Just a note before we begin: This idea was proposed for Women’s Day for Bridgestone. However because of difficulties within the region, we were unable to execute it. However, the idea has always held a special place in my heart and so I am placing it here.
Al Samaha Village
Al Samaha, a secluded village that lies in Southern Egypt, is a Government funded village made for a unique purpose: It is inhabited only by women, widowed or shunned, finding reprieve from an unforgiving patriarchal society.
Toughened by the hand life dealt them, the women worked together to nurture life into the arid lands. They poured their strength into their land, working the soil for long hours in order to build a new life for them and their children.
The Struggle of The Women and Children of Al Samaha
However, life does not come easy for the women and children of Al Samaha. Out of the many similar villages, Al Samaha is the most impoverished, mainly due to its location causing problems with accessibility and transportation being a major issue. Children are confined to farming Hibiscus with their mothers, foregoing their education and women find it difficult to travel to Edfu, the nearest town, to sell their harvest because of a lack of transport.
Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day.
Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.
Hibiscus Bus:
Dignity through mobility
Since Al Samaha is so secluded, we give them the tools and knowledge so they can break through the confines of their village. We help the women by teaching them how to drive a school bus, built to drive over the unpaved roads to and from Edfu, so they can provide education for their children. They can also use the bus to transfer them to the nearest clinic/hospital incase of any emergency. It’s also a chance to earn a livable wage by transporting their wares to the markets in Edfu.
