Gehad Hussein watches how a revolution sparked social responsibility in governorates The destination is Toukh, a little village in Qalioubiya governorate. Reachable only through a one-street, two-way tunnel off Alexandria's Agriculture Road, Toukh is one of the less fortunate areas in Egypt. It was easy to tell why. With 4,237,000 inhabitants, Qalioubiya has an illiteracy rate of over 25 per cent, while 12 per cent of its population lives below the poverty line, says a 2010 UNDP Egypt Country Report. Finally, in one of the little side streets, a medium-sized, barely visible cardboard sign dancing in the wind on the entrance of an unfinished building says Resala, or message. And that is when 21-year-old Nadra Khaled appeared, a female volunteer in the 350-member-strong branch of Resala in Toukh, who was born and has lived all her life in the little village. "I want to look back on my life and feel like I really did something for my fellow humans, especially after the revolution," she said. Khaled is one of the lucky residents of Toukh. Unlike many girls there, she completed her education and is now a graduate of the Faculty of Monument Restoration at Cairo University. According to the 2010 UNDP report, in Qalioubiya, only 39 per cent of the population receives a secondary or higher education, of which 36 per cent are women. Currently unemployed and wanting to benefit her country, Khaled decided to join the Resala branch of her village when it was founded in August 2011. "Due to the revolution, most companies in my field of expertise were at a halt when I graduated, but I had an unstoppable drive to do something, so I turned to Resala. Why should I stay home doing nothing when I can be out there and change someone's life?" Khaled also sees her volunteer work as a chance to meet what she describes as "rich people" who have contacts that could help her in finding a suitable job. In her governorate, only 17 per cent of women are enrolled in the labour force, but that does not stop Khaled from trying. "Women all over the world get Nobel prizes and become ministers and chancellors. We can do the same. "Compared to others, I am very lucky, and as long as there is something I can do to help others who need aid, I will not hesitate in contributing to their well-being. "We [at Resala] organise workshops for the residents, help families with clothing and food, prepare newlywed couples with their marriage and house arrangements, open nurseries for parents who work all day, and teach the uneducated how to read and write. That's the least I can do. "Of course, I was not allowed to go out of the house during the revolution. Here, it is not appropriate for girls to join these kinds of things, let alone go to Cairo to join a sit-in or demonstration," Khaled added. Despite her parents' objections, after the revolution, they supported Khaled's passion for charity work. They approved mainly because of the proximity of Resala since it is just next door. The problem lies with the neighbours and residents of the village. "Boys and girls work together at Resala. 'You should not be working in mixed company,'" they say. Khaled simply replies: "The boys working with me are very decent and we have all become like a family. Society can pressure a person but one has to break free in order to move forward." When talking about her country, Khaled says she has always loved Egypt -- the good and the bad. "I was sure that something had to happen someday to turn this country into a better place." Despite the revolution "till now, all we hear is big talk about plans and possibilities, but no noticeable change has occurred. I believe the first tangible results will be seen after the presidential elections." "Of course there is hope," Khaled said when asked about the future of Egypt. "It's better to die than to live without hope. Egypt used to be the leader of the world, and we should work on regaining that status. Everyone should excel at whatever they are doing in order for us to develop and move forward." Being one of the more fortunate people who invest their time and effort in helping the unfortunate, Khaled is an example of self-sacrifice and kindness, and a good example to give those who believe Egypt is going down the drain.
