History

Tadamon was formed to address the problem of conflict between refugee communities and the poor Egyptians communities with whom they live side-by-side. Cairo has one of the largest urban refugee populations in the world who are spread across the city, residing in the most deprived and marginalised neighbourhoods, leading to fierce competition for resources between them and their Egyptian neighbours. Mutual suspicion, and often desperation, has exacerbated problems of racism, and led to extremely acrimonious relations between competing nationalities. 

On February 9th 2006 fifty-six representatives of nearly 50 Cairo-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community development groups and charitable institutions met at the Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art to discuss the formation of an Egyptian/ Refugee Multicultural Council and Tadamon was formed.

Preparatory work for this meeting was conducted by Leigh Sylvan and her team who spent 6 months visiting Egyptian NGOs.This original planning meeting was co-chaired by Allan Leas and Ilse Griek, two representatives of the Dutch Council for Refugees.  
 
An appointed Steering Committee has since then drawn up a mandate, overseen the development of an office, the hiring of staff and continues to meet and network regularly to fulfill and further the Council's mission and objectives. 

Tadamon officially started operating in December 2006 as an outreach programme for the Townhouse Gallery, but became independently registered in October 2009.