"Qesetna fi Herfetna" Christmas Bazaar Sells Handcrafts to Support People with Disabilities

ALEXBANK and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development have teamed up to organize the “Qesetna fi Herfetna” Christmas Bazaar in support of people with disabilities. Seeing the support of local Egyptian production warms our hearts, which is why we were super excited to attend the bazaar, held at Al Guezira Plaza in Sheikh Zayed on December 13th and 14th 2019. 

The Qesetna fi Herfetna initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of integrating artisans with disabilities into the Egyptian creative economy. It is part of ALEXBANK’s 'Ebda3 men Masr' initiative, in collaboration with the Regional Association for Development and Enterprises (RADE), Caritas Egypt and Yadaweya Enterprises.

Ebda3 men Masr supports more than 6,000 craftsmen and women as part of the bank’s strategy to develop the 'Creating Shared Value' model. Qesetna fi Herfetna creates opportunities for craftsmen and women with disabilities, all while honouring the ancient Egyptian tradition of handcrafts. It empowers the community of people with disabilities to display their stunning talents in a venue where they can be truly appreciated by the Egyptian public.

At the bazaar, we were so engulfed by the joy of Christmas that we could almost see the snow. The atmosphere of community was serene, and we were deeply touched seeing the gorgeous handcrafts on sale. Aside from the colourful decorations, we were serenaded by classic carols and felt warm watching how much fun the children were having, between the games and entertainment tailored especially for them as well as the sight of Santa Claus passing out cookies to everyone on the Nice List. What truly brought the Christmas spirit to life was seeing how the bazaar led by example: how its inclusivity of the community of people with disabilities and their craft spoke to our shared values, and how it showed us the way the initiative promoted sustainability and the development of the Egyptian community.

We couldn’t have thought of a cosier setting to display the unbelievably impressive works of these local craftsmen and women. It was a perfect day to support a perfect cause, and we felt so thankful to have been a part of it.