Shaima Abdullah

Many know Siwa, the Egyptian oasis that blended the Amazigh heritage with the Arab heritage, but few know the dakhla, the oasis that is heard only from geography lessons, among the seven oases in the Western Desert, the Wahati community chose this oasis to begin It has its projects to serve the community, and on top of it is its recent project to serve cancer women.

The revival of the oasis heritage was the first mission carried by the Wahati Association, as the start from the headquarters in Dakhla was part of efforts to save dozens of families from the troubles of successive diseases caused by the polluted ground water of the oasis.

Kidney, liver and cancer patients, the association was their first and last wards, the oasis far from the central capital, its people suffer as is the case in other regions of Egypt, but fortunately for the women of the oasis, cancer patients had another matter.

Reem Shaheen, the heritage fashion designer and supervisor of the association's revival of heritage project, says that the association began more than a year ago to activate its projects to support cancer fighters in the oasis.

Initially, it was food projects, then pottery, newspaper products, and palm fronds, then the most important project started, which is the revival of the Oasis garment for Dakhla Oasis, through a special center for sewing and embroidery, in which cancer patients or one of their family members work.

Women entering the headquarters of the Wahati Association (networking sites)

Unique designs
Reem started her journey with the association five years ago, she went on a regular visit to the oasis, and discovered the association and its activities, so it inspired her her specialization in designing traditional costumes, to revive the old costume of the Dakhla Oasis, which differs from its similar to other oasis fashions, such as Siwa and others.

"The costume of Dakhla Oasis is characterized by a distinctive embroidery character, which depends on longitudinal lines and triangles or veils, and they are symbols specific to the people of the oasis," although Dakhla Oasis differs from other oases as a society inclined to civilization and not nomadic like Siwa Oasis, its people adopted the costumes Regular dresses such as gowns, dresses, and skirts, but they are still memorized by the shape of the inscriptions that their ancient costumes abound.

Reem continued, "Society here is educated, and women are allowed freedom of movement, movement and work, unlike other oases. Therefore, women change their clothes according to the requirements of the times, but they nevertheless keep the secrets of inscriptions and forms of embroidery."

The light of color is the challenge presented by Reem and the Cancer Women, who face the black color of Bedouin textiles. Reem added, "Although many people ask for the black color, I decided to go through the experiment in cheerful colors, in order to be a symbol of hope and optimism in the hearts of warriors."

There are two sewing machines and two for decorating, and a separate room for cutting and design. This is the daily workshop, in which more than twenty women work, including two women who are cancer patients, and the rest from the families of patients who are not able to work, so the association used their families to work in their place.

Participants receive a monthly salary, and a stimulus to the quality of production, which will take place for the first time this year in the “Diarna” exhibition organized by the Ministry of Solidarity. Reem hopes that she will lead cancer products to globalization by exporting abroad, as an Egyptian brand inspired by nomadic life.

Solar bread
Heritage fashions are not only what women fighting Oasis offer to disease, but also solar live (solar bread) was one of the most desirable food products from the association's followers via Facebook.

Solar subsistence, which depends on the way it is baked on the heat of the sun to ripen the dough, is placed in a specific order until the fermentation is complete, then placed in a special oven. Reem says that the association has a special oven for this bread, which is suitable for storage for several days and weeks, so it receives an unparalleled turnout.

Solar Bread (networking sites)

500 families benefit from the association's service projects, whether in terms of food heritage, clothes, pottery, and newspapers.