The long wait is over and we are finally opening recruitment again!

Mission Statement:
Lilac is a platform dedicated to raise mental health awareness in Egypt. We do this through offering a safe space for expression and insight on mental health issues. We also host events to tackle various topics and break the stigma associated with seeking professional help, mediating between licensed, recommended resources and the community.

Self-expression:
- #WarriorStories: a safe space for people to share their stories. (not to be confused with confessions)
- #ArtSpeaksLilac: original art in any medium, created by Lilac members on the Arts team.

Resources:
- Database of mental health centres, clinics, hospitals, and facilities in Egypt.
- #MapVisitations: a visit by the Lilac team to interview representatives of the place, asking about concerns people may have before going, and to take photos to give those seeking help an idea of what to expect.
- Coupons: Lilac offers brochures with special discounts for sessions at the interviewed facilities covered in our #MapVisitations. (not sponsored)

Insight:
- Research articles: cited academic articles, researched and written by Lilac’s members on the Research team.
- #TopicTuesday: weekly readings and videos on selected intriguing topics.

On-Ground Presence:
- Awareness campaigns: booths at events at schools, universities, and collaborative NGOs.
- Activity sessions: opening the conversation on mental health using activities at school and university clubs’ sessions.

Hosted Events:
1. #ArtSpeaksLilac open mic night at Madaar in September 2017.
2. More Than Survival – including a singing circle, mini-psychodrama activities with Amal El Zaafarany, a Q&A, and sharing thoughts and suggestions about Lilac’s coming steps – at Dawar Arts in May 2018.
3. in their shoes. open mic night at Bardo Clubhouse in August 2019.
4. Automatic Thoughts and Where to Find Them – an interactive workshop with Prof. Noha El Nahas on automatic thoughts and how to challenge them – at Dawar Arts in October 2019.
5. 2 Guided Group Meditation sessions, prepared by one of Lilac’s members, at Barah in November 2019.
6. 6 virtual open mic nights on Instagram Live along with discussion panels on monthly topics.

How did Lilac start?
An eccentric bunch of college freshmen, just graduated from high school, came together 5 years ago to establish an online platform to help support and advocate conversation on mental health within the younger community. Struggling alone, unable to find ways to cope or anyone to talk to, none had an outlet to voice these concerns. Even the thought of going to therapy was scary then. Hence, Lilac was created in April 2015. They wanted to raise awareness on topics and issues that many, including themselves, have faced during their high-school years, whether it was day-to-day struggle or a mental illness they did not know how to deal with. Lilac was made to be a real space for everyone to be able to voice their struggles and receive support and resources to be able to understand what they’re going through together. Lilac was launched by Ahmad Samir and Omar Saleh in 2015 and has been run by Marta Ashraf since 2017.