International Cultural Exchange Programme - ICEP


ICEP is a vision, a dream conceived during a time when there are many conflicts, much poverty, oppression and racism in the world. It has always been mankind’s desire to unite together in order to bring peace and prosperity to all. However these ideological dreams very rarely coincide with government values so it falls to the few to work towards these utopian ideals.
We are under no illusion, we fully appreciate the times scales, hard work and big financial commitment which will be required to allow the ICEP vision to grow.


ICEP’s aim is ‘to create a place of equality where age, class, culture, sex, religion, & nationality are boundless, therefore enabling the facilitation of cultural exchange primarily between young people aged 16-25, however, also including the education of the general public. Participants will be principally from UK and Egypt but also worldwide.’
T he ICEP Centre
Early 2007 has seen great devlopments in the acquision of land and the building work has started for the centre to be built and the land to be cultivated in the desert just west of the Theban Hills. Watch the QEAnewsletters for further developments.

Cleanup Mission - ICEP

One cannot help but notice the unfortunate and yet sometimes unavoidable accumulation of rubbish, which is scattered throughout the local villages and also most importantly within close proximity of the Pharonic sites and surrounding edges of the desert.

Despite the main efforts of the band of workmen, there is at present an uncontrollable increase in rubbish. Q.E.A's plan is to assist in minimising the debris, in the hope that future generations & the travelling tourist can continue to enjoy this beautiful scenery.
It is Q.E.A’s intention to employ a small local workforce to tackle this problem to ensure that it does not return and to keep clean the pathways, bridleways and roads which are used daily by Q.E.A and its clients.

(The images alongside illustrate a small proportion of the problem which we intend to resolve.)

Gezira El Bairat Football Project - ICEP

Whilst living in one of the West Bank villages the Directors of Q.E.A have become involved with one of the local teams. It is Q.E.A’s intention to sponsor a local football team from the village and to provide them with the appropriate clothes and footwear.

(As shown alongside the local football pitch and Gezira El Bairat’s Youth Centre which is used frequently by the local children of the village for recreational pursuits.

Young Farmers Venture - ICEP

John and his wife Claire Ward prior to leaving the UK were heavily involved for many years in Youth Projects in both a voluntary and paid capacity. There involvements varied with different youth institutions including Youth Clubs, Recreational Projects and also Youth Farming groups. It is Q.E.A’s intention to set-up a Youth Farming Group here in Gezira El Bairat amongst the farming community.

(Q.E.A hopes that the experience gained from such a scheme will be invaluable to young farmers which are involved and will further enhance the relationship between Egypt and the United Kingdom.)

Local School Development - ICEP

Q.E.A realises the importance of local schools within the area and the roles in which they play within the community. It is our aim to provide further materials (pens, books, and computers etc.) In the future possible additional funding will be available to provide extra teachers within the community therefore enhancing the current educational system.

(Shown alongside are photos of one of the local schools and pupils in Gezira El Bairat which Q.E.A has visited and seen at first hand the facilities which are offered to the pupils and the surroundings in which they work.)