Bibliotheca Alexandrina publishes special issue of 'Memory of Egypt' highlighting local civil associations' role

CAIRO – 20 April 2022: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina published a special issue of “The Memory of Egypt” that documents some of the endless contributions of Egypt's civil associations over two centuries. 

Also, the special issue is loaded with articles and photos published for the first time about the efforts of Egyptians to establish civil associations that serve the goals and aspirations of the people in terms of social welfare, culture, science, development and human rights.

Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Mostafa el-Feki stated in the editorial of the issue that civil associations are deeply rooted in Egyptian history and sought throughout history to serve the classes of society that are most in need. Feki also added that the Egyptian elite played a role in creating national civil associations and spreading its services. 

The issue includes articles on the development of civil work in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the philosophy of charitable work in Egyptian popular culture. It also sheds light on a number of the most important associations in the Egyptian experience, such as the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation, the Geographical Society and the Historical Society; and underlines the role of the Islamic Charitable Society and the Society of Coptic Antiquities. 

The issue also dealt with associations of a special nature such as the Association of Pioneers of the Assiut Culture Palace, and the Association of Antiquities in Alexandria, in addition to the initiative to establish Cairo University. It further monitors the experience of the first Minister of Social Affairs Hikmat Abu Zeid, and her struggle with the elite of civil work women in the 60s of the 20th century.

A number of intellectuals and writers contributed to the content of the special edition, including Ayman Fouad el-Sayed, Mohamed el-Sharnoubi, Ahmed El-Gamal, among many others.