Farmers in Egypt Laugh and Learn, as Comedians Tour the Countryside

A group of comedians in Egypt are hopping from one town to another to deliver a fun performance designed not only to make people laugh, but to also teach farmers about climate change in a country significantly threatened by its negative effects.

Part of a seven-million-dollar project funded by the World Food Programme (WFP), the hour-long comedy – performed in around 50 villages in Upper Egypt to date – is an efficient technique to explain the importance of modern technology when it comes to dealing with climate issues, especially for farmers who are reluctant to move away from their traditional ways.

“Community mobilisation on the issue of climate change can encourage many people to embrace the ideas of the project. And theatre is one of the methods to mobilise the community,” says Ayam Abu el-Hagag, actor and agricultural advisor, adding, “Comedy helps people understand things easier.”