a kind of a fund for the garden so it can sustain its expenses. So this would be good because let’s say you have a plumbing issue, it can wait for a week until they send a plumber if they have a plumber. So you have to find a way. We are trying to find a formula where we can come in and not waste all the efforts to reach a dead-end at the end. I mean already they accept us because sometimes you go to government areas where you’re really not wanted. At least here somehow they are welcoming. People are polite. Ok, they maybe a bit like “ok we’ll do it tomorrow or after, we have asked and sent the memo, we’re waiting for the answer,” so you just have to — for me I’m learning to be patient. If I wanted it my way I wouldn’t come back. So right now, because I first collected petty cash from people, petty cash allowed us to get donations to redo the mosque from inside, I know somebody who got us ceramic for the bathroom, you know little things, but this is done. Ok now I got you a big contract for Erteka2 if I don’t get Erteka2 in I’m not going to work anymore because how can I go to someone else to give me a bigger fund or to prepare a proper study for an aquarium if I don’t have your backup. So I abstained, I just didn’t come from July till Tita told me I got you the signature.

YT: You’re just the middle person between them. So what have you learnt from working in the fish garden and working in community service?

ALIA: That it’s beautiful that we can sit now feeling comfortable. We see people coming in doing yoga; people doing birthday parties, even people who used to come before — we used to have a lot of weird people coming in, nobody would even come close to the garden because of them. Now normal people come, couples, and look, it’s so nice to have people have a place and drink their tea or even go and have a little flirt, that’s really nice, where else can you go?

And then you have young boys but many young kids come from school. They come in at the school hours so we’re trying to tell them at the gate that they have to ask them where are you coming from, where is your school, give me your ID. So just for us to control this so we don’t have delinquents running around. If we do what we want to do here, then it will be a big success for Egypt I think because it could be a pilot project and they want to do the other gardens but we don’t have enough volunteers. We need volunteers. “I’m taking the Orman garden, I will do the x job, I know the Canadians, I know the Germans” This is what we need. At the end of the day we are currently 4 people doing everything with the association and we cannot we will burn out and then legally in an association we cannot be elected after a few years, other people have to come in for the association. You cannot keep the same board forever, so who else can replace us? Nobody’s showing any interest. We need a second generation. This is crucial.

YT: What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of working here in the fish garden?

ALIA: The advantage is that you are creating something and you see good results for the community even for the life of the garden, the plants and it’s cleaner. The disadvantage is this deadlock of not having people able to — like Shahira comes and we want to focus on plants, she wants to plant and I want to clean the left wing — we don’t have resources it’s just two people who have to do that today. If we had six people we would have 2 here, 2 there and 2 there. We come and we want to mow the lawn but we don’t have petrol. I had to once bring them petrol illegally from Gouna in my car. It’s very risky because the government now doesn’t give them petrol so what do you do? You know it’s frustrating. It’s actually very frustrating.

YT: Do you think we actually need to educate Zamalek residents about community work and its importance and value?

ALIA: Everybody is very good at judging and complaining and they attack what the association is doing, but what can they do? We started in 2013. They are really, really working hard. People are complaining — typical Egyptian — why don’t you volunteer instead, what can you do? Ok money is the easiest thing I found. Just to give you an idea, the donations that I got, and they are including anybody who sent direct help, let’s say somebody has a farm, they would send me for example plants and workers for a week. This is not monetary value, it’s a lot of time, and it’s a lot of effort. Let’s say Gawhara sent me the ceramic for free. We did a lot of things, collected 308,000 LE to date. And then to add the children’s garden it cost us 100,000 LE. So I mean it’s a lot of money so the government should not send us away.

YT: So do you think there will be changes in the understanding of community service in the next few years?

