The Association for the Protection of the Environment (A.P.E.) is an important community project in Mokattam which works with the people in "garbage city" to empower women, protect and develop children, introduce health support services and manufactuing recycling. There is a paper recycling scheme and rag recycling. In the shop you can buy all sorts of hand-made paper products, embroidery pictures and cards, then rag rugs, rag bags, cushion covers, quilts and lots more. It's really worthwhile making a visit and buying some lovely presents for people that do make a difference.
How to get there!!
On the left is the booklet from St Samaan and the right is the A.P.E leaflet and logo. Could be useful to show to people when asking for directions once you are in Mokattam.
The map (thank you, Christine for starting this off!) shows that you use the Ring Road and take the right turn just at the Citadel after the overpass. This is actually sign-posted to Mokattam. Then take an immediate left into Mokattam (once you have taken this left it looks like there might be three roads to chose from, but only one of them is tarmac - take this one).
To get to St Samaan you need to take a right hand turn up a steep tarmac road. This turn is passed the one "main" cross roads and is opposite a MobilNil shop. Just follow the road and you find the church.
To get to the APE project and shop keep along the main road until you get to a T-junction. Take a right and follow this road around and take a left at the next T-junction. The gates are then on your left and have the logo on them. The workshops and the shops are in the first building on your left.
Up to date phone numbers for A.P.E!!
2-02-234-12723
2-02-234-38556
2-01-57 88328
most recent website (but out of date numbers) http://www.ape.org.eg/
