Cairo International University Theater Forum ‎Creativity and Beauty By Hossam Badrawi

Our vision for education emphasizes the importance of developing young people‏’‏s ‎personalities, something that can only happen through engagement, cultural exchange, ‎art, and hobbies, coupled with the joy of learning and the guidance of mentors who ‎understand their roles. University theater is a meeting point for the arts, where young ‎people learn to adhere to strict rules while expressing creativity, reaching higher levels of ‎proficiency, respecting expertise, mastering language, public speaking, and interacting ‎with audiences. They practice the freedom of movement in all its beauty and elegance. ‎This is how education aligns with its true vision. We show that the goals of education can ‎be achieved without burdening the state, simply by permitting and providing a supportive ‎environment without interference, while offering expert mentorship in a flexible manner. All ‎this takes place with joy, sophistication, and smiles. This is what we achieve in the ‎University Theater Forum for young university students—a youth initiative organized and ‎prepared by their own minds and hands, even bearing some of the costs themselves. Oh, ‎the beauty of Egypt when you allow your youth the freedom to express and give them ‎space to succeed. We embark on a week of work, enjoyment, innovation, and creativity ‎starting now.‎

The forum this year is held under the slogan ‎‏“‏Create…Unleash,” from October 19 to 25, ‎‎2024. The esteemed artist Fouad El-Mohandes has been chosen as the symbol and icon ‎of the sixth edition, honoring his artistic contributions and the joy he brought us throughout ‎his career. This forum has attracted a large number of students from Egyptian, Arab, and ‎international universities around the world, with 26 countries from Europe, Latin America, ‎Africa, and most Arab countries participating this year.‎

The forum includes many events and competitions, with more than 765 participants from ‎various nationalities. Among them is a theatrical competition involving 11 plays from ‎universities in Romania, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, France, Oman, Iraq, Syria, as ‎well as Cairo, Helwan, Ain Shams, Galala University, and the Academy of Arts in Egypt. ‎The judging panel includes Dr. Rania Fathallah (Egypt), Professor Philippe Giget (France), ‎director Nejar Hasib, artist Shamal Amin (Austria), and critic Asmaa Hegazy (Egypt). ‎There will also be six specialized international workshops on theater arts: acting, body ‎expression, African dance, theater directing, improvisation, and puppet making and ‎movement, alongside a workshop for people with special needs. A total of 130 students ‎from Egyptian and Arab universities will participate in these workshops.‎

A roundtable will be organized to discuss advancing theater arts at universities, featuring a ‎distinguished group of researchers and artists, with an expected participation of 157 ‎students from Egyptian, Arab, and international universities.‎

We hope the Cairo International University Theater Forum achieves all its objectives as it ‎has since the first edition in October 2018. University theater is the theater of beginnings ‎and one of the most important sources of art and culture in any society. It stands out for ‎its creativity, the enthusiasm of university students, and their determination to achieve ‎self-fulfillment. Its creative significance lies in being ever-renewing, diverse in ‎perspectives, and rich in knowledge, making it an endless source of innovation. The most ‎beautiful aspect of the forum is the cultural, artistic, and intellectual exchange between ‎people from around the world, blending the joy and positive energy of youth with the ‎beauty and expertise of theater arts. The friendships formed and the love nurtured ‎throughout this week in the heart of Egypt, the mother of the world, are priceless.‎

The young people of my country prove their ability to organize and prepare with ‎professionalism, even though all are volunteers. The forum also underscores Egypt‏’‏s ‎stability and its ability to host such international youth events, bringing significant media, ‎tourism, and artistic gains to the country.‎

The sixth edition is held under the auspices of the Prime Minister, with partial support from ‎the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Tourism Promotion ‎Authority. The General Authority for Cultural Palaces will host the opening and closing ‎ceremonies as well as many events and competitions. The youth will organize a tour for all ‎participating delegations to visit the Museum of Folk Arts and the Great Egyptian ‎Museum.‎

I still await greater attention from the state for this respectable youth effort, which ‎surpasses what many governments do for their countries. In truth, Minister of Culture ‎Ahmed Honored has lived up to my expectations in his support, as has Minister of Youth ‎and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy.‎

The forum faces a challenge stemming from the tragic bus accident involving Galala ‎University, which resulted in the loss of several students‏’ ‏lives. This has emotionally ‎affected everyone, and the university may refrain from celebrations in solidarity. While I ‎understand, the university withdrawing its support for the forum just one day before the ‎delegations arrive has placed the youth organizers in a difficult position, requiring state ‎support in other ways.‎

Over 700 young men and women from around the world are participating in the forum, ‎representing their countries through theatrical performances and artistic expressions. I ‎hope Egyptian television channels will cover the forum‏’‏s events despite their focus on ‎government conferences. Youth from Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, ‎Oman, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE are amazing and inspiring. Our own ‎youth from Nubia, Alexandria, and Mansoura, who volunteer, are the pride of their ‎country. Students from Fayoum, Ain Shams, Mansoura, and Helwan universities are ‎offering high-quality art and performances that captivate the mind.‎

We need more support and attention to ensure the continuity of the forum and its ‎enlightening mission, which places no burden on the state but rather uplifts it. I salute and ‎raise my hat to the Egyptian Artists Foundation for Culture and Arts, a non-profit ‎organization led by the wonderful young director Amr Qabeel, who is a credit to any ‎institution he works with. The foundation is one of the civil society organizations dedicated ‎to culture and the arts, with his determined colleague, Samar Saeed, who is always ‎smiling and working effectively and efficiently.‎

I am honored to serve as a patron and spiritual father to these young people over the ‎years. They have always been, and continue to be, a source of inspiration, pride, and ‎sacrifice of their time and money to ensure the success of the forum and cover much of ‎the delegation‏’‏s costs. I am also honored to lead the forum‏’‏s supreme committee, which ‎includes director Amr Qabeel, the forum‏’‏s founder and president, Dr. Samar Saeed, the ‎forum‏’‏s secretary-general, the esteemed artist Tarek El-Dessouki, the creative writer ‎Fatima Naoot, and Dr. Amal Sadiq Afifi. They have regularly met under the ‎‏“‏Spreading ‎Culture and Knowledge Association,” which I am honored to lead. The organizing ‎committee is made up of 27 passionate young men and women, who have made great ‎voluntary efforts out of their love for theater and still have many dreams they are ‎determined to realize. Do they not deserve our applause and respect for their efforts to ‎restore Cairo to its historical status as the capital of the arts?‎

I reiterate my pride in Amr, Samar, and everyone who has volunteered and contributed to ‎this success and joy.‎

Egypt is in good hands with its youth…‎

And I still have hope.‎