Abstract
This article considers role and meaning of the village association, which organized by people originally from countryside in Egyptian city,
based on anthropological participant observation. The member of the association extends from migrant workers to the people who was born
and raised in the city, and have countryside-born farther. All of them are related to Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt.
This article explains each role of head office of the association and branch one and how different those. Head office acts as branch office’s
deputy for administrative office of the Ministry of Social Solidarity. On the other side, branch offices have subsequent member.
Then, the article analyzes the motive of joining the village association for the member who take part in branch office. The point of the motive
is not only the aid, but also getting to know many kinds of people from same hometown who have different job and social level. The latter is
more important than the former for daily life of the city where many stranger live in.
In conclusion, the meaning of the village association in the city is the one of the choices to know the people in the name of the hometown.
According to the associational law No. 84, the association manages activities as much as religious or trade associations do. Only difference is
the membership whether same hometown, religion, or profession. Through the association, the members create their social networks and
their identities, and recognize many kinds of people together with knowing the city itself.
