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Couple Turns Desert Land into Heaven on Earth


Mon 12 Nov 2018 | 01:22 PM
Ibrahim Eldeeb

By: Ibrahim Eldeeb

CAIRO, Nov. 12 (SEE) – Through hardworking, focus and determination, An Egyptian couple's love affair resulted into great success. The whole story occurred in three cities and in two countries.

Khaled Kamel met Gehan Zakariyya at a shooting trip in Siwa city in the Egyptian Western desert. He proposed to her in Jordan; she accepted the proposal and they later married in a simple ceremony at Cairo, and another held at Alexandria beach.

Both Kamel and Zakariya chose to abandon some bureaucratic jobs at Cairo, moved to Neweba’ desert to reside and work. They bought a small farm, where they plant about 80% of the food they eat as well as herbs and crops to sell.

Speaking to ‘SEE’, Zakraiya reflected how she feels proud about their experience.

“The idea of having a farm was not a single desire for one of us.. but it was indeed the result of thinking together and searching for new, non routine life,” she said.

Both have searched about places to start their life together.. they considered Siwa where they first met, but eventually chose 'Neweba’.

 

 

 

On other hand, Kamel affirmed that both decided by their free will to abandon private sector jobs two years ago and start their own journey and project.

“We prepared ourselves by learning certain professions and skills during our days off work,” he added.

The couple recalled their first days at Neweba’. “Our neighbours among nomads were astonished that we freely left the life in the city, came to the desert, plant without help from farmers,” Kamel said.

Zakariya explained that the price of the farm was not a problem in itself, but it was the cost of preparing it for planting, and extending the utilities for it.

“We could overcome those problems by our joint efforts,” she affirmed.

 

After the place turned to look like a heaven, the couple started to sell natural products to the visitors of the city. They displayed products including lemon herbs and some dried fruits for sale.

Kamel said that they are cooperating with offices specialized in plant crops and scented oils, affiliated to the ministry of agriculture, to provide them with the needed researches about plantation.

On other hand, Zakariya said that their home does not have a TV set.. and that they only buy what they need.

“Though living at desert, but we are connected to the internet.. We tend to know what happens in the world through YouTube.. but also how to improve our work,” she said.

 

The couple used to be asked all the time by people who have the same dream of leaving the city how they did it, so they decided to offer a series of 3-day workshops and named it “From city to desert”. They present these at their farm and art space Dar Jan where they share their experience and allowing participants to perform the daily tasks in the farm as well as getting to live the actual lifestyle there.

The workshop is offered once a month. The first one was held last month and it got great reviews. Next workshop will by on Nov. 30th to Dec. 2nd.