AMIRA MOUSA

Amira Mousa is an independent journalist and writer. Her career began in 2013 as a journalist trainee in a weekly local newspaper, she continued as a trainee until the last year of her study at faculty of mass communication. Graduated from Cairo University in 2016, she has more than four years of experience in the journalism field. Amira has created different stories about women, youth and Arabic affairs and has participated in documentary projects with different organizations such as Goethe Institut.

“Never give up! Struggle until the last moment and the last breath”

Q: TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, AND ALSO YOUR LIFE'S STORY!

About my country, a lot of things are different and opposite, like you will find out Egypt is cheerful to enjoy, hang out, the food, the culture, feel warm and close to others. But on the other side, there is no respect to the statue of law, even if someone does, it will due to luck or maybe because he does not have the authority or is serious to be unique in a good manner. However, although there are bad values like corruption and obstacles, always there are people trying to be good, achieve themselves and succeed. When you create value from nothing, from bad conditions and among conflicts, I think you deserve to be respected and appreciated more than anyone who finds it easy to do.

The previous paragraph explains also my story, as it is about will and struggle over the whole path. Struggle, family obstacles, wrong definitions, social and political context, under be or not to be a slogan.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD AS IT IS TODAY? AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE CONCEPT OF A BETTER WORLD?

Whatever the bloody conflicts are today, it's not worst more than before, at least we have the ability to know and develop. I believe that knowledge is power.

The concept of a better world is not the one that has no evil, as it is just an illusion, the better one has less suffering and pain, more peace and awareness. Better world means there is a law over all people without discrimination.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY CHALLENGES IN YOUR SOCIETY?

Breaking law, discrimination according to gender, lack of awareness and respect for the diversity and difference and definitely corruption.

Q: AS A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL WHAT ARE A FEW OF THE HURDLES THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME UP UNTIL TODAY?

Some examples of what hurdles I had to overcome:

Violence from my family as a girl, because of my interests and belief in a group of definitions they do not like in which there is no difference between boys and girls, and people's right to choose the way they would like to live and not the society decide and force them to follow in order to make them repeated versions.

I am trying all the time to handle my fears. Handle the harm I have from bad experiences happened to me as a child and until now when I visit my relatives and bother me by smack-talking as a woman who lives alone and works in journalism. I think I have created my own package of manner among the other people who have an opposite of traditions. However they pretend that they believe in democracy, they get you out of their circle when you follow another path or practice different activities. I am struggling to be only myself and express what I believe in and not what others want me to. Either sometimes is the family or the liberal ones and those who pretend to be open-minded. Overcame the political obstacles, or attempt to get around and be honest in my coverage. Chose to discuss why people suffer socially, due to the reflections of political decisions in public life.

Q: WHY IS THE ROLE OF A MENTOR IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

As a freelancer, she is like a supervisor following the steps toward my journalistic projects. She provides me with some sources and discusses with me sometimes.

Q: DO YOU HAVE A LESSON THAT LIFE HAS TAUGHT YOU AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

Never give up! Struggle until the last moment and the last breath. No one will take the action instead of you, when it is related to freedom and human dignity do not compromise.

Q: NAME A PROJECT, A FOUNDATION OR A PERSON IN YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU THINK IS DOING GREAT WORK IN HELPING IMPROVE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES!

Aya Hijazy - an activist was trying to help after the Egyptian revolution by teaching the homeless children, who she and her husband forced to stop and travel abroad.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN IN YOUR COUNTRY FACE AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE MADE TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY?

Harassment by forcing women to be dependent on their families. Limited boxes and definition follow their steps and dreams in order to prevent them, like a female's role is in housing care or her value is achieved when she gets married, just limited by a man or the social patterns.

If a woman tries to break these rules, she would be exposed to assaults and different kinds of violence from her close circle in front of the others, as they will consider her as part of them. They realize her through themselves. She is responsible for their image in front of people.

Q: SHARE WITH US A PHRASE, A POEM OR A STORY THAT YOU LOVE OR YOU FIND INTERESTING!

"Perhaps our attempts end to another thing which is not the defeat, just we have decided not to die before we are trying to live." - Egyptian novelist Radwa Ashour

Q: TELL US ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR MENTOR.

Keep smiling.