Community Jameel and Bayt Yakan, a cultural centre set in a restored historic building in Old Cairo, today announced a programme of craft workshops for 100 children and family members from the local Al-Darb Al-Ahmar neighbourhood as part of Bayt Yakan’s 2025 summer school.
The workshops will be led by seven graduates of the two-year programme at the Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo, a collaboration launched in 2009 by The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, Community Jameel and Egypt’s Cultural Development Fund.
Led by Ola Said, an alumna and tutor of the Jameel House in Cairo and co-founder of Bayt Yakan, the programme runs until 7 September 2025.
Participants will explore traditional craftsmanship by producing handmade backgammon sets rooted in Cairo’s design heritage, having developed skills in geometric design, Arabic calligraphy, brass inlay, wood veneer and stencil printing.
Jameel House in Cairo graduates have delivered workshop programmes during the Bayt Yakan summer school since 2018.
The workshops aim to provide free extracurricular opportunities for the community of Al-Darb Al-Ahmar to explore traditional arts and engage with the rich heritage of Old Cairo.