Any foundation should be proud when the efforts exerted by the foundation, staff and those in charge are translated to change and happiness reflected on faces of those that the foundation has sought to serve and change their lives to the better, raise their awareness about themselves, their children and handling others in community.
Badrya was one of those faces whom you feel comfort when you see. She smiles. You can see the features of genuine Egyptian woman in her face. Her dark skin, brown eyes and sweet words associated with smile show her heart kindness and love that is poured to fill others with joy and happiness. This smile sparks among the wrinkles that validate the suffering of this woman throughout her life journey.
Badrya was raised in a village called “Dyrot”, Assuit governorate. In spite of the fact that her father was wealthy, educated and could cover the expenses of her education, he allowed her male siblings to be educated but never the female. Female of the family weren’t able to read and write. At the beginning this wasn’t a great deal for Badrya when she was in Assuit. However, when she got married to Pastor Hermina Wisa Boktor and moved to Cairo, she felt that she is less than others. She said: “When I moved to live in Cairo, I felt oppressed”.
She was always unsatisfied because of her inability to read. She felt angry towards the man who prevented her from completing her education and getting her out of school after finishing first primary. She wished she could be able to read road signs, bus numbers, addresses. She wished she could have an idea about community problems. Badrya mentioned that God has given her wisdom to understand what she wasn’t able to understand from newspapers and books.
She learnt about Koz Kozeh from her friend Mariam who invited her to attend a session organized by the foundation in Ramadan. She attended and this was a great change to her life. She said that she liked the place once she stepped in and she decided to join.
She said that Koz Kozeh was her resort against feeling lonely and depressed particularly after the death of her husband and living alone as she doesn’t have children. She added: “I have friends here in the foundation. In spite of my health problems, I can smile and forget everything when I come here”
Badrya is keen to come to the Dambosko every Friday. She is also keen to attend lectures. She mentioned that she learnt a lot from the lectures. She stated that she is happy when she attends the lectures of Dr. Nader. He lectures about health and this is a topic of concern for Badrya as she is anemic. She learnt a lot from the lectures. She was introduced to health information, medical instructions to take care of herself and health appropriately.
She learnt never to judge any person in spite of having a different opinion. She has to find a common ground. She said that isolation is the reason of all disputes. We have to meet together and understand more. I have learnt to love the other even if this other is different. Thus, Badrya has finished her conversation with the depth of the meaning in her words wishing goodness and peace to prevail.
