by Madame Sosostris In contrast with the early spring's grey skies and cold air, vibrant tulips light up Istanbul's streets. Turkey's national flower was described as "the saddest smile of them all", by poet and philosopher Mevlana Jalaleddin Rumi back in the 13th century. The more than three million tulips planted throughout Istanbul seem, nonetheless, to convey much happier thoughts to all of those visiting the city in late March through April, when the Istanbul Tulip Festival is celebrated. The beauty of tulip blossoms finds its most complete display in Sultanahmet and the surrounding area, where tourists and locals devote as much time to the flowers as to the historical sites. Sherif Sonbol's lens captured the allure of Turkey's spring. � Katia Philip, Dow's human resources manager for the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, is the first Egyptian woman to receive Dow's I Am the Human Element award. The award recognised Philip for her passion and contribution towards improving the lives of those less fortunate in Egypt as well as elsewhere in Africa. Since the age of 15, she has been pursuing what she calls "an incredible feeling of unconditional giving", building shelters for the homeless, cooking and providing food to the hungry, sponsoring those who need assistance in life and dedicating herself to all kinds of volunteer activities throughout Egypt. She has recently volunteered to serve some remote villages in southern Egypt, where she came into close contact with some of the neediest people, visiting the sick and distributing food and medication. Philip has been working with Dow Chemical in the Middle East for six years and in her capacity as a human resources manager, she works together with employees on a regular basis to teach and enlighten them on professional growth, recruiting and HR policies. Stefan Vos, human resources director for Dow Chemical India, Middle East and Africa, applauded Philip 's achievements, saying "Dow's I am the Human Element honours employees such as Katia who through their passion, courage, innovation, sincerity and attitude of fearless responsibility improve the lives of those around them who are less fortunate." � On 23 April, the American University in Cairo (AUC) Press Bookstores will celebrate World Book Day from 9am to 6pm at their three locations in Greater Cairo: in Downtown near Tahrir Square, in Zamalek, and in New Cairo at the new AUC campus. As part of the celebration, the AUC Press Bookstores will be giving away one free book, offering a choice between The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Under the Naked Sky : Short Stories from the Arab World, translated by Denys Johnson- Davies, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. On the day, university students will visit the bookstores set up by UNESCO to promote the pleasures of reading and the splendid contributions of the world's favourite writers. This date is symbolic since it represents the birth and death of many of the world's most prominent authors, such as William Shakespeare. As such it was a natural choice for UNESCO, in wishing to pay tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading. � The Heliopolis Lions Club (HLC), presided over by Safia Metwali, held a thrilling seminar at Sonesta Hotel hosting talented actress Raghda, who discussed her film career and the role she plays in charity work. At the end of the seminar Raghda was granted the HLC recognition shield amid a bevy of high-profile women attendees. � The Film Association's Festival, presided over by Mahmoud Abdel-Samie, held its closing ceremony at Cairo Cinema. Last summer's hit film Asef Ala Al-Ezaag (Sorry for the Inconvenience) picked up most of the festival awards. Gifted actor- comedian Ahmed Helmi was granted the award for best actor, while actresses Basma and Joumana Murad were singled out as best actresses. The best director award went to Khaled Marei and Mohamed Yassin, and finally the best scriptwriter award went to Ahmed Abdallah. Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture Ali Abu Shadi and Director Tawfiq Saleh distributed the awards and honoured a galaxy of actors, among them Salah El-Saadani, Mahmoud Yassin, Safia El-Emari, cinematographer Said El-Sheimi and media figure Dorriya Sharafeddin. � A prestigious cultural event was held at the Cairo Opera House Main Hall on the occasion of celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Faculty of Fine Arts under the auspices of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak in cooperation with Culture Minister Farouk Hosni and Minister of Higher Education and State for Scientific Research Hani Hilal. The celebration featured an operetta directed by Walid Aouni, accompanied by a movement performance, while the celebration attracted a galaxy of high-profile figures and intellectuals. The Supreme Council of Culture Secretary-General Ali Abu Shadi, President of Helwan University Abdallah Barakat and Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Mohamed Mekkawi distributed the honorary shields. Among the honourees were former head of the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces Ahmed Nawwar, renowned caricaturist Mustafa Hussein, artist Hussein El-Gebali, sculptors Adam Henein and Sobhi Guirguis, Al-Ahram plastic art critic Nagwa El-Ashri, professor of interior design at the Faculty of Fine Arts Aliya Abdel-Hadi, Helwan Governor Hazem El-Quwedi, and gifted painter Zeinab El-Segini. � Osrati (My Family) Association presided over by Samia Abul-Fotouh held a lavish charity celebration in the Golden Hall at Mohamed Ali Palace. Revenues from the celebration were donated to children afflicted with kidney failure at Abul-Reish Hospital. The opulent ceremony was presented by TV presenter Poussy Shalabi, honouring a bevy of celebrities and high-profile figures including Al-Ahram back page editor Mona Ragab as well as gorgeous actresses Yossra, Poussy, Nabila Ebeid and Lebleba. Renowned fashion designer Gina presented 50 soiree and wedding gowns for the latest fashion of 2009 by 10 models among them was former Miss Egypt Fawzia. Spouse of Chief of Presidential Staff Zakaria Azmi, spouse of former Egyptian ambassador to Israel Mohamed Bassiouni, veteran actress Laila Taher as well as members of the association Fatma Barada, Gihan Halawa, Fatma Abu Hatab, Samia Naguib, Hind El-Ramyeh and Mona El-Degwi were all present. � Summer comes along and brings music and art performances to the audience at Al-Geneina Theatre. After all, it is time for the launch of the summer season. This year, the opening programme includes a variety of music and art performances. From 20 to 22 April, Al-Geneina Theatre presented the great puppet musical Al-Leila Al-Kebira (The Big Night), written by Salah Jaheen to Sayed Mekkawi 's music, and Nagui Shaker 's puppets. The performance is directed by Salah El-Sakka. Tomorrow, Rima Khcheich, the distinguished Lebanese singer, will present for the first time in Egypt an unconventional duet performance with the Dutch bassist Tony Overwater. Khcheich, after a 25-year career in solo tarab singing, decided to go back to the roots of the musical experience: a voice and an instrument. She graduated from the Lebanese American University in Beirut and the National Conservatory of Music where she has been teaching for the last 10 years. She has performed live throughout the Middle East, Europe and the United States specialising in Arabic traditional vocal repertoires. Khcheich is invited on a yearly basis to Massachusetts in the US, where she teaches voice and classical Arabic singing at Mount Holyoke College under the framework of the Arabic Music Retreat, a programme directed by renowned musician and composer Simon Shaheen. She released her solo album Yalalalli in the Middle East in 2006, which features the participation of well-known musicians such as Ziad Rahbani on piano. Releasing her new album Falak in 2008, she collaborated with great Dutch jazz musicians such as Yuri Honing on the saxophone and Maarten Van der Grinten on guitar. Falak includes new compositions as well as old songs of late popular Egyptian singer-cum-composer Sayed Darwish and veteran Lebanese singer Wadie Al-Safi. ( see Listings p.5 )
