Here’s a bit of fine tuning to help you to navigate the month ahead. If you know your rising sign we suggest that you read that as well to get extra insight.

By Maeri Frances (Consulting Astrologer)

The Big Picture

One way or another we are all in the same boat while the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto interact closely. They are setting the stage that our lives play out on. Recent months have seen Uranus in Aries squaring off against Pluto in Capricorn, and as these planets move slowly we still have to learn to adjust to the likelihood of sudden and unexpected events that destabilise things we had previously taken for granted. We may learn more about how technology is invading our personal space and privacy during this period.

Although a helpful Jupiter trine to Uranus which started in late September is still bringing a surge of optimism to many, don’t rush ahead with new projects while Mercury is in retrograde motion from the 4^th to the 25^th of October. This is a time to double check, plan and revise rather than put things into action. It wouldn’t hurt to do some maintenance on equipment and vehicles rather than have them break down, as can be the case in this Mercury phase. If you really must sign agreements and contracts this month, take extra care in reading the fine print and verifying the facts.

Aries

21 March –20 April

Uranus is still calling the shots in your sign, so don’t expect the ride to become any smoother in the near future. Your need for personal freedom and change may still be coming up against brick walls and authority figures. The earliest week of the month is most favourable for negotiating and getting someone on your side, even better if they are born under the sign of Leo. Take extra care in money matters             around mid-month.

Taurus

21 April –21 May

Any efforts you have been making to improve your health, personal grooming and eating habits in the past month will start to pay off as October draws to a close. Expect a period of positive feedback and renewed interest from a spouse or potential one. If you think someone is trying to stir up trouble behind your back the best course of action may be to ignore it, just make sure your behaviour is above reproach first.

Gemini

22 May –21 June

Mercury is your ruling planet, so when it goes into retrograde you can expect more than your usual share of mix-ups. As it backtracks through Libra you may find your love life on rewind, giving you a sense of déjà vu. Maybe you have been giving or receiving some mixed messages? Try to clear the air before things speed up again in the coming month. If you have kids they may be demanding of time and attention that you can barely spare. You may need to make adjustments to social commitments to                              balance responsibilities.

Cancer

22 June –22 July

The total lunar eclipse on October the 8th will bring Uranus into the picture as well, meaning that you may feel as though you have unexpectedly got caught in crossfire intended for someone else. You could be called in to mediate in a tense situation. It will be important to take all points of view into account. This is a good month to tackle de-cluttering around the home, sort through old papers and recycle items that have             been unused.

Leo

23 July –22 August

Jupiter has now entered your birth sign, opening up new opportunities and injecting you with a renewed sense of joie de vivre. It could be tempting to throw yourself headlong into a project, but it is not the time yet to be signing contracts or finalising deals. Take extra care in any communication and transportation this month; there may also be computer or email glitches to contend with. A word of warning, the kilos may suddenly start piling on, watch out for those             hidden calories.

Virgo

23 August –23 September

That pesky retrograde Mercury isn’t doing you any favors while it hangs around your solar 2nd house. This isn’t a time for major financial moves, you should really use the month to set a sensible budget and rein in any excess spending, as money due may be delayed in materializing. Planning could include looking for additional avenues of income, these may not materialise immediately but you can at least check out the situation. Expect an extra flurry of activity around the home front.

Libra

24 September – 23 October

It’s your birthday month so make sure you find time to party. Something you were expecting may not eventuate this month, so have a Plan B in place. Friendships will be your blessing this month, even if a close relationship gets a bit volatile your buddies will be there for you. You may be increasingly aware of the common thread that binds larger groups of society; some of your perceptions may be shifting. A new and slightly eccentric person in your life may have a bearing on this.

Scorpio

24 October –22 November

Saturn in your birth sign is asking you to show maturity and determination, even though you are facing added responsibilities and delays of some sort. If you handle things wisely there could be recognition coming on the career front. There may be some health concerns, so why not pop in for a check-up to stop needless worrying. Stress could be a factor. If there is romantic situation that you cannot be open about yet don’t worry, things should be easier in November.

