CAIRO — Abdulrahman Sulaiman Salama had never believed weapons alone can resolve the war between the Egyptian army and extremist groups. The activist realized that although weapons can kill extremists, they can't kill their ideology, so he decided to fight back using an ideology of his own.

Salama established the Mariam Center to educate children in North Sinai. In addition to a standard curriculum, students are taught art and prepared to face the extremist ideology they might encounter in their lives. The project started with three volunteer teachers and 15 children, who attend for free.

Salama, along with a group of young people who share his dream and beliefs, began their work in mid-2017 in al-Madbaa, a neighborhood of al-Rawda village in el-Arish. Their dream was born in a small tent, where they first taught children who fled the clashes between the army and extremists in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah. 

Mariam Gomaa, a professor at el-Arish University and al-Madbaa resident, took it upon herself to teach the displaced children standard school curricula, in addition to painting and resisting anti-extremist discourse, while Salama handled the administrative tasks and drove the children to and from the center.