ا Community Profile for Aged Care Service Providers
Cultural Information Kit 2011 Community Partners Program Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging Initiative 32 Lithgow Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560 Tel: 02 46206855 Email:
[email protected] www.mdsi.org.au
The Egyptians Cultural Information Kit 2011 This booklet has been funded by the Department of health and Aging under the Community Partners Program initiative, and has been developed by Macarthur Diversity services initiative. This booklet should be used as a general tool in working withEgyptian clients Sana Al-Ahmar – MDSI CPP Officer
Disclaimer: Whilst all due care has been taken to ensure the content of this booklet is accurate, there may be errors or omissions in it, as such no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinion of this booklet. Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative (MDSI), its employees and agents shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred as
Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative – Community Partners Program 2011 Egyptian Cultural Profile
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CONTENTS
Introduction
4
Geography
5
Population
5
Historical background
5
Language
6
Addressing people
6
Dress
6
Greetings
6
Dress
7
The Arts
7
Religions
8
Islam
8 Religious duties
8
Prayer and ritual purification
9
Dietary requirements
9
End of life in Islam
10
The Coptic
11
The Copts today
11
Coptic Diaspora
12
Copts in Australia
12
Coptic calendar
12
Coptic Sacraments
13
Coptic services
13
Invoking the name of God in the Egyptian culture
14
Egyptian attitude towards aging
15
Egyptian attitudes towards disability And Mental Health
15
Egyptian health beliefs and practices
15
Fasting
16
Egyptian rituals
16
Egyptian Australians
17
Important events and dates
18
Communicating in Arabic
19, 20, 21
Food of the Egyptians
21, 22, 23
Resources
24
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INTRODUCTION The aim of this resource is to provide a general reference for aged care service providers in communicating with the Egyptian elderly and to effectively work with Egyptian Australians in order to provide culturally appropriate care.
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Geography Egypt lies in the north-eastern Africa, with an area of 386,000 square. It is bordered by Libya to the west,
Sudan
to
the
south,
the
Palestinian
Territories, Israel and Jordan to the north-east, the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east. The Suez Canal links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean The Nile runs for over 1,000 miles within Egypt, from the south to the Mediterranean in the north. Egypt is dependent on the Nile for nearly all its water needs. The vast majority of the remaining land is made up of sparsely inhabited, arid desert.
Population The population of Egypt is over 82 Millions, it is relatively homogeneous. Over 90 percent are Arabic-speaking Muslims. Nine percent (possibly more) of the population is Coptic Christian; other religions and other forms of Christianity comprise the remaining one percent.
Historical background Egypt, is one of the main civilisations of the ancient world, has a history that goes back more than 5000 years. Starting with the Pharaohs who were able to create a civilisation based on the banks of the Nile, succeeded by foreign conquerors, mainly Persian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine. European influence in the 19th century gave way to a constitutional monarchy in 1922. Following the revolution of 1952, Egypt declared itself a Republic in 1953. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak led Egypt from 1981, until his resignation on 11 February 2011 following
an
intensive
campaign
of
civil
resistance.
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Egypt is the internationally used name but not the name used by the people of the country. In Arabic, the name is Misr,. It can refer to either the whole country or the capital city.
"Copt" can be taken to mean "Egyptian" in general, but now commonly means an Egyptian Christian, technically one belonging to the majority Coptic Church.
Language Egypt is part of the Arabic speaking world of about 250 million people from Morocco to Iraq. There is a substantial difference between the written and the spoken language. Each Arab country has its own dialect but the written language is the same. Today, Coptic is the native language of only about 300 Copts around the world. It is also the language of the native Egyptian Churches (the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Coptic Catholic Church). It is taught worldwide in many prestigious institutions, but its teaching within Egypt remains restricted
Addressing people People are generally addressed by their given name, often preceded by a title of some kind to address someone by name alone is impolite, especially if they are older. In general, young defer to old and women to men. Members of the younger generation are expected to show signs of respect and not to challenge their seniors and must use the special terms of address for aunts, uncles, and grandparents, as well as for older nonrelatives
Greetings A person joining any kind of group, even of strangers, is expected to greet those already present, handshakes are expected between people from the same gender. Embracing is also common as a form of greeting, usually among members of the same gender.
