The Essence of Community
By Soha ElWishey
Anbaa AlMaadi (Maadi News) April 1963 edition
Looking at an old local weekly newspaper called Anbaa Al Maadi (Maadi News), issued in 1958 by Hassan Ibrahim Sobhi Bey who was a Maadi resident at the time, you see the delight of community news and the sharing of weekly events and activities, residents that have returned to their homes after travels, awards being celebrated and even, a resident who got well after having a sick leave and is back to work.
Yes, social media nowadays has several portals for different community residential districts and areas around Cairo that ask daily for recommendations or advice, but what was endearing to see was this adorable competition for who has the best garden curb in front of their house.
We have here a saved newspaper clip from 1963 of a dear member of the CSA team, showing her family home’s garden winning the third place in the competition at the time and it just shows how proud she still is by keeping such good memories, that is also shared with her daughter and her kids too, and for generations to come.
The idea of holding an event to encourage the sustainability of the greenery around Maadi between the locals is something rare to find these days with all the construction happening around the country.
What is also heartwarming is when sharing the old pictures of old buildings now and then, to see how it looked back in the day and how it stands today, more of a human ancestral feeling of nostalgia that is found naturally and innately in all of us, and is always sad to learn of a demolished old place or an ancient tree as it always emanates this profound proof of time; memories gained and memories lost.
Here in CSA, the legacy still stands, with this being the main purpose of bringing local Maadi residents together with providing educational and leisure classes and beneficial information for the community. CSA was the brainchild of Betty Atherton, the wife of American Ambassador Alfred Leroy Atherton Jr., at the time of their stay from 1979 to 1983, to support expats like herself living in Cairo.
Today the CSA is still a beacon of light to expats and locals alike, maintaining the core mission and values of inclusiveness, connectedness, willingness to evolve and to provide a safe haven.
With sightseeing trips to historic and monumental sites in and out of Cairo, a bulletin board sharing local news of classes - be it musical, culinary, sports, also orientation seminars, rental properties and also house cleaning help, not forgetting our close to heart pets news for adoption or caretaking.
Encouraging the diversity of culinary arts around the world, the CSA Farmers Market that is held every Thursday offers Thai, Italian, Armenian, Chinese, and surely Egyptian cuisine plus the local sourcing of artisanal bakeries and organic farmers providing their fresh produce every week - there is always a warm meal to choose from and gather around with friends and family.
Community has always been the source of human existence, exchanging services for each other and working together to instil this feeling of safety and closeness between members of life, however diverse they are or come from afar, but always knowing that by being a team in this world is better than being on your own, making it a better place for all to live in.