Sagittarius

23 November –21 December

Your ruling planet Jupiter is in harmonious aspect to your birth sign, supporting any plans for travel and higher education. Now that Mars has bounced into Sagittarius you should be ready for action, energy levels are high. You may even be feeling a bit reckless, so try to use it wisely, hit the gym rather than the bumper in front of you. Shared social activities are in high focus, and could absorb a lot of your time, but things should ease up in the following month.

Capricorn

22 December –20 January

With Pluto’s ponderous transit through your birth sign you may sometimes feel that you are just a tiny cog in a huge wheel. Efforts to stand out and get due recognition this month could be a little misjudged, so rather than throwing yourself into the limelight it could be more effective just to be diligent and refine your work methods. Ongoing juggling of domestic and career matters may test your flexibility beyond the limit this month, keep cool!

Aquarius

21 January –19 February

You may need to delay some travel plans for the moment, but later you will realise that this was for the best. Try to find other ways to defuse your restlessness and need for change, some virtual travel on the net might help. It is a good time to take up study of a new subject, anything that is a little offbeat or tech- oriented looks good. Unattached Aquarians may be meeting some interesting potential partners; relationships are well-aspected, so make hay while the sun shines!

Pisces

20 February –20 March

In spite of your best efforts to streamline your work methods and boost your career, financial matters are still erratic. Just do your best this month, but don’t expect money owed to come in when expected. On the upside, your health should be robust, you may see great improvements related to any efforts you make to keep fit or diet. Single Pisces might find their love life could be a bit topsy-turvy, but it could be that you need to clarify what is best to keep as a friendship, and what hold’s romantic potential.

By Lydia Schoonderbeek

Street crime is on the rise with more muggings than ever taking place all over Cairo. Simply following some basic personal safety measures can reduce the chances of being attacked, or give you the upper hand should you be subjected to an attack.

WALK CONFIDENTLY

The first rule when it comes to safety on the street is to walk confidently. The truth is that most attackers will look for someone who is easily frightened and appears to be an easy target. Get into the habit of walking positively with your head tall, rather than walking with slumped shoulders and looking at the floor.

SCRAPE YOUR HEEL DOWN THE SIDE OF HIS SHIN

If you are approached from behind, one of the most effective ways to shock your attacker is to run your heel down the front of his shin (which is the prominent bone found in the lower part of the leg). This is a fine bone and even if your attacker is well built, this bone tends to stick out. Most footwear is capable of causing pain and damage, but heels are even better.

You can also aim for the knee as its vulnerable from every angle, and a well-aimed kick can inflict substantial damage.

AIM FOR THE NOSE

If your attacker grabs you from behind, another tactic is to throw your head back as far as possible and try to head butt your attacker’s nose. You should try to jerk your head back and aim for the bridge of his nose. The theory is that your attacker releases you in order to grab hold of his painful nose, providing you with vital seconds to run away.

Also using the heel of your palm, drive your hand upwards against the bottom of the attacker’s nose. If he is behind you, use your elbow, throwing your weight into it.

GO FOR THE EYE

If your attacker is heading towards you, grab his ear with your fingers and press your thumb firmly along the whole of his eye. Use a pushing action, press your thumb back into his skull. Holding your attacker’s ear means your thumb will automatically drop down to his eye level. Apart from being more painful than simply poking his eye. With any luck, your attacker will jerk backwards in an attempt to protect his eyes, giving you precious time to run.

AIM FOR THE THROAT

Self-defense experts also recommend poking your finger into your attacker’s windpipe – the part of the air passage found below the Adam’s apple. Try to press your finger – rather than your thumb – into the space between the Adam’s apple and the top of the breastbone as hard as possible. Pressing your finger into this part of the body is easier to do. This has the effect of closing the air passage making it difficult for your attacker to breathe. The idea is that he will clasp his throat in order to breathe again, allowing you the chance to escape.

