In 2024, What Women Want… Magazine launched the first edition of its 16 Days of Activism Community Festival in Downtown Cairo, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Pathfinder International, and Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment.
Held from November 27 to December 1, 2024, across Al Ismaelia’s venues including Cinema Radio, the Factory, and the Warehouse, the festival brought together exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions, and live performances addressing gender-based violence and centering the voices of survivors and advocates. These buildings, long used as spaces for gathering and expression, became settings for dialogue, reflection, and collective engagement.
“Our buildings have always been places where people come together and ideas are exchanged. Opening them to a community-based initiative like this felt natural, as these spaces have long carried stories shaped by resilience and shared experience. Making room for voices that matter was both necessary and deeply meaningful,” said Karim Shafei, Chairman and CEO of Al Ismaelia.
The festival reflected Al Ismaelia’s belief that cultural spaces have a role beyond entertainment. By supporting community-based activism, the initiative highlighted how restored heritage venues can serve as platforms for social impact and meaningful public conversation.
The first edition established a foundation for using Downtown Cairo’s cultural infrastructure as a space for empathy, listening, and collective action, reinforcing the importance of community led initiatives within the city’s cultural life.