Exclusive Interview | Basma Fayad: “I was not searching for a title… I was searching for a child’s smile

Cairo – Mostafa Al-Masry:

In an era crowded with images, repetitive slogans, and look-alike banners, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between those who work genuinely for humanity and those who work for visibility.Charitable work—once a sincere act performed solely for the sake of God—has, in many cases, turned into a stage for display, where intentions are measured by view counts, suffering is reduced to a filmed moment, and then quickly forgotten.

Amid this noise, rare models emerge—figures who do not raise their voices, nor master the art of self-promotion, but excel at one thing only: sincerity.Models who believe that goodness does not need a camera, that pain should never be exploited, and that human dignity is indivisible and never put on display.Basma Fayad is not merely the founder of Al-Basma Al-Moshriqa (The Shining Smile Association); she is a unique humanitarian case.

A woman who did not enter the world of charitable work through titles or positions, but through direct, genuine engagement with people—from the streets, from homes, from forgotten villages, and from the eyes of children who know nothing of pretense.

Nine full years of community service preceded the establishment of the association—years that shaped awareness, refined vision, and built a firm conviction that true charity is not founded on randomness, but on continuity, organization, and ethical commitment.

When the idea of establishing the association emerged, it was not a search for an entity, but a response to a need—the needs of people, and the need of charitable work itself for a clean, calm, realistic model that neither sells illusions nor buys applause.

Al-Basma Al-Moshriqa is not merely a name; it is an accurate description of what happens when sincere action meets a living heart.Here, assistance is not measured by its size, but by its impact.Success is not measured by the number of beneficiaries alone, but by the depth of change in their lives.

–What was the real motivation behind founding Al-Basma Al-Moshriqa Association? And what message has it carried since day one?

Establishing the association was less a planned step than a natural evolution of a long journey of community service.

Years before the association, Basma Fayad was already working among people—serving neighborhoods, supporting individual cases, communicating with official bodies, and solving problems through purely personal effort.Over time, the number of cases increased, responsibilities grew, and organization became a necessity rather than a luxury.

The idea of founding the association emerged as a legal framework to protect the work, ensure its continuity, and facilitate reaching those truly in need.Yet the message remained unchanged:Genuine charity—far from showmanship, close to reality, respecting both the donor’s trust and the recipient’s dignity.

—How does the slogan “Together we can change the lives of many” transform from words into tangible reality?

At Al-Basma Al-Moshriqa, the slogan does not precede action—it is born from it.Every project began as a small idea, evolved into an experiment, and then became a model worth repeating.

The goal was never to raise a large banner, but to create real impact, even if limited.The child who runs to embrace Basma Fayad the moment she enters,the handwritten notes in small, trembling letters,the scattered toys in the administration office,the child sleeping peacefully on the couch without fear—all are living proof that the slogan here is not ink on paper, but life itself.-

–The association operates across multiple charitable fields… which areas have been most urgent recently, and why?

Orphan care has always been—and remains—the beating heart of the association.An orphaned child needs more than financial support; they need stability, safety, affection, and a constant sense that they are not alone.

Alongside this, extremely harsh realities have emerged, such as providing clean water connections in deprived areas, and homes without proper sanitation—within geographical zones many would never imagine to be suffering in such ways.The level of need was shocking, but the response was realistic:small steps, taken steadily, without promises that exceed available capabilities.

—How do you select eligible families, and how do you ensure support reaches those who truly deserve it?

Selection is not based on emotion alone, but on thorough social research.Official documents, field visits, neighbor inquiries, and verification of small details that reveal the truth.Fraud—unfortunately—does exist, and protecting the rights of the truly needy is a duty no less important than providing assistance itself.

The association believes that making an error by withholding support is less harmful than granting it to someone undeserving, though the constant effort is to minimize errors as much as possible.

—Orphan sponsorship… how is the psychological and emotional aspect addressed?

Financial support alone does not build a healthy individual.That is why the association focuses on activities, trips, play, and daily emotional support.Children here are treated as children—not as cases.They laugh, play, make mistakes, and are rewarded—without pity and without harshness.

—The “Feeding Program”… why does it receive such special attention?

Because it is the most direct and the most sincere.A hot meal placed directly into someone’s hands,a heartfelt prayer,a spontaneous smile—all turn feeding into a purely human moment, with no intermediary.Here, small donations play the leading role.Five pounds, ten pounds, a modest contribution—when combined, they create a table, feed the hungry, and open a door of hope.

—Caring for people with disabilities and treating patients… what are the toughest challenges?

The greatest challenge is understanding.Treating people with disabilities as normal individuals, not as special cases.Creating space for joy, movement, and integration—without discrimination or excessive pity.Trips, games, competitions, laughter—all are therapeutic tools as much as they are recreational activities.

—How does the association sustain costly projects such as water connections and the marriage of orphaned girls?

Through sincerity first, and gradual progress second.No project starts big—but every project starts with a clear intention, a calculated step, and a sincere prayer.

—What is your message to those who believe their contribution is insignificant?

There is no such thing as a small donation—only a sincere intention.Every contribution, no matter how modest it may seem, can create real change when placed in the right hands.

—Finally… what are the features of the next phase for Al-Basma Al-Moshriqa Association?

Expansion—without losing the soul.Increasing the number of beneficiaries while maintaining the same level of care.And for Al-Basma Al-Moshriqa to remain as it began:An association that works quietly… and leaves an unforgettable impact.