Former UN Ambassador Andrew Young has plans to make a new film all about Egypt!

Hesham Elswify and former U.N. Ambassador 

 

Andrew Young is nationally known as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, a community activist, politician and diplomat.  His most distinguished service was as Ambassador to the United Nations by appointment of former President Jimmy Carter.  He’s a real icon in America.  Currently, he serves as Chairman of Goodworks, International, a specialty consulting group based in Atlanta, Georgia, that provides strategic services to corporations and governments operating in the global economy.

 

Driven by a great desire to help Africa and armed with his own personal finances, Ambassador Young has produced a series of films that focus on individual African countries.  These films have been aired on over 68 television stations across the United States and, as a result, millions of Americans have received a good schooling on life in each focus country.  This time, the country will be Egypt, land of the Pharaohs and Pyramids, and home to the earliest recorded human --- and definitively Black --- community.  The film will delve into the history of ancient Egypt and closely examine some of the famous treasured architectural remains that dot the landscape.  It will also examine the cultural, political, religious, and economic dynamics of a modern day Egypt.  Coverage will include interviews with Egypt’s President Mubarak.  Other officials, such as the Minister of Investment, Minister of Education, and Minister of Tourism, are also expected to have input.  In addition, former UN Secretary General Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, along with other Egyptian celebrities and business men and women have all been invited to contribute to this documentary.  Golden Globe recipient and Oscar-nominated actor, Omar Sharif, will be asked to narrate. 

 

Accompanying Ambassador Young’s American crew will be a select group of hand-picked young rappers, movie stars, other celebrities, business men and women, and political officials.  The travel and touring arrangements for the group are being handled by African Express Travel & Tours, a Los Angeles based company headed by Hesham Elswify, President.  Mr. Elswify’s company is well known for its pioneering initiatives and sustained leadership in helping African-Americans to see Africa.  The company is responsible for bringing over the only group of African-Americans to witness the historic release of Nelson Mandela from his South African prison.  African Express is also responsible for successfully negotiating the delicate matter of including a visit with the then President-Elect Obama’s grandmother on behalf of a recent tour group that visited Kenya.  Other clients have included prominent members of the African-American community as well as nationally known figures like: Alex Haley – famed writer and author of “Roots”; Political Activist and former Presidential Candidate, Jessie Jackson, Sr.; Congressman Jessie Jackson, Jr.; Danny Bakewell, Sr. – CEO of the Los Angeles Sentinel and Community Activist; Dr. Dorothy Height – Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, Congressional Gold Medal honoree, Civil Rights Activist, and President of the National Council of Negro Women; Oscar winning, Golden Globe recipient and Emmy winner, Lou Gossett Jr.; Minister Louis Farrakhan; Congresswoman Diane Watson; and the late Maureen Regan (daughter of the late President Ronald Regan).  Presently, Mr. Elswify is in Egypt making preparations for Ambassador Young’s group.  He reports that the Chairman of Egypt Tourism Board, Amr El Ezabi, is very appreciative of the project as are the Chairman of Egypt Air, Captain Alaa Ashour and Egypt Air District Manager of North America, Sameh Helmi. Both have promised to do their best to make the film project a success. 

 

Because of the broad spectrum of people expected to be involved in this project, one can reasonably anticipate that the making and viewing of this film will surely serve to strengthen and positively promote good relations between the USA and Egypt and, in particular, between African-Americans and Egyptians.

Last update: 12-02-2009 16:13

Published in : News, International

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