Iqbal Zakie
Social Work Pioneer
Iqbal Zakie is a social work pioneer, who earned a degree in Early Education before working in the Egyptian radio hosting a children’s radio program. In the interview, she shared the milestones of her academic journey and her career.
Iqbal was born in al-Mounira district, in Cairo, to a father who worked in education, and who insisted that his daughter completed her formal education at school, although this was uncommon for girls at the time. Iqbal attended kindergarten for 5 years, then received her primary education at al-Sheikh Saleh School, which was a royal private school. She recounted that the school offered rigorous and serious education, and that the teachers were so sincerely keen on teaching that they competed to provide students with extra tuition without pay.
Iqbal attended al-Saniya Teachers’ School, which was the first school for girls at that time, and later became al-Saniya Secondary School for Girls. After five years, Iqbal earned her high-school diploma. The school principal and all the English language teachers were British. Among her most beloved Egyptian teachers, Iqbal recalled Ms. Nazira al-Mawla, Ms. Ihsan Megahed, Ms. Ihsan Abed, and the French language teacher Ms. Doria Shafiq, in addition to Ms. Fathia Suleiman, who taught Iqbal a school subject on Nature, and was a role model for her. Iqbal recalled that those teachers were graduates of al-Saniya School before becoming teachers in it, which was the reason why they feared Ms. Naima Kamel, the school’s chief officer, even after they became teachers. Iqbal also recalled that the schoolteachers were highly disciplined, while also maintaining a friendly relationship with the students. Among Iqbal’s classmates were Maali Kira and Tawhida Abd al-Qader, with whom she remained friends since high school.
Iqbal took part in various school activities, but was especially fond of the theater, and participated in a number of school plays, particularly the comedies. She also enjoyed reading the books in the large school library, and in her father’s personal library at home. Iqbal had a deal with one of the bookstore owners near her house. She paid him one pound per month, in exchange for renting the books to read then return to the bookstore once again. At a young age, Iqbal read a large number of books and novels by Jurji Zaydan, Hassanein Heikal, and others. Her father was keen on taking the family to the cinema or the theater every Thursday, which was how Iqbal got to watch Ali al-Kassar, Naguib al-Rihani, and Youssef Wahbi on stage, among other actors.
During her school years, Egypt witnessed what Iqbal described as a patriotic fervor and a national renaissance. She recalled that students at the boys’ schools and the girls’ schools would join together in the demonstrations. Some of these demonstrations took place inside the school premises, where students refrained from entering classes, and chanted in protest, without any opposition from the school principal. However, Iqbal never participated in any of these demonstrations upon her father’s firm warning, since he prevented her from taking part in any of the political protests. Yet, she was always in these demonstrations with her heart.
After earning her high-school diploma, Iqbal wanted to attend university, and study medicine, but her father refused due to his strong objection to the mixed-sex education. As a result, Iqbal attended the Higher Institute of Education for Girls, which later became the Faculty of Education. She studied at the Department of English for two years, then transferred to the newly established department of kindergarten and early school education. Iqbal had a strong love for children, and enjoyed her learning experience at the Institute, as well as the training internship and the various trips in which she was participated during her studies. She recalled her history teacher, Ahmed Naguib Hashem, who served as the Minister of Education. Iqbal described him as a great, calm, and respectful man who was a father figure for the students. She also recalled how much she loved Ms. Aisha al-Kashif, the arts teacher, and how difficult the Psychology course was for her at first. Her Psychology Professor was Dr. Somaya Fahmi, who had just returned from a study mission abroad. Iqbal was later nominated to travel abroad on a mission, but with the eruption of World War II, all the missions were aborted.
While studying, Iqbal was part of the radio team, working under the supervision of her teacher, Ms. Ihsan Hedayet, who worked at that time for the children’s corner at the national radio. Ms. Ihsan used to take Iqbal and some of her colleagues with her to the radio to play a part in the drama series, and perform the songs. Iqbal also translated and read stories. She recounted that she asked one of the radio presenters, Mr. Ali Khalil, to work with him after her graduation, and he agreed. She presented a radio program, and hosted various interviews for an hour a week. Iqbal recalled the encouragement she received from her mother and siblings during that period.
Iqbal later got married, and devoted herself to raising her children. She also joined a charity organization in Maadi, and directed her attention towards social work. She used to take her children with her to learn about the organization’s activities, and to make donations. For Iqbal, this was how her children came to appreciate charity work later in their lives.