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Dress Public modesty in dress is highly valued in Egypt, many but not all Muslim women wear the Hijab
The arts In Egypt today Art is just as important as in ancient times. Egypt has produced many great writers, Naguib Mahfouz. Music has a long tradition in Egypt. Popular Egyptian music is very popular in all the Arab world, same with Egyptian films, Today modern Egyptian films are shown all over the Arab world, which make the Egyptian dialect the most popular among the Arabic speaking countries.
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RELIGIONS 90% of Egyptians are Muslims, 9% Copts and 1% other. The most recent estimates put the total number of Christians in Egypt over 10%. In Egypt Muslims and Christians share a common history and national identity; they also share the same ethnicity, race, culture and language.
ISLAM Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Islam means “submission” which signifies that a Muslim is someone who submits to the will of Allah (God). Islam also means ‘peace’, believing that true peace can also be achieved through obedience to God as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (‘peace be upon him’). Muslims adhere to the following Articles of Faith: •
Belief in Allah (God) – –
•
Allah is the one true God who created the world and everything in it.
Belief in the Prophets –
Muslims believe in the prophets of whom Muhammad is regarded as the last and most important.
–
RELIGIOUS DUTIES The five pillars of Islam form the very foundation on which the faith rests. 1. Declaration of faith - Every Muslim should declare that: There is no other god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. 2. Ritual prayer - Muslims are expected to pray five times a day , 3. Fasting - During Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar calendar), Muslims observe a month-long fast, they abstain from food, drink, smoking . 4. Almsgiving -It is the duty of every Muslim to give to the poor and the needy. 5. Pilgrimage/ The Haj - Once in every Muslim’s life, he or she is required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca,
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•
Central to Islam is a theme of oneness. Belief in God’s will in deciding what happens to them
•
Muslims believe in life after death (or the after life)
•
Devout and pious Muslims believe that suffering and death are part of God’s plan and it’s their duty to accept, however difficult, whatever God sends.
PRAYER AND RITUAL PURIFICATION •
Muslims should wash before they pray and since there are five daily prayer times; purification ritual takes place five times a day. –
These purification rituals could put great demands on staff but understanding and assistance will minimize any psychological stress that the client may experience.
–
An ill Muslim, even terminally ill, would most likely want to continue the daily prayers and purification rituals for as long as possible. It would greatly help if staff could ascertain the exact times involved and render assistance to ensure privacy.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS Most Muslims observe the dietary rules of Islam and while in hospital many will follow a vegetarian diet, unless halal meat can be provided. Muslims do not eat pork or pork products, such as ham, bacon, or food which contain ingredients like pork fat. All other meat is allowed but only if it is halal. •
Dairy products are acceptable provided that only halal animal rennet is used. Some types of insulin are made from pork products and therefore these will be prohibited for use.
•
Alcohol is expressly forbidden even when used for medicinal purposes.
•
Fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset with nothing to eat and drink
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END OF LIFE IN ISLAM •
When a Muslim is near death, those around him or her are called upon to give comfort, and reminders of God's mercy and forgiveness. They may recite verses from the Qur'an, give physical comfort, and encourage the dying one to recite words of remembrance and prayer.
•
Upon death, those with the deceased are encouraged to remain calm, pray for the departed, and begin preparations for burial. The eyes of the deceased should be closed, and the body covered temporarily with a clean sheet. It is forbidden for those in mourning to excessively wail, scream, or thrash about
•
Once a Muslim dies, the people left behind (same gender) must prepare the body by washing with clean and scented water, perfuming, and shrouding it. The funeral prayer is then performed; the deceased is then taken to the cemetery for. While all members of the community attend the funeral prayers, only the men of the community accompany the body to the gravesite
•
Muslims strive to bury the deceased as soon as possible after death, and the deceased is buried in a graveyard without a gasket, simply laid in the earth and covered lying on its right side, and facing the Mecca.
•
The official mourning period in Islam is three days where people stay at home receiving visitors and condolences. The mourning period differs but usually on 7th, 40th and 1 year after death, the deceased are remembered and alms given to poor. Women wear black for a year or more.
