Egypt has launched the "Memory of the City" smartphone application, designed to document the history of Egyptian cities, with officials stating its aim is to protect national identity and preserve the authentic spirit of urban areas. The application was introduced at a ceremony at the Small Hall of the Egyptian Opera House, attended by Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Culture. The National Organization for Urban Harmony (NOUH), headed by Mohamed Abu Saada, developed the app in collaboration with Osama Al-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC). Other attendees included Amr El-Bassiouny, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, and Alaa Abdel Salam, Head of the Egyptian Opera House. Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Culture, remarked, "This occasion holds special significance with the launch of the 'Memory of the City' application. It transcends being merely a digital project to become an effective tool for safeguarding our identity, documenting the collective memory of our cities, and reintroducing this heritage to new generations through a contemporary vision that respects history while engaging with the future." He emphasised that through this initiative, the Ministry strives to "protect the components of Egyptian identity and preserve the authentic spirit of our cities" amidst current global challenges. The Minister of Culture explained that the application is part of a comprehensive package of initiatives by the Ministry, in cooperation with relevant authorities, to consolidate national identity and enhance a sense of belonging. He described "Memory of the City" as "a living record of social, urban, and cultural history, combining images, information, and testimonies to reconnect people with places, and to highlight the aesthetics and transformations of our cities." Hanno also stressed the importance of "integrated efforts among state institutions," not only to celebrate the past but also to present its symbols as inspiring models for current and future generations. He extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project's implementation. Mohamed Abu Saada, Head of the NOUH, stated, "In collaboration with the IDSC at the Council of Ministers, we are launching this project to keep pace with the current era and anticipate future developments." Abu Saada described the "Memory of the City" app as a technological platform designed to make culture easily accessible to citizens. He elaborated that the project encompasses three main initiatives: "Lived Here," which documents the residences of Egyptian figures and pioneers in various fields using plaques with QR codes that provide biographies and documentary information; "Street Story," which shares the histories behind the names of famous streets through informational plaques across different governorates; and "Valuable Buildings," which documents and aids in the preservation of distinguished architectural structures in cooperation with relevant institutions. Abu Saada pointed out that the application enables users passing through areas featuring these initiatives to receive notifications and alerts about significant places, figures, or valuable buildings, thereby enriching citizens' understanding of their urban surroundings' history. He also thanked Ahmed Hanno for his continuous support and Osama Al-Gohary for their fruitful cooperation, underscoring that the application is part of a broader endeavour to "facilitate access to culture, and preserve heritage and national identity." Osama Al-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of the IDSC, said in his address, "This is not merely an occasion to launch a digital application, but an important human and knowledge-based milestone in a long journey of collaborative work." He added, "The story of 'Memory of the City' did not emerge from a vacuum; its roots were established in the 'Lived Here' project, launched in 2017." This initial project, he explained, began with copper plaques on buildings and has now expanded to over a thousand plaques distributed across Egypt's governorates. Al-Gohary affirmed that launching the application "represents a natural evolution of the project." He noted that it was designed to be "simple, rich, and interactive, enabling users to see their city as he has never seen it before – with an eye that knows and respects." He concluded his speech by stating, "'Memory of the City' is not an end, but the beginning of a larger vision through which we aspire to document all Egyptian cities and instill a respect for history in the consciousness of new generations." Al-Gohary also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Culture, Mohamed Abu Saada, and everyone who contributed to this achievement, stressing that this institutional partnership will yield more projects dedicated to heritage preservation. The launch ceremony featured a documentary film showcasing the application's content and functionality. It also included an honouring ceremony for Osama Al-Gohary and members of the scientific committees for the "Lived Here" and "Street Story" projects. The "Memory of the City" application integrates all projects under the "Memory of the City Series," launched by the NOUH in collaboration with the IDSC. It aims to make these initiatives readily accessible to youth, younger generations, and individuals interested in heritage and architecture. The application underscores the NOUH's commitment to engaging with society using contemporary language to consolidate heritage awareness and foster its preservation.
