Swift Cairo: An iOS Community

Tech communities play a pivotal role in the professional development of software engineers. These communities provide a space where individuals with shared interests can come together, exchange knowledge, and collaborate on projects. This collective environment fosters learning, offering engineers the opportunity to stay updated with the latest industry trends, tools, and best practices.

One of the key benefits to being part of a tech community is the access to a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. Members come from various backgrounds and levels of expertise, creating a rich environment for knowledge exchange. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced engineer seeking to refine your skills, tech communities offer valuable insights and resources.

Moreover, communities often host events such as meetups, workshops, and hackathons, to provide hands-on experience and opportunities to apply new concepts in real-world scenarios. These activities not only enhance technical skills but also foster collaboration and teamwork, which are essential in the software development industry.

Networking is another significant advantage. Being part of a tech community allows engineers to build connections with like-minded professionals, mentors, and potential collaborators. These relationships can lead to job opportunities, partnerships, or simply a strong support system within the industry.

In essence, tech communities serve as a catalyst for growth. They encourage continuous learning, provide a platform for sharing knowledge, and help engineers stay motivated and engaged in their field. For iOS engineers in particular, communities like Swift Cairo offer a specialized environment where members can deepen their expertise in Swift and related technologies, ultimately becoming better and more well-rounded software engineers.

The Story of Swift Cairo

Swift Cairo was established in 2018 by Abdoelrahman Eaita and Attia Elsayed, sparked by a simple tweet that asked, "Yala community?" This straightforward question became the catalyst for what would grow into a thriving local hub for iOS engineers. Seizing the momentum, they began reaching out to companies, creating social media channels, and organizing what would become the community’s first offline meetup. This initial event marked the beginning of a journey that has since connected and supported countless engineers in Egypt, helping them to refine their skills and advance in their careers. Later on, Mohamed El-Naggar joined as a Co-Founder, playing a crucial role in managing the community's activities and contributing to its ongoing success.

Community Activities

The heart of Swift Cairo's activities lies in our beloved monthly offline meetup. This event brings together iOS engineers from across Egypt, hosted within the offices of various tech companies. During these meetups, two or more engineers take the stage to deliver talks on a range of topics that are valuable to all attendees, whether they're seasoned professionals or just starting out.

The real magic happens during the breaks, where community members have the chance to network, share experiences, and forge lasting connections. These moments of interaction are where bonds are formed, ideas are exchanged, and memories are made—making each meetup an unforgettable experience that goes beyond just technical learning.

In addition to our offline meetups, the community engages in several other activities. We host reading sessions where members join online meetings to explore and discuss the source code from various open-source projects. This collaborative effort deepens our understanding and sparks insightful conversations.

We also send out a weekly 2newsletter, sharing useful articles, tools, industry news, and job opportunities with our community members. Additionally, we organize workshops focused on specific topics, offering both online and offline sessions to teach and engage our members with learning new skills and concepts.

Our community also hosts a podcast, where Eaita invites different guests for each episode to discuss topics that are relevant and valuable to our members.

We also maintain a Slack channel that serves as our community’s digital hub. Here, members can ask questions, share job opportunities, or engage in random discussions, fostering a sense of camaraderie and continuous support among peers.

Beyond these activities, we also provide services to companies within the tech industry. We assist with hiring processes, conduct interviews, and even recommend talented engineers from our community. In some cases, our members have also taken on projects or worked directly with these companies, further strengthening the connection between Swift Cairo and the broader tech ecosystem.

The Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic was undeniably a challenging time for everyone, and our community was no exception. As mentioned earlier, the heart of our activities has always been our in-person meetups. However, with the onset of the pandemic, we had to pause all offline events to prioritize the safety of our members.

While this period felt like a dark era for our community, it also presented an opportunity to adapt and innovate. We began hosting online webinars and virtual meetups, providing a platform for our members to continue learning and staying connected. We also found creative ways to maintain our sense of community, whether it was through online gaming sessions, casual virtual hangouts, or simply supporting one another during these tough times.

Despite the challenges, this period of adjustment allowed us to explore new ways of engaging with our community and keeping the spirit of Swift Cairo alive, even when we couldn't meet in person.

The Comeback

After the pandemic subsided, our community faced new challenges. Many of our senior members, including our two beloved founders, had moved abroad, leaving us in a period of transition. For a while, we struggled to regain the momentum that had once driven Swift Cairo.

Recognizing the need for fresh leadership, Attia decided to pass the torch. He posed a simple question to the community: "Who wants to give back to the community?" The response was overwhelming, with many members eager to step up and contribute. After a series of friendly calls and discussions, Attia made his decision.

Meet the new team behind Swift Cairo: Ahmed Ramzy, Asmaa Tarek, Ahmed Ramy, Ibrahim Hamed, and Nourhan Boghdadi.

We have taken on the responsibility to continue the journey and further develop the community. With a renewed sense of purpose, we made a triumphant return to our offline meetups, and there's much more on the horizon. The story of Swift Cairo is far from over, and we're excited to see where the next chapter takes us.

My Story

As a junior iOS engineer, I joined Swift Cairo in 2018, and eagerly attended most of the meetups. I vividly remember the excitement I felt before each event and the joy that came with receiving the meetup invitation. Every time, I returned home with a notebook full of key points, new concepts to explore, and ideas to deepen my understanding.

The community wasn't just about the meetups; I frequently posted questions on our Slack channel, where other members generously offered their help and guidance. These interactions played a significant role in shaping my career, providing me with the knowledge and support I needed to grow as an engineer.

Now, as a senior iOS engineer, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back. The community has been instrumental in my journey, and I’m committed to helping new engineers improve their skills and advance in their careers, just as the community did for me

What’s Next

Our mission is clear: "Take Egypt's engineers to the next level." To achieve this, we’re focusing on elevating the quality and scope of our meetups. We plan to explore a variety of perspectives, recognizing that it’s not always about the source code. We aim to provide a more holistic approach to engineering by diving into topics that broaden our understanding of the field.

In addition to our enhanced meetups, we have some exciting workshops in the pipeline, designed to challenge and inspire our members. These workshops will be announced very soon, and we can’t wait to see how they will further contribute to the growth of our community.

The journey of Swift Cairo is far from over, and we’re more committed than ever to help our engineers reach new heights.

Tech Communities: The Key to Opportunities

At Swift Cairo, we believe that every member has the power to make an impact. If you have an idea that could benefit the community, we’re always open to hearing it. Even small actions can have significant effects. For example, as you’re reading this, we’re excited to announce that we're partnering up with Klivvr for our next meetup on the 28th of August. This kind of support is invaluable, and it all starts with conversations. You can help by talking to your company’s management about our community and the positive impact it’s having on Egypt’s tech scene.

There are many ways to contribute. You can share useful tips, write articles, or even volunteer as a speaker for one of our upcoming meetups. Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue to grow and support our members.

Stay informed on our latests events and meetups by following us on X and LinkedIn.

Special Thanks

I want to extend my heartfelt greetings to everyone whose part of the Swift Cairo community. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just joined, your participation and enthusiasm are what make this community so special. Together, we’ve built a space where iOS engineers can learn, grow, and support each other, and that’s something truly worth celebrating.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Let’s continue to push the boundaries, share our knowledge, and take Swift Cairo to even greater heights. Here’s to the future of our community and the incredible things we’ll achieve together!