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THE COPTS “Coptic” means “Egyptian,” and Christians living in Egypt identify themselves as Coptic Christians. As a denomination they originated in the city of Alexandria, one of the most faithful, respected, and fruitful cities during the Apostolic Period. The Coptic Christians acknowledge and herald John Mark, (author of the Gospel of Mark), as their founder and first bishop sometime between A.D. 42 - A.D. 62. The Copts, an indigenous Christian sect, constitutes Egypt’s largest religious minority. Today, Copts form over 10% (the population of Copts is a continuously disputed matter) of Egypt’s population though they are not ethnically distinct from other Egyptians as they are fully integrated into the body of the modern Egyptian nation.
The Copts Today Today, the Coptic Church has spread throughout the world, with churches in many different countries. The church today maintains communications with the Roman Catholic Church, as well as others, and it is clear that the desire of the Copts is to be fully and unequivocally accepted as orthodox Christians by all members of the Christian world community. As a religious minority, the Copts are subject to significant discrimination in modern Egypt, and the target of attacks by militant Islamic extremist groups Since the early 1980s, the Copts have suffered discrimination in Egypt: restrictions have been placed on their religious freedom, Coptic institutions have been placed under government scrutiny, the role of Copts in the Egyptian government has been reduced, and Coptic communities have been attacked by Islamic fundamentalists. The response of the Coptic community in general has been peaceful, although a small segment seeks political autonomy and self-rule.
Copts complain of being minimally represented in law enforcement, state security and public office, and of being discriminated against in the workforce on the basis of their religion. The Coptic community, as well as several human rights activists and intellectuals, maintain that the number of Christians occupying government posts is
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not proportional to the number of Copts in Egypt.
Coptic Diaspora There are about 4 million Copts living outside of Egypt, and are known as the Diaspora Copts. The term Coptic remains exclusive however to the Egyptian natives, as opposed to the Christians of non-Egyptian origins. Outside of Egypt and Sudan, the largest Coptic Diaspora population is in the United States and Canada. Sudan has a native Coptic minority, although many Copts in Sudan are descended from more recent Egyptian immigrants Copts in Sudan live mostly in northern cities, They number up to 500,000, or slightly over 1% of the Sudanese population. Due to their advanced education, their role in the life of the country has been more significant than their numbers suggest. They have occasionally faced forced conversion to Islam, resulting in their emigration and decrease in number.
Copts in Australia Congregations of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia are served by two Coptic Orthodox Dioceses with over 50 parishes, two Monasteries, two theological Colleges and five schools. The Coptic Church is a member of National Council of Churches in Australia. Currently, the Coptic Orthodox Church has as many 100,000 members in Australia (in Sydney alone it is estimated that there are 70,000 Copts, with numbers in Melbourne in the tens of thousands) The current head of the Coptic Orthodox Church is Pope Shenouda III.
Coptic Calendar The Coptic calendar, also called the Alexandrian calendar, is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church and also by Ethiopia as its official calendar (with different names). The Coptic calendar has thirteen months, twelve with thirty days each and a month at the end of the year which has five or six days depending on whether the year is a leap year or not.
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Coptic Sacraments Copts observe seven canonical sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession (Penance), Orders, Matrimony, and Unction of the sick. Regular confession with a personal priest, called the father of confession, is necessary to receive the Eucharist. It is customary for a whole family to pick the same priest as a father of confession, thus, making of that priest a family counsellor. Of all seven sacraments, only Matrimony cannot be performed during a fasting season. Polygamy is illegal, divorce is not allowed except in the case of adultery, annulment due to bigamy, or other extreme circumstances, which must be reviewed by a special council of Bishops. Divorce can be requested by either husband or wife. The Church does not have an official position vis-a-vis some controversial issues (e.g. abortion). While the church has clear teachings about such matters (e.g. abortion interferes with God's will), it is the position of the Church that such matters are better resolved on a case-by-case basis by the father of confession, as opposed to having a blanket canon that makes a sin of such practices.
