By Danna Gobel
Mr. Ahmed Abdo
After over ten years of contributing and working at St. Andrew’s, staff bid farewell to one of its most dedicated team members. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ahmed Abdo on Sunday, January 16, 2011 and prior to his departure to Canada. The questions I asked are in bold. His responses follow.
Where are you from?
Eritrea. In the 1990s, Eritrea was struggling for independence. In 1990, my family (mother, brother, sister) fled with me first to Sudan. In July 1992, we came to Egypt.
What is your Work History?
I heard about St. Andrew’s through my brother, Ismail. He came to St. Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS)in 1995. He had heard about the Art and Crafts Cooperative(ARC) and began volunteering there when it was located at the German Church. I began taking English and Computer classes at St. Andrew’s in 1998.
At that time, the Adult Education Program (AEP) was smaller in size, around 100 total students. The administration was very helpful and friendly. Most of the participants were from the Horn of Africa (Somali, Eritrea). I felt at ease coming to St. Andrew’s as it was very different from the Egyptian context around me.
I began coming to the library, seeking out Science Fiction Novels, and then began to volunteer my time there. My first official job at StARS was when I began working in the library in late January 2001.
I also began volunteering some time assisting the Office Manager and got more involved with the Adult Education Program. In 2003, I was hired as the Office Manager and worked in that job until 2010. In January 2010, I was promoted to “Site Administrator”, which added the additional responsibility of maintenance.
What will you miss most at St. Andrew’s?
I will miss my friends & colleagues. They are the ones that made work more fun even in the middle of stressful days that we see sometime. The fact that every day brings new challenges, and the opportunity to solve new issues daily. I really liked the chance to learn from different cultures. I will miss the team work, the management group persons, as well as the sense that we are all here to help each other. The AEP, CEP, IT, and Executive Management team created a sense of community and a feeling that we are all here to help others. I felt that we come to St. Andrew’s to do our best; it was not a typical 9:00-5:00 pm job, but a sense of commitment to refugees.
What has your life been like here in Egypt?
It has gotten harder over the years and this has affected refugees. Since we arrived, prices have gone up, finding a job is difficult and the tensions are higher as Egyptians feel threatened that their jobs will be taken. There are daily problems with the landlords and those who exploit refugees. Refugees feel stuck here and as if they are living in limbo, as they are not being resettled from Cairo.
What is the most difficult part about living in Egypt?
The fact that there is no clear future for anyone who lives in Egypt.
What do you hope to do in Canada?
There are a lot of uncertainties, but I plan on volunteering with a NGO that works with refugees. This will give me a chance to get used to the work environment there. In the long term, I hope to find a decent job, security for my family, be able to help my friends and participate in political groups that promote human rights. I also hope to enrich my knowledge and get involved with people from different cultures.
What will you miss about Egypt?
I will miss all my friends at StARS , the warm weather and the refugee community.
What is your favorite place in Egypt?
St. Andrews & downtown.
What have you learned over the years?
I have learned team work, how to organize my time in order to complete a task, planning, people skills, patience and anticipating ahead. I have learned how to communicate with people from other cultures, people from all five continents!
What advice would you give refugees who have just arrived in Egypt?
1) In order to interact with Egyptians, you need to learn Arabic.
2) Acquire English or Computer skills in order to more easily find a job.
3) Be realistic about the choices you make in Egypt.
4) Find a refugee community for support and information,
5) Be patient.
Any last thoughts you want to add?
I would like to thank all of my friends at St. Andrew’s Refugee Services. Without them I would not have learned so much. They have given me much support. This includes lots of people, but specially, Fiona, Matthew, Mariam, Amany , Tamboura and Daryl.
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