Social networks are connecting
Interview with Sara Eldemerdash, 25, Egypt
- Before going to Sweden, the only place I was able to speak out was among family and friends. Not because I was scared. I didn’t think it was appropriate.
Sara Eldemerdash says that the YLVP experience changed her perspective on freedom of expression.
- I had never heard of (fellow YLVP-participant and activist) Wael Abbas before coming to Sweden. I was fascinated. But when I realized what kinds of problems he is facing with the authorities, I was also frightened. After all I work for a governmental organization. But slowly I realized there are many other, more harmless ways, of expressing yourself. It is not as if I am going to start a revolution the next day.
Sara began blogging and tweeting and posting comments on Facebook. At first in English, which is more safe.
- There are lots of magazines in Egypt that freely talk about issues like drugs, sex, lesbians. They are considered harmless unless they start publishing in Arabic.
But later she started writing in Arabic. About her work-place: the Ministry of Family and Population in Cairo.
- I discovered there were lots of things I could write about in a critical way: budget and expenditure-issues and work-ethics, for example. I am not an activist who will get into jail. I am a normal person, but I can express myself.
Family and friends were worried. They said she was crazy, ”you have to delete your status!” But that also changed.
- Now many of my friends have started blogging. They realized it is not dangerous. I encourage them. Some are still hesitant to switch to Arabic, but they will. I know. Because I have been through the same process.
Sara also started a social media project together with a fellow YLVP-participant to transform the Ministry of Justice website from a wallpaper to public relations success-story – an interactive website with community participation, employee input, online questions, complaints and applications.
However, trying to implement some new thinking has not been an entirely positive experience. Sara has felt extremely frustrated and distressed at the lack of change in the Ministry of Family and Population.
- When the new minister was appointed, we all partied. We felt that she would be able to change things. But is has been somewhat of an Obama experience. Nothing has happened.
Sara decided to write an anonymous email to the minister, outlining what she saw as the major problems in the ministry in terms of lack of efficiency, of cooperation between employees.
- Most people are focused on impressing the minister. They don’t care about enhancing development or changing their attitudes. If they don’t feel like cooperating, they just don’t. And many of our ministers in Egypt are only concerned about one thing: media exposure.
Sara’s email to the minister resulted in a staff meeting two days later. The minister took the criticism seriously, but basically blamed the employees and said: there has to be change.
- Then she left the matter, and of course nothing changed. And she doesn’t care”.
But despite setbacks, Sara still thinks the YLVP-experience has been extremely important and empowering, albeit not something that enhanced her leadership skills.
- If you ask me what was the major thing that happened to you in the past five years, my experience in Sweden would come number one. In the beginning I was impressed by the fact that I was in Europe. It was my first time in Europe. I was also kind of nervous. I always had this problem with self confidence meeting people who went to language schools and American universities.
Sara comes across as a typical ”Zamalek”-girl. I.e. well-educated, upper-class, articulated, self-confident. But in fact, her education was completely in Arabic. She grew up in Saudi Arabia and her parents simply could not afford to send her to language schools Back in Egypt, she attended Ain Shams-university, not the American University, AUC, which in some ways makes her an outsider in Cairene elite circles.
- I always felt it was a challenge to prove that education is not the most important. As long as you know what you want and who you are.
And Sara did show everyone that she knows what she wants on one of the first days in Sweden, during a leadership excercise where the participants were blindfolded and were told to organize.
- The only tool I had was my voice, so I shouted. Everyone knew who I was after that. It became a kind of confidence booster. Now it’s funny they have that videoclip of me shouting on the promotion film for the YLVP-program.
Sara feels she rather quickly settled into her role as one of the most active YLVP-participants. And her initial fears of not fitting into the group vanished. But she says she was surprised at how different they were, all these young people form the Middle East.
- I was shocked to learn how different we are. I never realized how political differences and nationalistic identities can affect personal relations. This is deep down inside us. There were alot of arguments and clashes. Whether we like it or not, we Egyptians have this thing against Palestinians. But then many others were critical of Egypt’s harsh policies against Gaza. It was a challenge to move beyond the stereotypes.
Looking back at the weeks in Sweden, Sara says that whenever she does something related to social media, she thinks of the YLVP.
- Before joining the program, every time I heard people talking about technology and IT, I thought they were crazy nerds. Not anymore. I realize what a strong tool it is. I really feel empowered by this new skill. But I don’t think this program should be called ’Young LEADERSHIP visitors program’, it should be called ’social media visitors program’. I didn’t come back to Egypt with any leadership skills. But I know alot about social media.
Listen to an interview with Sara