By Charlie Cabot
CAIRO: As foreign aid becomes an increasingly sensitive issue post-revolution, one philanthropic foundation looks to muster the resources of the Egyptian Diaspora.
Fittingly named the Tahrir Square Foundation, the organization was launched in the aftermath of the January revolution. With an Egyptian-American and Egyptian-Canadian board, it seeks to use the funding and resources of the overseas Egyptians to assist in problems at home.
“Egypt, for all of its well-deserved pride in what it has done for itself, can’t live in isolation,” said Ahmed Fattouh, chairman of the foundation and CEO of Globalist Capital Management. “No country can today.”
The Egyptian Diaspora, he added, could offer capital and experience while acting as a conduit with the rest of the world.
“[It’s about] mobilizing resources from Egyptians for Egyptians,” he said, “You want people to be comfortable taking money.”
Starting this coming month, the foundation will go on a campaign to publicize its mission and attract more resources. Active in the US and Canada, the foundation offers the overseas Egyptian community an easy way to efficiently fund their home country.
“Most Egyptians overseas rely on donating to people they know in some way, but that’s not very high impact philanthropy,” Fattouh said. “If you want to have a high impact, you have to have some organization.”
With funding and other resources coming from the Diaspora, the foundation gives to vetted, local organizations that it finds most impactful.
“[The goal] is helping people help themselves,” he explained, “There are a lot of worthy causes here. Our role is to mobilize resources to channel to these causes, and to do the due diligence that individuals cannot always do themselves.”
One of the foundation’s causes is the Osiris project, a cross between a town hall debate and a reality TV show.
“The concept of the Osiris Project is to use technology to turn the National Dialogue into a more participatory process,” Fattouh explained, “Representatives are selected by the people, topics are selected by the people, the issues are debated live on TV, and viewers can vote by internet, text message or phone call.”
The project, far more than an entertainment program, hopes to create a less destructive way for the government to hear the true wishes of the people.
“Right now people observe that the only way they can be listened to is by flooding the streets,” he said.
And in flooding the streets, accurate representation is difficult to achieve. Although the government met with a number of delegates last week, many felt that they were not really represented.
“Under the right circumstances, you will see people able to evolve from protest to participation,” he said. “You can get an idea of what’s legitimate and what’s just loud.”
The project has already launched a website, www.ihnamisr.com, that allows voting and discussion on political issues. But Osiris hopes to reach beyond those with internet access.
“If a technology-enabled interactive national dialogue was created, you might be able to step down the tension,” Fattouh said, “And by technology we mean TV and mobile phones which most people have, not just Facebook.”
Projects like Osiris are particularly seasonable, but the Tahrir Square Foundation seeks to manage aid to Egypt even after the revolutionary atmosphere subsides.
“The reality is that Egypt will need it,” Fattouh said. “Our mandate may shift, from philanthropy to education or from education to entrepreneurship. But Egypt will need contributions from its overseas citizens for a long time to come.”
And in return for their generosity, he hopes Egyptian citizens overseas will be more accepted.
“Egyptians overseas want to help Egypt but they want Egyptians to recognize them as well,” he explained. “They need to feel that they are citizens. They happen to live abroad but they are part of the community.”
“This hopefully includes the right to vote,” he added.
For more information go to www.thetahrirfoundation.org.
