It is a central theme in plenty of Egyptian movies. Egyptian singers have been ranting on about it for decades. Yet in general, speaking about the topic comes less naturally: love and, more specifically, intimacy. Therefore the informative website ‘Love Matters Arabic’ (‘الحب ثقافة’) was launched in March 2014. From 23 October to 3 November 2014, the project is also visible offline with an exhibition in Cairo featuring pieces of Egyptian graffiti artists, dubbed ‘Without Barriers’ (‘بلا حواجز’). With more than 3.700.000 views on YouTube, the Egyptian branch of ‘Love Matters’ is doing extremely well. The Arabic website is part of an award winning global project that is also represented in Kenya, Venezuela, China, Mexico, and India. It provides comprehensive, appropriate information on sex and sexuality, as well as personal stories and research articles targeting young adults in areas where this information is censored or unavailable. Ruth Vandewalle, ‘Love Matters’ representative in Egypt, explains: “It talks about love, relationships, and sex in all honesty and respect, and without barriers. Nobody accessing the website has to feel the need to be ashamed.” ‘Love Matters Arabic’ is the first website of its…