KEEP YOUR KEYS HANDY

When you are walking in the street at night, get into the habit of carrying your keys in one hand and making a fist with one of your keys pushed between your middle fingers. If you are attacked, make an upward movement towards your attackers face and slash his cheek with your key. This movement could start at the mouth and finish at the ear – or the other way round if it’s easier. Even if you don’t cut his face, your attacker’s natural reaction will be to bend down and cover his cheek to soothe the pain.

Diverse and dynamic, the common defining factor that makes these members of our community stand out in their quest for excellence in their chosen fields is the passion that inspires them. Cairo East Magazine salutes each and every one for their achievements, commitment and inspiration to the community.

By Christine Kassasseya

The joy maker

The Giftery Founder & CEO

The Girl Behind the Gifts:

I studied Economics and Art at The American University in Cairo, and then completed a master’s degree in Applied Imagination at Central St. Martins, London. During my stay in London, I conducted intensive research for my masters on breaking the boundaries of e-commerce in Egypt, and it inspired me to create an online gift registry, a platform that consolidates gifts from lots of different stores and enables customers to select gifts for their loved ones. The idea gained momentum when I faced personal challenges in sending gifts for friends and family from London to Egypt, so when I returned I decided to put this dream into an action and partnered with Karim Atalla, a friend with experience and a successful business background.

TheGiftery.com:

TheGiftery.com enables customers to create any type of Gift Lists such as a wedding registry, a baby shower registry, a birthday registry…. from more than 100 different stores, where they pick their preferred gifts online or directly from stores and upload them on the website. This concept evolved to where TheGiftery.com now provides gifts for all occasions and offers services like phone ordering, personal shopping, gift consultation services, wrapping, same-day delivery, and gift customization. In order to gain our customers’ trust we deal with prominent, reputable shops such as Table Royale, Fauchon, Karizma, Hope Flowers, Villeroy & Boch, Alex Toys and more. TheGiftery.com ensures quality without charging the customer a premium, where all prices online match the prices in the stores.

Tough Challenges:

E-commerce has not really caught on in Egypt mainly because people fear fraud, not knowing that most fraud cases happen offline and not online. People also worry about receiving knock-offs and fake products and that is why we work with well-known stores that have a physical presence.

Lessons learned:

One should manage his expectations, because some issues take longer to accomplish than they seem. The January 2011 revolution came two weeks after our soft launch, so you have to learn to take what you have and work with it. It’s good to test and re-test and not go into full-blown marketing as soon as you start. Always give yourself enough time to learn from your mistakes… things in real life are always different than on paper.

Listening to customer feedback is also key; as most of the services we now offer were driven out of a need. And last but not least, nothing grows without a great team behind it, we are lucky to have an amazing group of people who are the backbone of TheGiftery.com

the crafter

Designer at Azza Fahmy

In a nutshell:

I need two lifetimes to learn about jewelry, not only one.

Early years:

Ever since my childhood, I wanted to become a designer but I didn’t have enough time to learn and master the craft while attending school. I studied contemporary jewelry for five years in a university in England, followed by a year in Italy. This experience was rewarding as it gave me knowledge about the techniques of design, and time to become proficient. I joined Azza Fahmy in 2005, where I set out to design unique pieces with subtle heritage and cultural references. It is worth mentioning that I started from the bottom at Azza Fahmy, working my way up until 2008, when I launched my first collection, becoming an established designer.

Staying on top of the game:

One of most challenging aspects of jewelry design is to be able to satisfy the diverse tastes and styles of the customers. To enhance our creative work and become competitive in this market extensive research is required. I conduct research in the national and international market, to ensure competitiveness with all benchmark products. I have to keep abreast of emerging global trends, and be up-to-date with the latest technological tools. This research is fundamental for understanding and satisfying different tastes.

Doing it differently:

I believe that I am in the right place in the exact time, so I have no regrets! I do not know what the future holds, but I am sure it will allow me to grow and develop my skills. On a personal level, I am obsessed with contemporary jewelry as it is creating its own unique heritage.

