Misr (Egypt) is our common space… And although Misriyati (my egyptianity) is different than yours, we only have one Misr to share. It is all about making this sharing experience a beautiful one.
Inspiration
We have noticed that common meeting spaces for people of different religious and social backgrounds are decreasing… People search for security among their “own ones”.
Streets became for many people spaces of daily humiliations. Aggressiveness and violence are the expected reaction to conflicts, whether personal, social or political…
More and more people fear being themselves and have hard time accepting the “other”…
And that is what Misriyati is about…
those principles in their daily lives.
àCreating the success stories, the examples and models
àCreating the space and community for peaceful living.
Misriyati uses non formal education as the means to explore the knowledge, skills and values related to peaceful living, so the learning is individualized, strongly based on the everyday experiences of participants and totally relate to his/her life. Through our team processes, as well as our interactive workshops, we hope to provide participants with valuable insights and learning experiences.
Misriyati founders were a group of seven young egyptian volunteers, all concerned with the prevailing culture of violence and intolerance and all believing in education as a powerful tool of transformation.
You want to be involved?
- share the team’s vision for a more peaceful society
- are willing to commit to regular time contribution to the team’s work
- Then you are welcome to join us!
Since Misriyati was founded in January 2004, successive Misriyati teams have conducted the following activities:
External workshops:
Misriyati Workshops on peaceful living, Alwan wa Awtar, March -October 2007 (6 days each)
First Misriyati Team Retreat: Fayoum, June 2006
First Misriyati TOT:
Second Misriyati Team Retreat: Fayoum, October 2007
Second Misriyati TOT:
Curriculum Development
Since 2004, the Misriyati team has been working on the development of educational and training material in the field of peace and non violence education.
Workshops
We provide workshops on different subjects related to the issues of peace and non violence. Misriyati workshops always put a strong emphasis on the personal choice and responsibility we all have towards a more peaceful society. Participants in our workshop are guaranteed the fun… However, they are also expected to be open for self inquiry and ready to share their experience with others in an atmosphere of respect, trust and discretion, guaranteed by a democratic group process and code of conduct.
The team organizes its own workshops or responds to different groups or institutions’ demands. Workshops can be tailored according to the participants age (starting at 16 years), needs, interests and possibilities. If interested in a Misriyati workshop, please feel free to contact us.
Example of past workshops:
2- Workshop on “The Other”
Time: 2 days (16 hours)
In this workshop participants are invited to explore the social dynamics related to diversity and their own personal relation to it. Through the analysis of the way society deals with gender, class, race and religion, participants discover not only what are the social dynamics and patterns of discrimination, oppression and exclusion, but also their own personal involvement in the creation of this dynamic, and the extent to which each one can and does accept diversity. This workshop requires a high readiness for self questioning.
Misriyati Training of trainers
The Misriyati TOT is also relevant for actual or future trainers, facilitators, educators, youth animators… interested in working with the same concepts.
It aims at providing facilitators the basic knowledge and methodology required to address the concepts we deal with: cultures of peace and violence, types of peace and violence, alternatives to violence, peace education… We also explore methodology for workshop design, training and facilitation, as well as the application of the Misriyati values in our non formal education settings.
Misriyati Focal Point
Nermine Mounir
TEL & Fax: +20-2-575-1888
This document is the outcome of a group process that took place with the members one year after the project was founded. The principles and values here detailed reflect the team’s identity. They reflect the ideals we personally and collectively strive for and to which we are committed not only in the team but in our daily lives. They are not always easy to apply, but as Misriyati member, we are committed to try.
In the team, these principles help guiding the member’s conducts with each others, with people and organizations outside the team and with the program's participants. They are also the team’s guides in decision making and actions.
4- Having Fun: We enjoy participating in the program. We create a happy and dynamic environment for the interaction between individuals participating in all program phases. 5- Freedom: We encourage each others to be free thinkers and free actors in the program and the society. We create an atmosphere of freedom for our team and our participants to learn from the program.
6- Proactivity & Hope: We seek better ways of living and refuse to accept the status quo or deteriorating state of humanity. We have hope that we can recreate and relive beauty and love in places we live in, for our lives and for our future generations. For more details on the practical application of these values with workshop participants and partners, click here.