Coptic Services The main Coptic Services, like those of most other Christian churches, are held on Sundays. During the service women and men don't mix, they sit separately on each side of the church . Also during communion, they go to different chambers on the sides of the alter where the women cover their hair in respect of the ceremony. While the seating is separated for women and men during Sunday services and also funerals, during wedding they may sit together. A kind of rare tradition is also found in the Egyptian Coptic Church. Holy bread, called “Qurban”, which is distributed after the service in the church. “Qurban” bread is round, decorated with a cross in the middle that is surrounded by twelve dots. The dots represent the twelve disciples of Jesus. It is very common for people visiting each other after mass to offer some and normally it can never be refused. The Holy Week is most sacred to all Copts. On Holy Thursday, Egyptian Copts have a tradition of visiting and praying in seven Coptic Churches after mass. It is an event where families and friends gather and walk around from one church to another in commemoration of the Last Supper.
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Invoking the notion of God Egyptians frequently invoke the notion of God and his power. Any statement about the future, for instance, is likely to contain the injunction, "God willing," showing that the ultimate determination of the intention is up to God. In Egypt, there are other possible elaborations. For some, who focus on God as all-powerful, religious practice involves seeking God's help in over-coming problems and seeking favorable outcomes, for instance, with regard to recovery from disease or misfortune. Around this notion has grown up a series of practices involving visits to shrines.
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EGYPTIAN ATTTUDES TOWARDS AGING
Elders are highly respected by the community and their extended family
There is a strong family involvement in looking after older people. Elderly Egyptians expect their families to look after them
Reluctance to enter into residential care, new concept for many Arabs including Egyptians. It is a place where you go and die
The family must be consulted in all aspects of health care and the needs of the elderly person
Arabic residential facilities and or having staff who speaks Arabic
Many may think that residential aged care services might not understand their cultures and thus they might have a problem being there
Residential services need to be understanding of the needs of CALD, their cultures and religions
EGYPTIAN ATTITUDES TOWARDS DISABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH
People with disability and mental illness are stigmatized within the Egyptian community
Families may hide or deny that they have someone in the family with disability or mental health illness
Children with disabilities are unwanted
EGYPTIAN HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
Egyptians tend to combine the modern health system with traditional practices such as herbal remedies
They tend to seek help from an Arabic speaking practitioner
They may take drugs recommended by friends
May stop taking the drug as soon as they feel better
Women might need to be treated by a practitioner from the same gender
FASTING Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative – Community Partners Program 2011 Egyptian Cultural Profile
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Fasting is seen as a spiritual exercise by both Muslims and Christians.
Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, during the month of Ramadan. Some particularly devout Muslims also fast on other days in the Islamic calendar such as the birth of the profit
Egyptian Christians fast over 200 days a year mostly in the periods leading up to Christmas and Easter, as well as Wednesdays and Fridays of each week. They avoid meat, fish and dairy. Copts see fasting as an exercise in self-denial and Christian obedience. All Coptic Orthodox Christians are expected to fast following a prescribed set of guidelines. Dispensation is however granted under special circumstances, such as pregnancy and sickness
EGYPTIAN RITUALS Stages of life are an important area of religious practice, and one that is largely shared by Muslims and Christians.