Concepts added to the business:

When my mother, Azza Fahmy, originally started her journey more than three decades ago, she had a dream to make it possible for women from all around the world to wear unique handmade designed jewelry with an ethnic background that represents our country. She travelled overseas and explored many countries, seeking to be inspired by their own culture and creative roots. This dream later was passed down to become mine. I travelled to Iran recently to launch mixed contemporary culture designs. I think the coming collection will be exceptional and distinctive.

2014 Collection:

I am currently working on my 2014 collection and I am super excited about two matters; first I have been working hard for over a year, and second I am changing the theme and brand of the new collection to suit various tastes. I am looking forward to receive the feedback of both our dedicated and new clients.

the advocate

Mona Khalil, The Animal Rights Advocate, Co-Founder of The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals(ESMA)

In a nutshell:

ESMA operates two no-kill shelters and adoption centres and is also involved whenever possible in ongoing campaigns, initiatives, and advocacy activities to promote animal welfare issues in Egypt.

The story behind ESMA:

After losing my beloved cat due to illness I began to wonder how street animals manage to survive such poor and abusive conditions, while I couldn’t save my own cat. Inspired by my grandfather, who was fond of animals, I decided to start a mission to save as many animal souls as possible. Unfortunately many animals in Egypt are homeless, ill, handicapped, hungry and abused. These conditions also cover the many that are slaughtered for food. This situation became so prevalent that most Egyptians started to find it acceptable to mistreat animals or have no mercy upon them. This drove me to start an intensive campaign to shed light on the importance of having mercy on animals, and providing them with basic needs including shelter, proper food, and adequate treatment.

Creating ESMA:

After four years of immense effort, The Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA) was finally established in 2007. I had been striving to establish this NGO for years but couldn’t make it alone, until I met a group of other founders who shared the same vision of rescuing animals from violent treatment and improving animal welfare. ESMA operates a shelter and adoption centre for various pets, including cats and dogs. The centre provides food, shelter and medical care to hundreds of animals, in addition to arranging adoption of animals to caring families who would provide the right loving environment.

Challenges along the way:

One of the challenges I faced in this journey is the mentality pervading some sectors of the community. I faced difficulties trying to highlight the importance of considering an animal’s feelings and needs, as well having mercy on them, and yet some people did not accept my message. Those people were raised differently, I assume. We hope we can change people’s mind-set, especially the young ones, by increasing public awareness in public and private schools. Furthermore, we believe a strict law that defends animal right should be implemented to mirror those in place in other countries.

Staying on top of the game:

We are blessed with a tremendous collective effort by the founders, workers and supportive helpers who exert ongoing efforts to enlighten and inform the community, which in turn will inspire younger generations to initiate other small organizations with similar aims. We work on emergencies, blind, deaf, and dying animals, but I can’t say it is a job or a duty as much as it is a way of life.

Lesson learned:

Despite what the animals go through, harsh treatment, poverty and abuse, all animals possess an inherent tolerance, acceptance, and loyalty. Actually, some animals are more humane than humans… these are two lessons I have learned.

The taste maker

Basel Mashhour, Founder of TBS – The Bakery Shop

In a nutshell:

I have always believed that being an entrepreneur would give me the opportunity to start a business that fulfilled my passion, and that’s how it started.

Accolades:

TBS is one of the top 15 fastest growing Endeavour entrepreneurs in terms of revenue.

The TBS Story:        

In 2008, my two childhood friends, Tarek El Nazer, Sameh El Sadat and I decided to start our own business. Sharing the same enthusiasm and philosophy, we created The Bakery Shop, where TBS is also an acronym taken from our first names. The local bakery shop sells freshly baked bread and distinctive pastries made with top quality ingredients. In addition to mouth-watering croissants, Danish and donuts, customers can also create their own sandwiches using a variety of ingredients teamed with our famous baguettes.

Overcoming challenges:

To start a business in a market that we knew nothing about was like taking a flying leap into the unknown. To meet the challenge we had to conduct research on the local market in order to build a strong business module for the bakery. We pushed boundaries and started to search for high quality equipment, top secret ingredients, and all of the other factors needed for this business to succeed. We decided to hire the famous Chef Yasser who had been working at one of the top hotels. Without Chef Yasser we wouldn’t have attained this tremendous success.

