The Nawal El Saadawi Foundation is based on the legacy of the works, themes, ethos and characteristics that have shaped the life’s work of Dr. Nawal El Saadawi. It does this through its awards, its education ptogrammes and its overall commitment to raising the profile of the artists and writers it works with. Nawal El Saadawi believes that women can have a voice through all forms of creativity and
activism and can use what they do to raise consciousness of their situations and help to break down the barriers which they and other women in their position face. Nawal has been a strong advocate of this approach throughout her life. There are a set of core beliefs which underly her approach and these are the tenets which embody the work of the Foundation:
1. a refusal to accept the identity of a victim
3. overcoming injustice in all of its forms
4. dissidence
5. courage to question those in power
6. self belief
7. solidarity
8. no to oppression / patriarchy
The Foundation will support women who through their creativity embody these tenets. The Foundation welcomes the involvement of any individual, group or organisation that believes in or whose work embodies the tenets of Nawal El Saadawi and providing support to women in this way. Key stakeholders are individual artists and arts bodies that have a remit to challenge injustice in whatever form and believe in the tenets that Nawal El Saadawi herself holds. Examples of where these core tenets which underpin Nawal’s philosophy and approach come to life within in her published works, interviews, talks and activism.
