Egypt Through my Lens

I took my decades-old camcorder with me to one of the world's oldest countries. Yet, even after filming what seemed like every waking moment, i've concluded that nothing comes close to witnessing this ornate country through your own eyes. From the thousands of years of history at every turn, to the cheery demeanor of every vendor, to the incredible, unbeatable food, I can safely say this country and its people are among the most beautiful and rich I have yet to experience.

As a young woman from America, before embarking on my trip, I was truly fed a false narrative about this country. It is no secret that the ethnocentric thinking of most Americans is not only false but also quite harmful to the reputation of contentious countries such as Egypt ( and the Middle East as a whole). Tourism in Egypt is one of the most important sources of national income, with the annual dollar revenues it generates and the foreign currency returns that enable it to contribute significantly to GDP and to combat unemployment by employing a wide segment of the workforce. Tourism is essential, to say the least. Due to the overly politicized culture of our world today, the skewed view of the Middle East from Western countries has transitioned from being a smear on the country's name to becoming systematically detrimental to the country's well-being.

From the Great Pyramids to the Temple of Karnak to the Valley of the Kings, there was one constant among the countless historical sights. On nearly every placard depicting the history and importance of each landmark, in the bottom corner, was "USAID". The U.S. Agency for International Development provided humanitarian aid and development assistance to foreign countries. Encompassing disaster relief, education, public health, poverty control, and more.

USAID was established in 1961, and nearly 65 years later, under the Trump administration, 85% of its operations have been shut down, with the remaining functions transferred to the U.S. Department of State. Claiming the money was being poured into 'fraudulent projects', Trump's eradication of USAID has significantly disrupted the country's economic development, especially given that Egypt was the 4th-largest recipient of USAID out of over 100 countries. Projects to strengthen public schools ($24 million), end violence against women and girls ($25 million), and improve water and wastewater systems for climate resiliency ($24 million) are among the many program cuts.

As much as I would prefer to be sharing stories of the diverse people I met, the opulent food I ate, or the astounding historical landmarks I saw, it seems only right that I instead discuss the incredible negative bias most Americans and even our president share regarding Egypt and the Middle East as a whole. This ethnocentric way of thinking fosters prejudiced and frankly, racist opinions of a different country/cultures way of life. Which is not only unfair but ignorant. Egypt deserves to have its story told correctly, and its culture shared without judgment. I can only hope my 2-minute, grainy, unsteady video gives a glimpse into the beauty of this ancient country.

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Sources:

(ACW), Arab Center, Washington, D.C. “What Trump’s Aid Cuts Mean for the Middle East and North Africa.” Arab Center, Washington DC, 1 May 2025, arabcenterdc.org/resource/what-trumps-aid-cuts-mean-for-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/#_edn4.

Desiderio, Andrew. “USAID Terminated AWARDS_2025-03-06_clean.” Punchbowl News, 6 Mar. 2025, punchbowl.news/usaid-terminated-awards_2025-03-06_clean/.