Art as a social development tool

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Egypt, Christian Berger, has highlighted the importance of arts and the cinema for the progress of the Egyptian society and delivering positive messages that enhance societal awareness of important issues.
“One photo is capable of conveying knowledge and awareness more than a thousand words,” Berger said. “Therefore, it is an important tool for changing societies and raising awareness of social issues,” he added on the margins of Aswan International Women’s Film Festival last week.
He referred to the history of Egyptian cinema.
Egypt, he said, was the second country in the world to produce films.

This, he added, made films instrumental in the development of the society.
The EU Ambassador noted that the cinema sheds light on societal issues for the public opinion and decision-makers alike.”It contributes to changing laws, such as family laws, towards the rights and empowerment of women, in particular, and stopping violence against them, in addition to many other issues, such as the dangers of climate change and the importance of technology,” he said.Berger pointed out that the cinema helps society get acquainted with the culture of other societies.
He said the EU has a partnership with Egypt within the framework of programmes it funds to improve community awareness, provide social protection and defend women’s rights.
The EU cooperates with the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support programmes that raise societal awareness of various issues, including the National Awareness Programme (Waeey) to help groups most at risk and raise awareness of the seriousness of the issue of Female Genital Mutilation and the rights of people with disabilities.”Raising awareness about the seriousness of these issues is closely related to the cinema industry; films; art, and creativity, as they are a mirror of society’s issues,” Berger said. “The more aware society becomes, the more girls will be able to get education and work, and the more violence against women will also decrease,” he told the Egyptian Mail.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity participated in Aswan International Film Festival for Women, along with the Ministry of Culture, by allocating an award for films with a social impact produced by NGOs with the aim of highlighting positive models in local communities.
The ministry’s officials also met 320 pioneers from all villages in Aswan.
The meeting discussed the messages Waeey Programme aims to deliver to combat harmful traditional practices, such as child marriage, the deprivation of girls from education, female genital mutilation, and discrimination against girls.