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Two things before I do a well over-due update from Cairo... 1: it is so great to hear about everyones achievements - we are all doing some very important work and we should be proud of our impact on these communities... and 2: sorry that I have written on this forum for a while... my time has been so stretched and crazy that I haven`t had the chance... Till now...

So - where to start... I am now 5 days away from returning back to the comforts of Australia. Egypt is a very difficult place to live... but the people I have met on my way have made this experience very humbling and rewarding and truly inspirational.

Since we launched the Collage website, the organisation has taken off and been received by the community and other organisations with open arms... we no longer have to source artists as they are now coming to us. The organisation has just successfully delivered a massive event called the World Refugee Day for the American University that proved a huge hit with audience and artist alike. Now the organisation is focussed on planning for a series of Masterclasses where the community can learn from other Sudanese who have made their art a sustainable practise. A part from that we are now concerned with appointing a new committee to take the reins once I leave... and the energy and enthusiasm is very inspiring and exciting... especially from co-founder and director Emmanuel.

Both African Hope School and Saint Andrews (Sudanese schools that I have been teaching drama at for the last 5 months) finished the school year with their closing ceremonies - where my work with the students was presented. Both these events were disappointing for me as the cast of young people were too nervous and too self conscious to present strong performances (in my mind anyway)... but I still receive feedback from fellow teachers or audience who comment on how powerful the work was - and express a greater understanding and appreciation for drama and arts in a school curriculum.

And the drama piece I was directing - `The Letter Writer` played to packed audiences and received rave response. All the cast (including myself) were stoaked about the entire experience and it has charged the participants with a new found energy for acting. The 2 hour piece was invited to perform for an Egyptian government department`s celebrations... but both the lead character and playwright were resettled to Canada so we had to turn down the offer (nonetheless an amazing offer because the Egyptians want nothing to do with Sudanese - or their culture, so this was a great affirmation that we had done something to develop a new audience).

And to end off this experience, I was invited to present a lecture and facilitate the development of a drama curriculum for a major Summer School program run by all the Sudanese education centres in Cairo. The success of this invitation has now set a blueprint for all the schools to operate drama subjects - along with the training of teachers who can now implement the program... way too cool!

So my 6 months here has made a very significant impact on the Sudanese refugee community in Cairo. Its weird to have to summarise everything into a small entry like this - but that`s my fault I guess. My dreams of leaving a legacy have been achieved... and although I would love to stay and continue the work... I know that would be defeating the purpose of my residency here - to offer the tools for self-determination, self-reliance and self-representation through arts and culture.

I love this community so much... they have taken me in, allowed me to be a part of their family, trusted me, loved me, supported me... and asked me to sponsor them (sorry - I`m a homeless and out-of-work artist... not attractive to IOM). I look forward to discovering ways that I can engage my Sudanese migrant community back in Australia through the knowledge I have gained over the 6 months... now the next part of the adventure begins - bring it on!

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