Zebaleen Collection

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 11
Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A view of some of the makeshift buildings that have grown among the rubbish tips. This is where the better off Zabballeen people live circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 10
Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A man catches a pig. It will be eaten. There is little time for religious niceties among the poverty and filth of the rubbish tip

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 8
Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A cart pulled by two donkeys stops in the rubbish-strewn streets Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 9
Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A man catches a pig by the leg. It will be eaten. There is little time for religious niceties among the poverty and filth of the rubbish tip

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 6
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A small girl child dodges past a donkey cart in the rubbish-strewn streets Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 7
Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A cart pulled by three small donkeys carries rubbish and three men from the tip Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 5
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. Three young girls sift though the smoking rubbish Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 2
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A femae child wearing what might once have been a pretty pink dress. It is now ragged and filthy Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 4
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A small boy carries a tin can into which he will put small metal items he finds among the rubbish Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 3
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A small boy scrabbles in the rubbish with his bare hands. More children work behind him Date: circa 1995

Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - 1
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt. A ragged child finds a piece of bread among the rubbish and offers it to her sister, who clings to her brother Date: circa 1995

Filthy streets, Mokattam, Cairo
The filthy street of Mokattam in the middle of the rubbish tips of Cairo, Egypt Date: circa 1995

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The Zabbaleen of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt - a community resilient in the face of adversity. In the midst of filthy streets and challenging living conditions, these individuals have carved out a unique way of life. Zabbaleen 11: Amidst piles of waste, their resourcefulness shines through as they diligently sort and recycle materials to make a living. Zabbaleen 10: The vibrant spirit of this community is evident as children play amidst the chaos, finding joy in simple pleasures. Zabbaleen 8: A sense of unity prevails as families work together to collect garbage from across Cairo and bring it back to their neighborhood for processing. Zabbaleen 9: Despite societal stigmatization, these hardworking individuals continue to persevere with unwavering determination. Zabbaleen 6: Their resilience extends beyond economic struggles; they face health hazards daily but remain steadfast in their commitment to provide for their families. Zabbaleen 7: Through sheer ingenuity and creativity, they transform discarded items into valuable resources that contribute to Egypt's economy. Zabbaleen 5: This tight-knit community relies on each other for support and strength as they navigate the challenges posed by poverty and marginalization. Zabbaleen 2: In the heart of Mokattam, hope thrives amidst despair. These unsung heroes demonstrate that even in dire circumstances, there is room for optimism. Zabbeleen 4: They are not defined by filth or squalor but rather by their resilience and ability to find beauty within chaos. Zabbeleen 3: As we walk through these streets cluttered with refuse, let us remember that behind every pile lies a story waiting to be heard – stories filled with perseverance against all odds. Caption (Filthy streets).