By Mme Sosostris Rubber ducks may make bath time fun, but that is not how the British Council in Cairo is using them. A flock of 2000 yellow rubber ducks raced down the River Nile last Friday to make splash with the launching of the free English language learning website www.go4english.com,www.go4english.com,as singer Khaled Selim, guest of honour, waved his hands. By completing the entry quiz on the website, nearly 4,500 people adopted ducks free of charge and had the chance to win digital cameras and free English language courses at the British Council. In an attempt to raise money for the Children's Cancer Hospital 57357, 3,000 duck-shaped cookies were sold for three pounds each during the event. The Assistance to Young Diabetics Programme (AYD) in Egypt, headed by Laila Sioufi, won the International DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs) award for the year 2004. DAWN is the largest global psychosocial diabetes study of its kind ever conducted. It addresses the perceptions and attitudes of more than 5,000 people with diabetes and 3,000 healthcare diabetes professionals, in a total of 13 countries. AYD won the award out of 65 applicants from 31 countries. AYD and the four runners-up; Mexico, Poland, New Zealand and the Netherlands, presented unique approaches in providing psychological and social support for people with diabetes. For the past three years, AYD has been instrumental in providing children with diabetes and their families with therapeutic education and psychological care. Also the AYD aims at ensuring youngsters have the knowledge and skills to self-manage their condition. In the setting of exotic India, His Highness the Aga Khan honoured Omayma Hatem, the wife of Egyptian architect Mamdouh Hamza, for her husband's work on the Alexandria Library. The library was one of seven projects selected for the 10th cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture -- one of the most prestigious architecture awards in the world. Hatem attended on behalf of her husband. World renown singer Enrico Masias was given a red rose by a lovely young girl as a means of thanks for his generous contribution to several children's hospitals and cancer institutes for children in Egypt. The singer donated the proceeds of his last concert to the cause of Egypt's children. The event was attended by Osama El-Baz, political adviser to the president, and as well the beautiful Jehan El-Sadat, wife of the late president Anwar El-Sadat. In this world rife with misunderstanding, intercultural dialogue is an absolute necessity. Italy is doing much to promote that with a series of EuroMediterranean events. The latest was that of the first EuroMediterranean Concert aimed at such dialogue. The concert, entitled "Let the Mediterranean Sea be a Sea of Peace", was led by Eugenio Bennato, with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui. It included the participation of Italy's Taranta Power, Egypt's Fathy Salama, Algeria's Hasna El-Becharia, and Jordan's Tala Tutunji. The most inspiring event was held under the auspices of Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, Italian Ambassador to Egypt Antonio Badini, and President of the Mediterranean Laboratory Foundation Michele Capasso. During the concert Kamal Zuheir, president of the Council of Greater Cairo Library was awarded the 2004 Mediterranean Culture Prize. � Vows of love are always pleasing. Last week diplomat Karim Mokhtar exchanged rings with pharmacist Sara Mahmoud Hamad in a lovely gathering of family and friends. We wish the couple the best of luck, in particular with preparations for the much greater vow; that of matrimony. � My dears cartoons are always a pleasant way of reflecting on the turbulent state of the world. Mohamed Said Badawi has done a fantastic job of that, being awarded a certificate of merit and the fifth place prize at the 13th International Daejeon Cartoon Contest held under the theme "Home and Friend to build the new world". � On the occasion of the visit of Greek Prime Minister Costas Krafilis to Egypt, Natouli Paskoupoli, Greece's ambassador to Egypt, held a lovely reception in his honour. Among the elite guests who gathered for the occasion, was Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Minister of State for Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish, Minister of Justice Mahmoud Abul-Leil, Minister of Education Ahmed Gamaleddin, and Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa. Also in attendance was a distinguished guest, the bishop of the Monastery of Saint Catherine. � On the occasion of the visit of Greek Prime Minister Costas Krafilis to Egypt, Natouli Paskoupoli, Greece's ambassador to Egypt, held a lovely reception in his honour. Among the elite guests who gathered for the occasion, was Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Minister of State for Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish, Minister of Justice Mahmoud Abul-Leil, Minister of Education Ahmed Gamaleddin, and Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa. Also in attendance was a distinguished guest, the bishop of the Monastery of Saint Catherine. � Dialogue is always a positive thing if approached with an open mind. Last week Cairo got a dose of that good thinking when the leaders of Egypt's Cultural Palaces held an open dialogue hosted by head of the palaces Mustafa Elwy. The event involved the discussion of the importance of cultural training workshops and dialogues to better the nation as a centre of cultural expertise in the region.