Egyptians celebrate a naming ceremony normally one week after a baby's birth; this is a mixture of Islamic (or Coptic) and "traditional" elements, and is basically a family celebration to incorporate the newborn into the family
All boys are circumcised, generally as infants
. After a death, both Muslims and Christians try to bury the body the same day. Condolences are paid immediately, and again after forty days and after a year. The Islamic condolence sessions are often marked by Koran reading
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EGYPTIAN AUSTRALIANS According to the Australian 2006 Census, 33,494 Australian residents declared that they were born in Egypt and 31,786 declared that they were of Egyptian ancestry either alone or with another ancestry. Most Egyptian Australians have nominated themselves as being of Coptic ancestry The majority of Egypt-born Australian residents are in Sydney and Melbourne with smaller communities located in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane. Immigration from Egypt was significant in the late 1940s and 1950s, with minorities escaping the growing Arab nationalist movement in Egypt which saw the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy and the subsequent Suez Crisis. However the majority of Egyptian-Australians are Copts, with 19,928 Australian residents declaring membership of the Coptic Orthodox Church at the 2006 Census. 80.8% of Egyptian born Australians arrived to Australia prior to 1996
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IMPORTANT EVENTS AND FESTIVALS Sham Al-Naseem 21 March -(first day of spring celebration and the Coptic Easter Monday) is celebrated nationwide in practically all regions and by all social classes, it is an ancient Egyptian Spring and Harvest Festival. Marked by a breakfast of salted fish, spring onions, lettuce and coloured eggs which is consumed in gardens or parks Revolution day – 23 July – Egyptian Independence Day MUSLIM IMPORTANT DATS
Eid Al-Fitr which comes at the end of Ramadan (when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset)t. Special cookies sprinkled with powdered sugar (Kahk) are baked and offered to guests. IN 2011 Ramadan starts on 1 August and Eid Al-Fitr on 29 or 30 August
Eid Al-Adha – 2 months and 10days after Eid Al-Fitr (approximately 10 November 2011). Those who can afford it have to sacrifice a lamb. The meat is then distributed to the poor and part of it is consumed by family and friends
The Prophet’s Birthday – Marks the birth of the prophet Mohammad. People consume Halawat Al Moulid which is a variety of sweets cooked with different types of nuts
CHRISTAN /COMPTIC IMPORTANT DAYS
Christmas – January 7
Easter – Sham Al-Nassim (Easter Monday)
On both Christmas and Easter days Copts break their fast with a variety of dishes made of beef and poultry. Cookies (kahk) is bas=ked and served
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COMMUNICATING IN ARABIC Numbers Zero:
sifr
One:
wahid
Two:
ithnin
Three:
thalatha
Four:
arba'a
Five:
khamsa
Six:
sitta
Seven:
sab'a
Eight:
thamania
Nine:
tis'a
Ten:
ashra
Good morning
Sabahelkhair
Good evening
Masaelkhair
Hello
Marhaba/Salam
Goodbye
Ma alsalama
How are you
Keifak (M) kaifik (f)
Good/I am well
Kouis (m)/ Kouisa (f)
Not good
Taaban (m)/ Taabana (f)
Now
alaan
Sick
Marid (ayyan)(m)/ Marida (ayyana) (f)
Yes
Aiwa/Naam
No
La
Thank you
Shukran
Please
Min fadlik
My name is
ismi ……..
What is your name
Shou ismak
Today
alyoum
Tomorrow
Bukra
Yesterday
Albariha
Cold
Bard
Hot
Har
Pain
waja’/Alem
Where is the pain
wein alwaja’?
Bath
hammam
Toilet
twalet
Medication
Dawaa’
Tablets
Hubboub Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative – Community Partners Program 2011 Egyptian Cultural Profile
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Injection
Ibra
Hospital
mustashfa
Family
Al-aila
Slowly
Ala mahlak
Important
Mouhim
Do you need a doctor
Hal tahtaj doctor
Body parts Head
Raas
Eye
Ayn
Ear
Ithen
Face
wajeh
Head
raa’s
Teeth
asnan
Chest
sadir
Back
dahar
Shoulder
katif
Leg
rijil
Stomach
mii’dah
Arm
yad
How are you?:
kef Halak?
Fine thanks:
Kuwaies al-Hamdulillah
What's your name?
Shou ismaka?
My name is?
ismi ----- ?
I understand:
ana fahim
I don't understand:
la afham
I speak?:
ana atakallam ?