Staying on top of the game:

We continuously improve our business to meet our customers’ taste, and to meet international standards by adopting the latest innovative technologies and the best management strategies. In addition, we aim to become more competitive in the market and remain consistent in our branding, pricing and quality to maintain our position.

Only regrets:

I wish I could enjoy the ambiance of our boutique-style TBS instead of getting bogged down with paper work on a daily basis. I am not merely a businessman; I am also a sociable person who loves to interact with people … but it is not really a regret!

In the pipeline:

TBS will launch a new hot product in October, and we are leaving our loyal customers to guess what it will be. We consider this a big undertaking and a new step forward. This brand new product will target a lower-income market segment and will be available more on shelves than TBS. We plan to distribute it through major supermarkets across Egypt.

The Action Star

Aly Mazhar, Founder & Head Coach of BeFit

In a nutshell:

Our aim is to transform our client’s lives through helping them develop a healthy lifestyle.

Early years:

I was a professional athlete and a former football player for more than a decade. I received a full athletic scholarship to Rutgers University in the United States, where I earned a bachelor degree in finance and was trained by proficient athletes who significantly altered my life beliefs and perceptions. My experience in the US was rewarding on many levels including my career, health, and lifestyle. However I couldn’t continue as a football player after an accident that left me injured for several months, so I decided to make use of my experience and education by launching BeFit in 2013.

Creating BeFit:

Since the health and fitness business sector was booming in Egypt, I found the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise in this field while doing something I really love. Located in the Tennis Center of Kattameya Heights, BeFit is a health and fitness company that offers premium group exercise fitness classes, customized personal training programs, nutrition plans and online advice via Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The business started with 6 classes of circuit fit and thankfully it blossomed to reach 35 classes a week. In a year, we faced a radical upsurge in numbers, where we currently have 300 dedicated members with us… I never expected to achieve so much so quickly.

Doing it differently:

The BeFit Transformation Challenge is a fitness program designed to help athletes reach their ultimate potential and strength in six weeks. In addition, we have other classes including foundations of fitness, ripped freak, box-fit, powerball, pilatone, fit fusion, and step-burn. These programs are designed to cover all aspects of physical activity, specifically for strength, speed, power, and endurance. We are also planning to launch the trampoline class for jumping fitness.

Staying on top of the game:

Frankly I haven’t needed to do much promotion throughout the past year; our success is the outcome of many years of hard work in the field of fitness and training. I believe that word-of-mouth has also played a fundamental role in raising awareness of BeFit amongst people in diverse sectors and age groups. BeFit training and fitness programs can transform people’s lives drastically. I am concentrating on maintaining and enhancing the quality of our services, so I am not considering any expansion plans for the time being.

The reader

Nadia Wassef, Co-founder, Managing Partner of Diwan Bookstore

In a Nutshell:

After thirteen years of Diwan, I turned forty this year and realised that a third of my life has been spent working hard at something I love very much. I am lucky.

Accolades:

Recently selected by Forbes Magazine as one of the 200 most influential women in the Middle East.

Early years:

I got my first Master of Arts Degree from AUC in English and Comparative Literature; then after working in women’s groups in Egypt I went to the School of Oriental and African Studies in the University of London and got a second Master of Arts Degree in Social Anthropology in 2000.

Creating Diwan:

On March 8, 2002 the first Diwan in Zamalek opened its doors, a collaboration between my sister Hind, Nihal Schawky, and myself. We had all been at a cross roads in our lives and wanted to do something true to our passions. Because that is where it all begins. We were all interested in culture in one form or another and we realised that there was nowhere to go to enjoy a cup of coffee with books, music and inspiration. Hence the idea of Diwan. We had seen café/bookstores in other countries, but what we wanted was something that had the same mixed product ranges but with a very strong East/West orientation in its products, decor, and ambiance.

