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ALEXANDRIA — The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has launched a creative initiative to bring Egypt’s diverse cultural heritage closer to younger generations, using a modern twist on traditional storytelling.
The initiative features a series of short, documentary-style films titled ‘Aaref’ (“Do You Know”), tailored specifically for youth audiences.
Dr Ayman Suleiman, Director of the Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage at the library, confirmed the project during a live phone interview on the TV programme Sabah El-Balad with host Nihad Samir.
He explained that the library began releasing the series last year as part of its ongoing effort to raise cultural awareness among youth.
“The films cover a broad spectrum of Egyptian heritage—from Pharaonic, Coptic, Greco-Roman, and Islamic eras, all the way to modern and contemporary periods, as well as Egypt’s natural heritage,” Dr Suleiman said.
Each film in the ‘Aaref’ series is between two and three minutes long, crafted in a format similar to Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. The aim is to make the content accessible and engaging for today’s tech-savvy generation who consume information in fast-paced, visual formats.
By blending educational content with modern media trends, the library hopes to foster a renewed sense of pride and curiosity among Egyptian youth about their country’s historical and cultural legacy.
The initiative reflects the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s broader mission to bridge the gap between heritage and innovation, ensuring that Egypt’s millennia-old story continues to resonate with future generations in ways that feel relevant, dynamic, and inspiring.
