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1/21/12
Used baby clothes for shelter home mothers in Cairo
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4/6/11 6:09 PM
Being so privileged and fortunate in life
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Kulttuurikameleontit ry
Blog posts
Cultural ambassodors
“There is an unimaginable number of children living unsafely in the streets of Cairo, but there is also Hope Village Society helping the street children there. I hope that we can come up with various ideas how to get money and bring some light into the lives of these children who are so vulnerable. By a small effort we can help the small ones.”
 Ralf Gothóni: ”The work of Kulttuurikameleontit ry is aimed at helping the Cairo street children. This help reduces abuse, violence and criminality and alleviates the hard life these children face daily. Education and healthy, nutritious food is out of reach in their lives. It is our responsibility as wealthy Europeans to help the helpers to help, even with a minor contribution.”
Minna Herranen: ”Egypt and Egyptians are close to my heart. I have travelled to Egypt for ten years now to see my family there. I have lived for almost six years in the Near East and seen and experienced many kind of unethical and irresponsible action taking place. People here want to help, however, though these things are not discussed as openly as in Europe. This is why I want to raise awareness [in the street children issue], though knowledge also adds pain. The will to help may then spring up from the pain. It was only recently when I realized what big a problem street children are in Egypt, and luckily I found Kulttuurikameleontit ry and a good way to help children in the streets of Cairo. I am privileged because I was born in a welfare state. Every day I think that the girl in the street could be me. I want to take social responsibility of Egyptian children, though I’m well aware that it should be the responsibility of their society. Children are the future and every child should be given the opportunity. Even a small help can have a big impact on the rest of the life of a child or a young person – was it a new pair of recycled shoes or clean clothes. Not to mention the opportunity to have a family and study or work. Cairo Alatuul!”
Tarja Liesharju – Salon Valerian: ”The children in Africa have always been close to my heart. I have been in Egypt many times and seen the poverty with my own eyes. I wanted to help and luckily I found the website of Kulttuurikameleontit ry. In my health salon, we do alternative therapy and, with this work, we help many people. In my family, there are my partner and me, two grown-up children, two cats and a poor Egyptian family of ten members who we visit in Egypt. I wish all the best to all the people who are helping!“
Jussi Nuorteva:
”I work in Helsinki as the director of the National Chancery, the National Archive and seven local archives being on my responsibility. I am a Doctor of Theology and a Licentiate of Philosophy and I am also an adjunct professor at the University of Helsinki. My connections to the Middle East and development work started in the 1970s. I was at that time participating in the Finnish student association’s UN-projects and also in the activities of the Finnish-Namibia Society and the Percent Movement. I was the chairman of the Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East, FIME, in 2002-2007 and I have been the vice chairman ever since. I have participated in many international activities, especially in the fields of my academic interest. Currently, I am a member of the Finnish UNESCO Committee. My connections to Egypt are first and foremost through FIME. The large number of young people in Egypt creates an age pyramid with a lot of problems. Especially close to me are the questions which also Kulttuurikameleontit ry is trying to solve, i.e. those of urbanization and education. In addition to the street children project, I also regularly support the work of Unicef.”
 Maria Pakkala: “I am a Master of Translation and I work as a researcher, conference interpreter and language teacher. I have always been dreaming of participating in a project where I can help build a home for the little ones whose living conditions are bad and who live in the streets. Now, through the Cairo street children project, part of this dream can come true. I hope to be able to give a lot of love and energy to these children as a teacher and as a member of the association. I myself come from a third world country and that´s why I think I can somehow understand the pain of these children. I also hope that, through our activities, I learn to understand them better and help them better. I really hope that other people hear our voice and join us. One hand doesn’t clap, but two do, says an Arabic proverb. That's why we need more hands. “
 Tytti Vänskä:
”The world ours. Children are the future. One can help near or far, the most important thing being that everybody helps. These slogans are so cliché but also so true! I have been touched by the great number of street children and the denial of the existence of the problem. These invisible children deserve to be seen and recognized. It's a pleasure that now a humble artist like myself can participate in a development co-operation projectby doing her own work. As a member of Kulttuurikameleontit ry I can finally do something concrete. I will be going to Cairo in October 2011 to meet these children. I can be present, sing, make them sing and play, and hug them. Thank you Kulttuurikameleontit ry for your work; the world and its suffering is ours!”
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