About Omnia

Omnia Khalil, is an urban researcher and co-founder of 10 Tooba, applied research on the built environment that is a LLC. established July 2014. Given her extensive experiences in participatory urban action in Cairo, the debates, promises and expectations accompanying the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 concerning social injustice and inequality, in her opinion demanded a direct formal engagement explaining and defending participatory community urban action planning against a history of governmental policies of forced evictions and resettlement. In July 2012 she held an exhibition titled Egyptian Urban Action with maps, images and analysis in addition to presenting a 25 minute documentary she made; building on her previous research in Al-Hattabah, Kom Ghurab and other similar geographical spots. Upon completion of her MA thesis in urban anthropology in June 2014, she is one of the founders of 10 Tooba, an urban collective that combines research with urban action, i.e. involvement in the struggles of marginal urban communities. At present within the framework of 10 Tooba, she is involved in a community action plan in Ramlet Bulaq, navigating a complex dialogue with the community, the new Ministry of Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements and the Nile Tower Corporation. Omnia is currently a post MA fellow in the anthropology department in the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She finished her thesis in cultural anthropology titled (The People of the City. Space, Laboring and Power. In Quest of Unraveling the HOW in Ramlet Bulaq) Omnia also participated in a one-semester exchange program with Jawaharlal Nehru University (Delhi, India), where she presented her research and work in two different schools in JNU.  Omnia has also given a number of talks about her urban work and activism. Her BSc thesis at Cairo University’s  Architecture Department took place in the Tanneries Quarter of Old Cairo, and was featured at the 2006 Venice Architecture Biennale as well as receiving an award from the WA World Architecture Community.