While Ken was hosting the Executive Committee (see below), Keli had her first visit and introduction to Mokattem (also spelled Mokattem and Moqattam), which is also called "garbage city"; Moqattem is just that, the place where the garbage collectors live and take their collections.
Keli learned that the location of this "city" actually changed 8 different times in its history due to eviction, to move the garbage (and thereby the collectors) further and further from the Cairo city limits until they moved so far out past the cemetery, thinking that the city would never expand that far. Of course, the city has expanded that far; in fact, not only are there residences in "garbage city", but also in the "city of the dead". Whereas the "city of the dead" is predominantly inhabited by Muslims, "garbage city" is predominantly inhabited by Christians; there is a large evangelical church that meets here and recently hosted 71,000 Christians for a prayer event on 11-11-11.
The residents, those who are in fact garbage collectors, bring the garbage back to this area. All of the garbage is sorted and recycled. Organic waste was eaten by pigs--the pigs were sold as they grew, and their waste along with any leftover waste provided for great compost that led to the sale of fertilizer. That is, until 2009 when Mubarak ordered the killing of all the pigs to prevent "swine flu". Apparently, no one in Mubarak's cabinet knew that swine flu is not actually transmitted by pigs; once they were told that this would not spread swine flu, Mubarak's mind was already made up and thought that killing the pigs would help clean up the city anyway. But, this had the opposite effect--without the pigs, there was no where and no one to dispose of all the organic waste.
Several organizations have also stepped in to provide additional learning and skills training options for the community. Making paper from recycled paper products leads to the production of greeting cards, gift bags, and other paper products. Ladies are taught how to use a loom and make rugs and blankets of various styles that are resold. There is a nursery (not an official school as that would fall under the guidance of the Department of Education), that cares for the children in the area. And opportunities to learn English.
Keli went with Hoda, one of the ladies from the CCF who is a regular volunteer here. We are attempting to learn about this and the other CCF outreach ministries so that we can not only participate, but know how to encourage the participation in these service ministries by other CCF members, particularly as we begin engaging the younger generations, and as we host international groups who want to learn about ministry in the Middle East. As we get more involved, there are likely to be many more pictures and testimonies...
Keli learned that the location of this "city" actually changed 8 different times in its history due to eviction, to move the garbage (and thereby the collectors) further and further from the Cairo city limits until they moved so far out past the cemetery, thinking that the city would never expand that far. Of course, the city has expanded that far; in fact, not only are there residences in "garbage city", but also in the "city of the dead". Whereas the "city of the dead" is predominantly inhabited by Muslims, "garbage city" is predominantly inhabited by Christians; there is a large evangelical church that meets here and recently hosted 71,000 Christians for a prayer event on 11-11-11.
The residents, those who are in fact garbage collectors, bring the garbage back to this area. All of the garbage is sorted and recycled. Organic waste was eaten by pigs--the pigs were sold as they grew, and their waste along with any leftover waste provided for great compost that led to the sale of fertilizer. That is, until 2009 when Mubarak ordered the killing of all the pigs to prevent "swine flu". Apparently, no one in Mubarak's cabinet knew that swine flu is not actually transmitted by pigs; once they were told that this would not spread swine flu, Mubarak's mind was already made up and thought that killing the pigs would help clean up the city anyway. But, this had the opposite effect--without the pigs, there was no where and no one to dispose of all the organic waste.
Several organizations have also stepped in to provide additional learning and skills training options for the community. Making paper from recycled paper products leads to the production of greeting cards, gift bags, and other paper products. Ladies are taught how to use a loom and make rugs and blankets of various styles that are resold. There is a nursery (not an official school as that would fall under the guidance of the Department of Education), that cares for the children in the area. And opportunities to learn English.
Keli went with Hoda, one of the ladies from the CCF who is a regular volunteer here. We are attempting to learn about this and the other CCF outreach ministries so that we can not only participate, but know how to encourage the participation in these service ministries by other CCF members, particularly as we begin engaging the younger generations, and as we host international groups who want to learn about ministry in the Middle East. As we get more involved, there are likely to be many more pictures and testimonies...
looking over Moqattem
along the narrow streets
learning the looms
learning different styles of rugs
these products were made by...
...this process of recycling paper products
Church in Moqattem
classroom in the nursery
the kids are all screaming "hello, hello, hello" -- it's the only English word they know :)
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