Challenges along the way:

When we began, our challenges were multi-faceted. There was no blue print for what we wanted to do. It wasn’t easy to find staff because we needed a special mix of people who could work in a bookstore and understand the quality of experience that we were trying to give our customers. None of us had a financial or management background so running a business was not something that ever came naturally. We worked extremely hard for many years. Looking back though, these have probably been the best years of our lives! We have laughed, fought, struggled, and through this we created something beautiful!

Staying on top of the game:

Diwan is always trying to innovate and offer better service. As individuals, I think one of the things that keep us going is the belief that we can always be better and do better. We are looking to spread the message and mission of Diwan to other countries in the Arab World. We celebrate culture—Eastern and Western— and we encourage its production and consumption. We believe in the value of reading and belonging to a community of readers. And we have just launched Diwan’s new e-book app and hope to explore this new forum along with our customers.

Words of advice:

Start with your passion. Work harder than you have ever worked before. It is really okay to make mistakes and you have to come to terms with them, learn from them, and just move on and enjoy every minute of it! Don’t let success get to your head, it is so important to remember that we can always do better and that humility is always more attractive than arrogance.

Doing it differently:

There are so many things that I could have done differently, the list would be endless! However, I try not to look back and I regret nothing. Everything that has happened is for a reason and it is our job to see it as positively as possible. That is how we move forward and allow ourselves to experience the wonderful things life has to offer.

By Leila Khalil

When most people decide to take a trip to Europe, they usually opt to hop on a plane, jump into a car, or maybe take a train. But what about using a bicycle? There are probably only a handful of people who would even think to cycle cross-country, and Helmy Saeed is amongst this handful. He recently took it upon himself to make the remarkable journey of cycling across Europe. Starting at one of Europe’s northernmost parts in snowy Norway, he traversed the continent all the way down to sunny Spain on a bicycle he had assembled himself. Spanning over 62 cities and covering a total of 6,541 kilometers, this journey took a total of 70 days to complete – 60 spent cycling and 10 spent resting. When it came to board and lodging, Helmy had no problem working in return for a place to stay.

But what was it that inspired him to embark on this adventure? The answer lies in his philosophy, which he applies to every aspect of his life: using himself to do anything he wants. Helmy explained that whether it is to transport himself, create his own tools, or work for board, using his own resources and skills to accomplish his goals and ideas is the best way to go. It allows you to form your own opinions based on what you are able to do. “I love traveling and using myself, so the two worked well together,” says Helmy.

Cycling is not the only sport Helmy partakes in. Having moved to Canada after spending three years studying economics at the American University in Cairo, he took up skiing. Knowing Helmy however, it was not ordinary slope skiing, but rather the more arduous cross-country skiing. Slope skiing depends on gravity, which is, as you know, way too easy. Cross-country skiing on the other hand, is based solely on body power and physical endurance which sounded much more appealing to Helmy as it fits with his life approach.

Once he got the hang of skiing, Helmy decided it was time to put his newly found skills to use. In 2012, he joined an international ski team whose members included skiers from Norway and Scotland. Together they headed towards the Finnmark Plateau in the Arctic regions of Norway to ski 130 kilometers through harsh winds and freezing minus 40-degree weather. “Most people would be uncomfortable with this,” says Helmy, “we would camp every day in the snow and endured a very harsh environment.” But in the end it was worth it for Helmy, who pushed his limit and expanded his horizons.

For many people, enduring such a trip would be more than enough for one life-time; however, upon finishing his cross-country ski expedition, Helmy immediately began thinking of his next challenge. “After the summer of 2013 came I thought of what I could do next,” recalls the adventurer, “so I decided to take up cycling”. He started watching Youtube videos in order to learn how to assemble bicycles (because cycling cross country is nothing if you do not build your own bicycle), to keep with his mind-set of doing everything himself. Upon completion, Helmy set off to Italy to begin his 800Km cycling expedition which took him across the northern half of the beautiful country.

