CAIRO: A labyrinth of narrow, bumpy roads is the path that leads to Dabbaghana Muhammad Ali, an ancient fortress dating as far back as 320 AD hidden in the heart of Ezbeit Kheiralla, an unplanned community in Old Cairo.
A year and a half ago, charity organization Kheir Wa Baraka became involved with the living conditions of the 650,000 residents of Ezbet Kheirallah, and quickly realized how much improvements needed to be made to the community.
Earlier this week, plans for the restoration of the area came together in a meeting between the different parties involved. Members of Kheir we Baraka met with Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA), Khalil Shaat from the governorate office and the head of the Old Cairo district.
They gathered at the historical landmark to discuss plans for its renovation and restoration.
We invited them all to coordinate between governorate, the municipality, the Supreme Council of Antiquities so that we are all working in parallel to reduce the time it will take [to renovate the area], said Nevine El-Ibrachy, the head of Kheir Wa Baraka, the organization spearheading the project.
The plans for renovation are multi-faceted, El-Ibrachy said. The restoration of the historical landmark is being carried out by the SCA, which will also build a visitors center outside the fortress alongside a garden.
This decision to renovate the area is, according to El-Ibrachy, all part of an overall plan to develop the area in cooperation with the governorate to install sewage lines, and electricity.
The installation of water and sewage lines, which has already began, is being undertaken by the governorate, while the cleaning and greening of the area will be taken care of by the Ministry of Environment, El-Ibrachy said.
Nevine Skander, who has been a member of Kheir wa Baraka for four years, said, It s very important to us.
“When we do all this; electricity, water – life – foreigners can come and visit.
