- Title: EGYPT: Deprived kids make high flyers in Cairo
- Date: 4th June 2013
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF THE DEAD GATHER MATERIALS FOR KITE-MAKING CHILD WINDING STRING VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SETTING UP MATERIALS FOR KITES CHILDREN MAKING DECORATIONS FOR KITE VARIOUS OF CHILDREN MAKING KITE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KITE FLYER, MOHAMED EID, SAYING: "Instead of doing something useless during the weekend, I use my time by setting up my kite. It's better than doing anything harmful." CHILDREN WALKING ALONG STREET GETTING READY TO FLY THEIR KITE CHILDREN WALKING WITH KITES VARIOUS OF CHILDREN GETTING READY TO FLY THEIR KITES KITE BEING RELEASED AND FLYING WITH MOSQUE AND MINARET IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KITE FLYER, OSAMA AHMED, SAYING: "I learnt to fly the kite after watching my friends and brothers. I didn't know how to fly it at the beginning, but after learning it from them, time after the other I got the hang of it." ADOLESCENT FLYING KITE KITE FLYING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KITE FLYER, MOSTAFA ABDEL GELEEL, SAYING: "We know how to fly kites here. My father took it on as a hobby and my grandfather before him. REPORTER ASKS: "Not a lot of people fly kites in Egypt?" MOSTAFA: "We know it, we know it very well." KITE BEING FLOWN OVER MOSQUE
- Embargoed: 19th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- City:
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVADEIX3U9AL3TD524Z7LPTNEDZU
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Egyptian children living in the poor area of ElSayeda Aisha have found a novel way of making use of their time.
They've been making kites.
Using string, plastic wrap and wood they find on rubbish dumps, these children dedicate hours every day to their hobby.
The majority of these children don't attend school and must work to earn money. Growing up in Cairo's City of the Dead, more often than not, children can be led into harmful bad habits, including drug use and crime.
But these boys have decided to take a more constructive path.
"Instead of doing something useless during the weekend, I use my time by setting up my kite. It's better than doing anything harmful," Mohamed Eid said.
The experience of flying a kite is a joy for these children.
They have taught themselves by watching others. Osama Ahmed learnt the craft from his older brothers and friends. And it wasn't long before he could make and fly his own kites.
"I learnt to fly the kite after watching my friends and brothers. I didn't know how to fly it at the beginning, but after learning it from them, time after time I got the hang of it," he said.
The hobby has been passed down from generation to generation, and according to the children, its popularity comes from its accessibility and affordability.
"We know how to fly kites here. My father took it on as a hobby and my grandfather before him," said Mostafa Abdel Geleel.
Flying the kites means a lot to these boys. Not only do they acquire a new skill, but they have found a distraction from their underprivileged lives that keeps them from more harmful pursuits. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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