Noted Egyptian anchor shares journey at SIBF

Shereen Afifi

Radwa El Shirbini, the well-known award winning Egyptian anchor, for most watched woman TV show in Egypt and Arab world Heya We Bas (Only for Her), met with her audiences at Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF,) for the first time, through a live session titled “The role of father in daughter’s life”.

El Shirbini is known for supporting women through her show and social media by receiving their family problems, giving advice and enlightening them about their rights. Since she started her show she was open to share her personal experience on challenges she met as a divorced woman with two daughters.

RECOMMENDED BOOK: Radwa El Shirbini said that, before, she did not have a passion for reading till she started her show Heya We Bas (Only for Her), “with huge amount of questions we are receiving and people taking my opinion, so I thought I have to have a wide knowledge, vision and positive thinking that comes from reading. So, for 4 years, I’ve been reading in all fields related to women, and what women want or need.

“But there’s a certain book I read, that changed a lot in my personality, introduced me to many things I did not know before, that book is (The Power of Now). I see every present moment is very important because it will never be repeated whether good or bad. Now is not going to be repeated again, never, either I enjoy it or will be forever unhappy.”

“The idea of waiting and patience that we should adopt. So I see this book is very important and highly recommended,” she added.

ROLE OF FATHER: For Radwa El Shirbini, the way her dad raised her has positively formed her personality,  “My dad was a great father, since a young age he has given me freedom to do whatever I want, as long as within what The Lord instructed in our religion, so I must be very careful because God sees me all the time.

“Like any home my Mom and Dad used to have disputes, but they made sure that I never see them fighting, it’s always inside their room, they had mutual respect. In my show, I talk about problems I receive from women.”

Radwa El Shirbini sees that the father is the most important man in a woman’s life, “the good father is the one who gives his daughter enough love, compassion, and support that tell her I am behind you and you are OK and I am proud of you.”

“If every father does that, I don’t think any girl will be emotionally exploited by other men in future, because she will feel enough and will be confident. I see the role of a father is very important in raising a confident girl,” she added

ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS: When Radwa El Shirbini was asked why some men accused her show of pushing women against their spouses, she confirmed that she was not inciting women against husbands or on divorce.

“Any relationship is two ways, giving and taking, the problem happens when one partner is only taking not giving,” she added.