Egypt joins Geneva negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty, calls for urgent agreement    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Madinet Masr in talks for three land plots in Riyadh as part of Saudi expansion    Egypt's PM tells Palestinian PM that Rafah crossing is working 24/7 for aid    Egypt, Japan discuss economic ties, preparations for TICAD conference    Real Estate Developers urge flexible land pricing, streamlined licensing, and dollar-based transactions    Egypt's Sisi pledges full state support for telecoms, tech investment    EGP inches down vs. USD at Sunday's trading close    EGX launches 1st phone app    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Finding yourself
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 26 - 05 - 2016

After many writing trials and editorial meetings, students in the Department of English Language and Literature at the Women's Faculty at Ain Shams University in Cairo last month published the first edition of a new magazine entitled The Self. Sponsored by the Egyptian-International Publishing Company (Longman), the magazine includes opinion pieces and works of fiction.
“The Self is a spark of change,” said novelist Sahar Al-Mougy, a member of the editorial board, at the ceremony. She added that the magazine could serve as a venue for the publication of material testifying to “questioning and creativity that could lead to change”.
Al-Mougy won the Cavafy Prize for Literature for her novel Noun in 2007 and the Sharjah Women's Club Award in 1999 for her novel Daria. She is also a columnist, a college professor and a radio presenter. Her tips for others wanting to follow in her footsteps were to “read, to listen, and to do as much as you can to expand your knowledge and explore the world”. Creativity is the result of practice and hard work, she said.
“The first time you write is a challenge,” said Marwa Hanafy, The Self's editor-in-chief. She recalled how hard it was to let her students be “friendly with writing” and start their stories. “But The Self is a very good opportunity to explore capabilities.”
The magazine includes material on a wide range of issues that affect women attending college, including etiquette in class and what to wear, as well as success stories and book reviews. There is a section for inspirational stories and a talents section including photography, painting and short stories. A long piece in the first issue reviews two successful student productions of Shakespeare's Macbeth and The School for Scandal, by the English dramatist Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Egyptian novelist Mohamed Al-Mansi Qandil is also a member of the magazine's editorial board. He is best known for his novel Moon over Samarqand, which won the Sawiris Foundation Award in 2006.
The writer is a freelance journalist.


Clic here to read the story from its source.