By Zahi Hawass Suzanne Mubarak's dedication to children, women, and peace is recognised all over the world. She has worked hard to improve the situation of women in Egypt, and is trying to educate the world about Muslim women. She is also responsible for raising issues concerning laws that give women more freedom to the attention of the public. I have witnessed personally her dedication to children. I have had the honour of working with her to build a special museum for children in Cairo. There is already a children's museum in Heliopolis, but Mrs Mubarak has realised that we are now in the 21st century and really need a museum for children that teaches them to love their country even more, and especially to care for their environment and their heritage. I began working with Mrs Mubarak on the new children's museum more than two years ago. She appointed me to be in charge of the project. All of the plans have been discussed with her in detail, and I am always very impressed by her knowledge of children's education. In fact, I have learnt much from her. She has great passion for children, and feels that every child in Egypt is her own. As we began our work, the team made a new architectural plan and a new scenario. Everyone was happy with the architectural design, but we were aware that Mrs Mubarak was not at all happy with the interior. We worked with her in reviewing the design, which had been made by an English company, but it was apparent that the current team would not be able to make her dream come true. She had a clear vision of how she could make children happy with the design of the new museum, and she was also very concerned about the training of the people who would work there. So we contacted people at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis -- one of the best children's museums in the world. We invited its president, Jeffrey Patchen, and vice- president, Jennifer Pace- Robinson, to help with the design of the children's museum in Cairo. After the discussion on the second day of meetings, Mrs Mubarak said to them, "I am glad that I have finally found people who can make my dream come true." I do not believe that there is a first lady that cares as much about children as Mrs Mubarak. Recently, I went to visit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Patchen stood up at a party with the most powerful and richest people in the region, who are supporters of his museum, and said how thrilled he was by the intelligence and dedication to children of Mrs Mubarak. He explained how he thought that he would go and shake her hand and greet her briefly, but ended up speaking with her for quite a while, discussing all the details of every space in the museum. What impressed him were her passion, intelligence, and love of children. At the press conference at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis for the opening of a new exhibition called Maps: Tools of Adventure, Pace- Robinson mentioned that Mrs Mubarak stressed the importance of maps to children in helping them understand their world. Pace- Robinson also said that Mrs Mubarak was a good example of how the wife of a leader can play an important role in helping their country. I am so happy to be an Egyptian working closely with Mrs Mubarak. Her work for peace and women is remarkable. She holds conferences in the United States, Europe, and Egypt in order to bring women together to work for peace. Mrs Mubarak is convinced that her movement can bring peace to the entire world and that women have the power to do this. Mary Eisenhower, daughter of president Eisenhower, met Mrs Mubarak through a programme called People for People, involving people who are actually in real positions to help bring about peace. She explained to me that there were many people who could be leaders and push for peace, but many do not. She sees enormous passion and dedication on the part of Mrs Mubarak to work for peace throughout the entire world, so that there will be no more killing but all of us can live with love. These are the ideas that Mrs Mubarak stresses all the time, and she is working hard to make happen. Knowing her, I believe that her dream will come true! When I wrote the book Realm of the Pharaohs this year, I dedicated it from my heart to Mrs Mubarak for her dedication to women, children, and peace. I believe that all of us should reward this lady for her wonderful work, and I believe that she deserves the Nobel prize.
