MARTYN AIM

EGYPT: THE ZABALEEN

THE ZABALEEN SERVE AS CAIRO’S GARBAGE COLLECTORS AND RECYCLERS. THEY ARE COPTIC CHRISTIANS, AN OPPRESSED MINORITY IN MUSLIM MAJORITY EGYPT. DESPITE THIS STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS THE ZABALEEN ARE A CLOSE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY JOINED BY A DEEP FAITH. ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND INNOVATORS, THEY HAVE CREATED ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT RECYCLING SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

The Zabaleen’s main settlement is Moqattam with a population of approximately 60,000. Both the Zabaleen and outsiders know the neighbourhood as “Garbage City”. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Christian icon carved into the cliffs of Moqattam mountain high above the Zabaleen (garbage collectors) settlement. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
  
Zabaleen garbage collectors return home to Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
     
  
Daily life outside a Coptic church in the Zabaleen (garbage collectors) community of Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Father Saman (centre) is the head of the Coptic Church in the Zabaleen (garbage collectors) community of Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Coptic Christian boy walks in the Zabaleen (garbage collectors) community of Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
     
  
Zabaleen (garbage collectors) unload garbage bags from a truck for sorting and recycling in Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Mohammed, 51 years, is a Coptic Christian man who works as a Zabaleen (garbage collector). Mohammed unloads a garbage bag from a truck for sorting and recycling in Moqattam. He has been working at the glass recycling depot for 5 years. Mohammed is paid 240 Egyptian pounds (41 US dollars) per week. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Coptic Christian man works as a Zabaleen (garbage collector) sorting plastics for recycling in Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
     
  
Coptic Christian man who works as a Zabaleen (garbage collector) salvages wires and plastics for recycling. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Coptic Christian boy works a plastic melting machine without any form of mask or protection. He works as a Zabaleen (garbage collector) in the Christian community of Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Melad, a Coptic Christian man who works as a Zabaleen (garbage collector) takes a break from sorting paper to smoke while his son Korulus does his homework from school books they have found in the garbage. Melad's wife Selwa sorts paper in the background. The Zabaleen community create many high-quality paper products for sale from the paper they collect and recycle. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
     
  
Coptic Christian women work as Zabaleen (garbage collector) sorting paper for recycling. The Zabaleen community create many high-quality paper products for sale such as lanterns, gift cards and pressed flower paper. The women are paid 240 Egyptian pounds (41 US dollars) per week. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Mohammed, 51 years old, and Ismael, 60 years old, work as Zabaleen (garbage collectors). They are sorting a garbage bag of glass by colour at a recycling depot. Both men have been working at the depot for 5 years. Mohammed and Ismael are paid 240 Egyptian pounds (41 US dollars) per week. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Om Mohammed and Om Salah work as Zabaleen (garbage collector) in the Coptic Christian village of Moqattam, Cairo - population 60,000. Om Mohammed and Om Salah are paid 240 Egyptian pounds (41 US dollars) per week. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
     
  
Hanna Fathy and his son Christiano enjoy time together in their home in the Zabaleen (garbage collectors) community of Moqattam, Cairo. Mr. Fathy is an internationally renowned young environmentalist. His solar and biomass projects have sparked environmental change in some of the poorest neighbourhoods in Cairo. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Hanna Fathy on the roof of a housing block in the Zabaleen (garbage collectors) community of Moqattam, Cairo. Mr. Fathy is an internationally renowned young environmentalist. His solar and biomass projects have sparked environmental change in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Cairo. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
A recently married couple who work as Zabaleen (garbage collectors) relax after work in Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
     
  
Men enjoy a smoke and coffee break in the Zabaleen (garbage collector)community of Moqattam. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)
   
Night falls in the Zabaleen neighbourhood of Moqattam, a Coptic Christian settlement in Cairo. (Credit Image: © Martyn Aim)