Hanan Solayman built the Mandara media portal in Upper Egypt in 2010 to be the region’s premier center for independent media production and training. Outside of Cairo, opportunities to study or work in the field of mass communications are extremely limited, and Hanan hoped to fill this void with Mandara.
First, Mandara offers journalist workshops in these underserved regions as a means to foster and empower aspiring writers. Following, Mandara provides job opportunities by employing young local journalists to report on the issues in their neighborhoods.
Mandara uses its position to foster dialogue in these communities, encourage active citizenship, and raise awareness about key societal issues. Hanan hopes that Mandara can be a model for the future of local independent media in Egypt.