Accomplishing this feat encouraged him to take his cycling a step further, and cross Europe on his bicycle. Once again Helmy pushed his limits and got one step closer to the impossible, something most people only dream of doing. By putting thoughts into actions, Helmy has been able to prove to the entire world that anything is possible if you have the passion and willpower to push yourself. Now being mentally strong is one thing, but being physically able to endure such extreme environments and situations is another! Helmy’s exercise regimen is comprised of running, cycling and being outdoors. He tries to walk everywhere he can or take the subway so that he uses his full potential – that means no driving!

Cycling across Europe was bound to raise a lot of attention. “As I gathered more distance, there were more surprised faces,” Helmy recalls of the people he met along his journey. Some of these surprised faces turned into friends whom Helmy is still in touch with. One of them is even visiting Egypt very soon on a scuba diving trip.

Due to the nature of his trips, the young adventurer picked up a lot of fans along the way. But how did his family feel about his trips? “My family was a bit hesitant at first ,” says Helmy of his family’s reaction after he told them he would be going to the Arctic to ski 130km while pulling a 30 kg sled in the freezing cold with no way to contact them for an entire week. Once the initial shock wore off, Helmy says, “they became very supportive and proud when they saw the scope of what I was accomplishing and fully understood what I was doing.”

Helmy’s journey was not just a physical one, it was a rather spiritual one as well. Helmy recounts a special spiritual experience he felt when he encountered the world’s oldest 9,550 year-old tree. “To be in the presence of a living organism that old, which is still living to this day is an incredible feeling,” he explains. Arriving to Tarifa was another high point, because it signified the official completion of his journey. “I get rushes from extreme environments” Helmy explained, so getting stuck in snow and rain storms was a major high for him as well.

As for the lows, going to sleep hungry at times after “a mega work out” while doing his 130 km skiing trip, and his arrival at the final destination of Tarifa, Spain (the southernmost point of the country), which brought mixed emotions were a few of them. However the main low Helmy encountered was the mental struggle. “Situations that create anxiety that put me in a bad, non-productive mood for the whole day…makes it an absolute struggle to complete my daily cycling goal,” he says, “but in the end it is these situations that count because you push your limits and realize that you can do much more than you thought.”

Egypt should really admire Helmy for the strength and self-endurance he possesses. From building his own bicycle that he used on his trip, to filming and editing all of his footage, to simply living a life based on being self-sufficient, Helmy is truly an inspiration to today’s youth as well as the older community members who feel they may have already lived the best years of their lives. He has shown that anything truly is possible if you put your mind to it, and that one’s own self is the best tool in life.

Heba Mandour Brings Couture to the Streets of Zamalek

How did this photo-shoot come about, it was very daring?

I received a call from Ghada Abood telling me that her friend, Wed Khashoggi a brilliant photographer, wanted to do a photo shoot of me. I saw her work and told her that I had a certain idea in mind and as it turned out, it was exactly what Wed was thinking of. She wanted me in a big fluffy dress in an old building. I told her I want to do the photo shoot in the street instead. She loved the idea. Wed made me feel so comfortable. She is like a director who encourages the actor to perform at his best. Alaa El Tonsi is the brilliant make-up artist who got everything right for each look. Rafi did a wonderful job with my hair. Ahmed Abdalla is an amazing costume designer. The whole team worked amazingly together and there was a lot of positive energy during the shoot.

How did you feel walking the streets of Cairo in that beautiful skirt?

It was liberating! I was doing something that people might see as crazy or stupid … and I really didn’t care! The only thing that worried me was when I gave the photographer the idea we were a bit scared of being harassed. But since it was in Zamalek I felt a bit more comfortable! And I really enjoyed it tremendously… I loved the whole photo shoot!

What were people’s comments in the streets?

They were shocked, and didn’t utter a word at the beginning. Then they started shouting and asking, “Is this a movie, what are you doing?” First calling their friends to come and watch, since this area has lots of shops, cafés and restaurants … then they started taking pics with their mobile cameras.

What are your future plans?

Waiting for a good role, whether it’s a TV series or a movie. And I will start learning pole dancing and kite surfing next month.