ALIA: Yes, I hope so. You know you feel it. I mean sort of Egyptians are judgmental and they interrupt and cannot really carry a proper discussion because they shout over each other but you see a lot of art, a lot of culture, a lot of pop art, a lot of people going around Cairo photographing. I met Karim El 7ayawan who takes photos of Cairo in Aroma where I sometimes go for coffee and every Saturday they go for walks in Cairo from 9 am till 11:30 and they take photographs. So things like this will help. For example, we ask the kiosk why they are their throwing garbage there? And their excuses are weak, so slowly, I mean it takes a lot more. And if we solve the garbage problem in Zamalek I think this will help.

YT: So what are the key components of building a community volunteer ethos and service mentality?

ALIA: Primarily I think you need to increase people’s awareness, proper education and for the young generation to start getting involved in things rather than this night life. It’s not only about giving money. Awareness, education, exposure. We’ve become too conventional. And it’s very materialistic. I mean now the kids go out shopping, have fun. Something’s wrong. But that’s about Egypt not only Zamalek.

YT: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Zamalek now?

ALIA: It’s the overpopulation of people coming in, like the schools, the banks, the food joints and hence the garbage. They need to limit the amount of coffee shops and food joints, it’s killing Zamalek.

YT: Are you aware that the case is the same in Mohandessin, Heliopolis and Maadi? I’ve seen that the same thing happening in every single neighborhood. They’re opening up food joints and kiosks and shops.

ALIA: Let me tell you something if you live in Zamalek and you have a garage and you don’t have much income because Zamalek residents pay old rents so it’s a lot of ladies who don’t have income and then someone approaches them with 60,000 LE a month, of course she’ll agree. So I don’t know what the solution is. It’s a residential area; it’s a small area, so you need to limit the amount.

YT: And how do you think the economy is affecting community service?

ALIA: If there’s any good that came about from the January revolution is that many people are more aware of the community and there’s more initiative. I mean here every Saturday, Aziza Al Tanani comes with the street children and they have a fantastic program. They give them food, they educate them, they draw, and this is really good and they made an exhibition and sold their drawings and each child earned approximately 200 LE that day. So this for me is something.

YT: What values do you think are strongest in this type of work? What values do you need to have?

ALIA: Compassion. Dedication. Patience and team work. You’re forced to be part of a team because you cannot do it alone. I feel that Zamalek is my home. I tried living somewhere else it didn’t work. So I’m going to live here and die here I hope so I just want a cleaner place and less chaotic. You want to walk in the street but you just want it to be smoother.

YT: What do you like most about working with Zamalek Association?

ALIA: It’s the fact that you have dedicated people who have taken the initiative and they are continuing.

YT: They have started I believe since the 1990s.

ALIA: At the time of Guzine and Tita but I was not in Zamalek at the time but I refer particularly to Tita, Nazli and Selim who give a lot of their time and effort and dedicate themselves. Hopefully we’ll see the change or else we will lose it completely. They have stopped further deterioration. There’s been damage control.

YT: Can you tell me about a time you received some constructive criticism from somebody, if ever?

ALIA: We receive criticism, like you put pictures on Facebook about the garden and then you get the comment like “What’s that mess? That’s very disappointing!” Why don’t you read the comments, this is part of the renovation. We came in and it was a mess and there was garbage and we’re showing you before and after pictures and we’re raising money so we get criticism like, “What’s this place? It’s crap.” I’m not sure I can be very diplomatic in my answer but then I have to. But if somebody has a plan, “We don’t like that, but do that” — provide an alternative. And that would be a big help. Or they understand first and then criticize. People always attack Nazli and Selim because it’s lack of awareness. I feel compassionate towards them because what can they do? The truck comes and collects the garbage and half an hour later the shops throw out their organic garbage again.

YT: Do you have any suggestions for improving the overall residential experience for Zamalek residents?

ALIA: It has to be a cleaner place, more hygienic, more eco-friendly. You have to at least paint the buildings first. I don’t have an overall plan but we make proper short term decisions which eventually lead to better decisions.

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