Global Changemakers

As she edged into the oncoming traffic, Yossra told me that I’d be seeing a new side to her. She couldn’t have been more right. The way she weaved in and out of the chaos that is always present in Cairo’s streets, not losing her cool for a second, was really impressive. But then I’ve always been impressed by Yossra, who I first met as one of the Greenwich Forum participants and then in Davos and again in Brussels last year.

I was in Cairo for three days this week, to participate in a preparation meeting for the World Economic Forum on the Middle East. There were two of us there from the British Council, myself and Azza, Deputy Director Jordan. With a youth element being included for the first time in the Middle East WEF, we had been invited to come along to see where the British Council’s priorities fit with those of the WEF and to ensure that there was a strong focus on young people in the scenario-building exercises. I hope we succeeded in making sure that issues affecting young people are included on the agenda for Sharm el Sheikh. The meeting took place in the boardroom at the very top of one of Cairo’s newest and tallest buildings, on the bank of the Nile, which was adjacent to a desperately poor area. As a city of contrasts, it would be hard to beat Cairo – a city of over 17 million people (and to my mind, about as many cars), and the most densely populated metropolitan area in Africa. But there is something endearing about the place. And having had a special couple of hours with Yossra, sipping banana and mango juice in Gezira, a large island in the middle of the Nile, makes it all the more memorable.

Caroline