English:
inglizi
I don't speak Arabic:
la-atakallam arabi
God willing –
Insha’ allah
Where is (the)??:
Ain (al-----)
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FOOD OF THE EGYPTIANS Egypt has a variety of national dishes. Ful (pronounced "fool," bean paste), tahini (sesame paste), koushari (lentils, macaroni, rice, and chickpeas), aish baladi (a pitalike bread), kofta (spicy, minced lamb), and kebab (grilled lamb pieces) are the most popular. Koushari (Lentils, Macaroni, Rice, and Chickpeas) Ingredients Rice -- 1 cup Macaroni pasta -- 1 cup Lentils -- 1 cup Oil -- 2 tablespoons Onion, chopped finely -- 1 Garlic, minced -- 2 to 3 cloves Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes -- 2 cups Pepper flakes -- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Salt and pepper -- to taste Oil for frying Onion, sliced thinly -- 1 Salt and pepper -- to taste
Method 1. Cook the rice and 2 cups of water in a covered pot until done, about 20 minutes. Cook the macaroni according to package directions, or until al dente. Simmer the lentils and 2 cups of water in a covered pot until tender, 30-45 minutes. 2. While the rice, pasta and lentils are cooking, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent and wilted, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce and pepper flakes, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, add a little water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. 3. Heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a heavy skillet. Add the sliced onions and fry until they turn brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels. 4. Place the rice, macaroni and lentils in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and stir together gently with a fork. Portion the mixture into individual bowls and spoon some tomato sauce over each portion. Top with crispy fried onions and serve hot or at room temperature.
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Aish bread, means "life." It accompanies most meals and is served in various forms. The most common bread is pita, usually made with whole wheat (or sometimes white) flour. Long, skinny French-style loaves of bread are also widely eaten throughout the country. Traditional Egyptian cheeses, as well as feta imported from neighboring Greece, are frequently served alongside bread at meals. Ful (creamy bean paste made from fava beans), one of the country's several national dishes, is a typical breakfast meal. It is often served in a spicy sauce, topped with an egg. Lunch, normally served between 2 P.M. and 4 P.M. , usually includes meat or fish, rice, bread, and seasonal vegetables. Salad ( mezza, or mezze if more than one is served), topped with typical Middle Eastern fare such as olives, cheese, and nuts, may also be eaten. Meat (usually lamb, chicken, fish, rabbit, or pigeon), vegetables, and bread make up a typical dinner in Egypt. Tea and a dessert, such as baklava (honey pastry), basbousa (cream-filled cake), or konafa (cooked batter stuffed with nuts), are familiar after-dinner treats. Tea and coffee are widely consumed, (often mint tea), usually offering both full of sugar gyptians also enjoy a drink called sahleb, made from wheat, milk, and chopped nuts. For a typical dessert, Egyptians may serve mint tea with sugar and a sweet, flaky pastry called baklava. Ful Mudammas with Tomato Ingredients •
1 15-ounce can cooked fava beans
•
¼ cup olive oil
•
1 small onion, chopped
•
½ cup tomato sauce
•
½ teaspoon salt
•
¼ teaspoon black pepper
•
¼ teaspoon paprika
•
A few sprigs of fresh parsley
•
Pita bread
Directions 1. In a skillet, sauté the chopped onion in the olive oil until the onion is transparent. Add salt, pepper, and tomato sauce. 2. Drain and rinse the fava beans, and add to the tomato mixture. Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative – Community Partners Program 2011 Egyptian Cultural Profile
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3. Cook over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Pour into serving dish, and garnish with paprika, parsley, and olive oil. Serve with pita bread.
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Sources of information 1. Egyptian migration to Australia, overview and bibliography – Stephanie Hoe 2oo6 www.potduck.com/egypt/pdf/History_of_Egyptian_Migration.pdf 2. Department of immigration and citizenship – Egypt-born historical background http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/commsumm/_pdf/egypt.pdf 3. Wikipedia 4. The Australian people: an encyclopedia of nation 5. UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-andliving-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/middle-east-northafrica/egypt/ 6. Countries and their culture http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Egypt.html 7. Victorian
Transcultural
psychiatry
unit
http://www.vtpu.org.au/resources/communityprofiles.html 8. The
Egyptians
in
Sydney,
Stephanie
Ho
and
Paul
Ashton
www.epress.lib.uts.edu.au/ojs/index/php/sydney_journal/index 9. Multicultural equity & access program, Arabic speaking community profile 2010 http://www.miceastmelb.com.au/documents/pdaproject/CulturalProfiles/Arabic CulturalProfile2010.pdf 10. AN OVERVIEW OF THE COPTIC CHRISTIANS OF EGYPT BY LARA ISKANDER AND JIMMY DUNN 11. Countries and their cultures http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Egypt.htm 12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt
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