Popular Gouna resident Ahmed Farid has recently returned to Gouna after completing the Camino walk on foot. He was approached by Gouna News to tell his story. This is what he told us: 
'I had never heard of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela before.  In 2015, a friend, Jill, convinced a bunch of my favorite girls to join her on her 5th Camino in June of that year. The group of five went and as planned did a truncated version from Ponferrada to Santiago some 200km in 10 days of hot weather.  For some reason their journey touched something within me, even though they were quite silent about how it affected them; now I understand why. 
I silently but resolutely decided to do the whole Camino in 2016. Of course hardly anyone believed me. I was doing this for entirely personal reasons. I needed to get out of my own comfort zone, meet the physical and logistical challenge and be on my own in solitude…to reflect on whatever my mind wanders to. 
Of some initial comfort, my

On Friday 24th June 2016, the Rotary Clubs of District 2451 Egypt gathered, at the Mena House Hotel, near the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, for the end of year handover ceremony, for the District Governors and Club Presidents 2015-16 and 2016-17. It was a great atmosphere with a stage and tables set in the Mena House Hotel gardens and a great opportunity for Rotary members to catch up and plan joint projects together.  Members from Rotary Club of Red Sea - El Gouna attended, as this was also the night the district awards were announced, for the 85 Rotary Clubs of Egypt.  Rotary Club of Red Sea - El Gouna had submitted their work for nine of the ten categories, and were awarded two silver cups for  Community Service and  Club Administration, three shields for Public Relations, Vocational Projects , and Club History Records, and a Certificate for Environmental Projects. Club President 2015-16 Sherif Abdel Aziz proudly went on stage to receive each award on behalf of the young club

The Holy Month of Ramadan is a time to give to those in need. Rotary Club of Red Sea - El Gouna members have been busy collecting and sorting clothes, shoes, and toys, to give to those less fortunate in the Red Sea Governorate. On Tuesday 21st June 2016, Rotary Club members met in Hurghada Marina to break the fast together at sunset. They then arranged meetings nearby to hand over the many bags full of donations. With big smiles and many thanks, all the distributed bags were gratefully received. Georgina Cole   Sergeant at Arms   Rotary Club Red Sea – El Gouna

It was reported in the Egyptian Press last week that El Gouna Football Club board, headed by Eng. Samih Sawiris, agreed to contract with German coach Stefan Gerad to coach the El Gouna team during the next season. This news was confirmed by Mr. Ahmed Suheify football supervisor at the club. The target of the new coach will be to attempt to return El Gouna FC to the Egyptian Premier Division. The new coaching team will include, as well as coach Stefan Gerad, Mahmoud Ibrahim, general coaching activities, Mustafa Ghadar goalkeeping coach, Ayman Ahmed, administrator, Ayman Fathi, player affairs, Ahmed Hassan team doctor, Amr Ahmed, masseur and with Mr. Ahmed Suheify retaining overall supervision of football activities. It is noteworthy that Mr. Gerad has previous coaching experience in Egypt, specifically in Upper Egypt, coaching El Minya, Assiut Cement, Assiut Sporting Club and Dekerness.

Orascom Hotels & Development, El Gouna & 3W – What a Wonderful World  Productions are very proud to announce the launch of the new El Gouna  TV , television channel, on the 6th of June 2016. El Gouna TV is a 24/7 high standard travel and lifestyle channel  based on El Gouna, ' life as it should be', feel good, state of mind. Human sided stories and useful news (weather forecast, events) lead  the channel and enable people throughout the world to see how El Gouna  lives and grows everyday. Crossmedia distribution will allow more than 500.000 people access  to all the content. El Gouna TV will be available to residents and tourists through Channel 1  (Cable TV & IPTV).   Outside El Gouna (Egypt & overseas), El Gouna TV will  be available online through Orascom Hotels & Development networks  including elgouna.com as well as through social media (Replay & Video On Demand). Content, programming and operations will be supplied exclusively

  Red Sea Governor Mr. Ahmed Abdulla, last month, inaugurated the new ferry connecting Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh The full story of this ferry can be viewed on their website  www.lapespes.com

Homeowners are informed that The Customer Services Department has received total amount of new Homeowners Cards, available to all Homeowners in El Gouna (free of charge).  Homeowner cards are privilege cards to property owners providing discounts at eateries and selected outlets. They also assist in speedy identification at El Gouna gates and entrances. Kindly visit the Customer Services Office downtown to collect them.  Office hours are  9:00 AM until 4:00 PM , open every day. And kindly note, that during the month of Ramadan office hours will be  9:00 AM until 2:00 PM   until Wednesday, July 6th 2016 . The office will gladly print owners cards upon request at the office. Wishing you all a very blessed Ramadan

Georgina Cole ,  Sergeant at Arms ,  Rotary Club Red Sea – El Gouna  is pleased to share with El Gouna residents and visitors the  Rotary Club of Red Sea - El Gouna  May 2016 newsletter online: https://view.publitas.com/rotary-club-red-sea-el-gouna/may-2016-newsletter-of-rc-red-sea-el-gouna/page/1

The Gouna Information Center downtown would like to take this opportunity and wish you Happy Ramadan. Please be informed, that the Information Center operating hours will be from 9:30am till 5:30pm and from 8pm-11:30pm. Starting June 6 th  till July 6 th, 2016 Wishing you a very pleasant month.