The Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality announces the opening of applications for the “Mai Gamal” Feminist Research Award, in honor of Egyptian feminist activist Mai Gamal, who lost her life on 2November last year due to Israeli bombing of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza. The award aims to support young feminist activists interested in research and writing from a feminist perspective to develop their research skills, striving to maintain a feminist knowledge production that spans generations and documents the issues and voices of women.
Mai Gamal was an Egyptian feminist activist and researcher who dedicated her life to defending women’s rights and opposing gender-based violence. She, along with her husband and family, lost her life on November 2, 2023, in an Israeli bombing of Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City. She left behind a legacy of tireless work and feminist struggle that inspired many.
Born in 1988, Mai graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University, continued her graduate studies in international law at Cairo University, and obtained a diploma in business administration from the American University in Cairo. She was a co-founder of ‘Edraak for Development and Equality,’ worked as a digital content manager, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Gender-Based Violence Crimes Observatory. She then became the director of the support and advocacy unit at the foundation. Mai’s activities and experience extended further, working as a researcher at the Tadween Center for Gender Studies, and collaborating as a researcher and voice performer with various civil society organizations and local and regional networks, such as the Arab Network for Civil Society for Women and the Sexuality Forum.
Mai had always dreamed of enhancing and developing feminist research and supporting young female researchers, a dream that this award honors, in recognition of her contributions to advocating for women’s rights.
The award targets Egyptian feminist activists aged 21 to 40 who are interested in research writing. The award program includes an intensive training program that lasts for a month and a half, helping participants to develop their research skills and complete their research submissions for the award.
Please send the following documents to the email address: [email protected] by November 16, 2024:
1. Curriculum Vitae.
2. A motivation letter explaining your desire to apply for the award and join the program.
3. A research proposal (500-700 words) that covers the topic, research objectives, research questions, and an initial methodology outline (e.g., interviews, surveys, content analysis, etc.). Proposed topics should align with the following themes:
– Women’s sexual and reproductive health rights
– Violence against women in Egypt and the challenges of providing support to survivors
– The impact of the current economic crisis on the status of women in Egypt
4. A sample of previous writings (additional, not required for acceptance) that includes creative, journalistic, or research writing, or reports from previous organizations.
Candidates shortlisted for the program will be contacted for online interviews.
Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality is an Egyptian non-profit organization registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, No. 11014.