Our Timely Visit to Egypt
Right now, Egypt is reeling from demonstrations and protests by its people who are demanding President Mubarak‘s resignation. The Egyptians want a more democratic government that will fight poverty, improve living conditions and eliminate corruption. Mubarak and the military have ruled the country for thirty years. It will be a difficult process to overturn the current regime but the people need a change.
Last year at about this time, to celebrate the publication of our book, Women Empowering Themselves: A Financial Survival Guide, my co-author Antoinette and I decided to take a trip to Egypt. It was a life-long dream for both of us and we wanted to go while we could still take the heat and physical exertion involved in seeing all of the country’s spectacular ancient sites.
It was a magnificent two weeks, packed with tomb, museum and temple visits. Most days we walked miles and climbed up (and down) hundreds of steps in 98 degree heat to see incredible monuments, frescoes and hieroglyphics that were three to five thousand years old.
During our trip we met people from many countries. Once they found out we were Accredited Financial Counselors and authors of a financial survival guide, invariably they wanted to get advice on debt management. On this level, problems with personal finance and too much debt seem to span the globe.
Although our culture and history are vastly different, we weren’t too surprised to learn that Egyptian women are struggling with debt just like women in the States, however, there is one major difference; in Egypt, a woman who doesn't or can't make her bank loan payments can end up spending three to five years in jail. And, if she’s alone caring for children and is sentenced to jail, her children are also forced to live within the jailhouse walls. There is no legal recourse except to pay back the debt, which is pretty impossible to do when you’re locked up.
In Cairo we learned of a nonprofit organization called Prisoners of Poverty that was formed by Egyptian author and journalist Nawal Mostafa to help these women prisoners care for their children, settle their debts and get released from jail.
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