COMMUNITY WORKSHOP | Mīt `Uqba

Community Workshops

The purpose of the community workshops is to develop an understanding for different neighborhoods in Cairo from the perspective of those who know it the best; its residents. The community workshops start with a brief introduction of TADAMUN project that also showcases success stories of some local initiatives. The participants are then divided into small groups and are asked to draw a map of their area. No instruction is given to influence the type of information or format used. The groups are then asked to comment on their own maps to highlight the following:

• The best 5 potentials in the area
• The biggest 5 problems in the area
• The best 5 places in the area
• The worst 5 places in the area
• The quality of services and facilities in the area
• The activities of local CSOs and NGOs in the area

Mīt `Uqba Community Workshop

This community workshop was conducted in partnership with the Mīt `Uqba Popular Committee (al-Lagna al-Sha`biyya li-Mīt `Uqba).

Map Your Neighborhood

Most Important Areas in Mīt `Uqba

Most participants agreed that Wadī al-Nīl street is one of the most vibrant streets in Mīt `Uqba, with the well-known Wadī al-Nīl Fish restaurant, which has regular patrons from neighboring Muhandisīn and other high-income areas. The Mīt `Uqba Youth Center is a community cornerstone, serving not only the youth but also most of the community. Mīt `Uqba is also known for the mechanic workshops on Sharq al-Balad street. Participants also highlighted the Saturday Market (Sūq al-Sabt), a diverse marketplace for residents, offering poultry, fruits and vegetables, clothes, etc.

Mīt `Uqba Qualities

Mīt `Uqba was formed as a village and was able to maintain the social cohesion, strong familial ties and respect for community elders, characteristic of rural villages. The elders take initiative and interest in the well-being and awareness of the youth. The community is proactive in joining and supporting any initiative to upgrade the area, and the youth center cooperates regularly with the al-Agūza district to organize medical caravans and ease pension collection procedures for residents. Over the last two years the Mīt `Uqba Popular Committee has been active in pressuring the government to demand the rights of its community. They were able to successfully extend the natural gas network as well as coordinate with the district office and urban experts to pave several streets in the area.

Mīt `Uqba Problems

The problems outlined by the community are different manifestations of the same root cause, low quality of public services. This is shown in the poor sewage network and the pipe leakages that affect the structural foundation of many buildings and the absence of garbage collection services or waste bins, which result in the formation of “garbage mountains” throughout the area. A post office and a firefighting station are examples of other services not available in the area. And on the security front, the police forces are inactive in Mīt `Uqba, giving rise to open drug trade and the widespread of illegal arms.

If I were Head of the District, I would…

At the end of the workshop, participants were asked what would be the issues they would address if they were Head of the District. Below is the priority list according to community members:

• Upgrade infrastructure, such as the sewage network and streets
• Upgrade services, particularly waste collection and healthcare facilities
• Increase street lighting to combat thugs that thrive in unlit streets
• Coordinate with police forces to fight drug trade
• Reach out to the marginalized in the community
• Prosecute illegal activities, such as illegal construction and informalities (street vendors and informal settlements)
• Awareness campaigns for the youth to abstain from criminal activities and promote better ethics