Our Team 

Sinaweya is a start up with a small core team who are working on expanding the organization’s network of consultants, collaborators and volunteers. Together we carry experience in the fields of cultural management, herbal medicine, permaculture and research. With access to a wide range of experts, researchers and past research published on the region, we are enabled to map a plan integrating Sinaweya’s interest in working with local communities to document and preserve Sinai’s intangible heritage, design awareness building activities and share our experiences and findings with a broader public.

Dina Kafafy, CoFounder & Director

Dina Kafafy is an independent cultural manager and recently certified permaculture designer based in Cairo, Egypt. She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from University of the Arts, London and Bachelor’s in Integrated Marketing and Communication from the American University in Cairo (AUC). Her cultural management training began with versatile work opportunities during her full time job at Townhouse Gallery (2009 - 2015), as well as her part time work teaching studio art courses in AUC and other art spaces. During this time she became adept at managing PR for a contemporary art space, curating and organizing cultural events, programming multidisciplinary programs and managing an international Artist in Residence program. After completing an intensive cultural management course in Germany, she began working in collaboration with arts institutions developing digital archives, organizing educational workshops and reviving a design startup merging modern design with Egyptian artisanry. In 2017, she decided to redirect her cultural background towards a purpose more aligned with her values. And here began the journey of delving into a diversity of feilds integral to understanding the entangled subject matters of environmental and cultural conservation.

After much personal pursuit and research, Dina and her husband, Sami Barakat, cofounded Sinaweya in 2018 with the intention of fulfilling their dream to align their core values and life’s work.

Mayssa Sultan, Traditional Practitioner, Research Partner & PR

Mayssa Sultan holds a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of California (L.Ac.) and a National diplomate in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine from the National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Commission (U.S.). She also holds a Masters of Public Administration and has spent much of her career managing and implementing projects and grants from educational based programs to organizing and providing health care in underserved populations, in addition to managing health advocacy programs working with national and state policy specialists. Mayssa’s primary interest is in herbal medicines and healing traditions, specifically those of her native country, Egypt, and the lack of documentation of this long practiced tradition.

Mayssa has played an integral role in Sinaweya’s growth during the start up phase through her research and exceptional fundraising skills. Her passion towards our cause and diverse network have enabled the project to cross pollinate and gain the financial support needed for conservation work on the ground. Her hard work has raised seed funding for Sinaweya’s homegrown brand, be.do, which offers a revenue stream for the company and more importantly supports the local community of makers and producers. She has also dedicated much of her time to the progress of our research by participating in multiple research trips and contributing to the development of a selection of be.do offerings. And after years of working with Mayssa, she forever holds an integral space in Sinaweya’s family. 

Ragab Eid

Ragab is a qualified Bedouin guide in St Catherine with an expansive network within the local community and knowledge of the area’s history, customs, heritage and geography. He has been a trusted collaborator and consultant throughout Sinaweya’s growth and continually contributes to our reach by bridging between Sinaweya’s initiatives and the local community

Permaculture Programming

Both Dina and Mayssa have obtained their Permaculture Design Certificates in 2019. And have collaborated with permaculture designer, Aurelia Weintz, during the first year of work on a demonstration garden in the mountains. In this time we collectively built a better understanding of the ecological and cultural landscape in St Catherine, traditional Bedouin gardening practices, as well as cultural and herbal research studies.

Sinaweya continues to collaborate with different permaculturists and enthusiasts through our volunteer program that works towards reviving and conserving heritage gardens.

* We are yet to expand our team! Sinaweya will work with other researchers, members of local communities and volunteers as invaluable contributors to the creation and implementation of future activities.