Nuba Dessa: A Sacred Nubian-Led Vision for Heissa Island

RESTORING THE HEART OF NUBIA: HEISSA ISLAND'S CALL FOR REGENERATION

Led by Tarek Asela, Grandson of the Last Nubian Chief on Heissa Island

Nuba Dessa, meaning Green Nubia in the ancient Nubian language, is a one-of-a-kind regeneration project led by Tarek Asela, the grandson of the last chief of Heissa Island. Tarek is not only a leader in his community, but also a priest, healer, and descendant of the island's ancient lineage of pharaohs. Unlike many external projects coming to Heissa Island, Nuba Dessa is the only regeneration initiative truly coordinated from within—by the Nubian people, for the Nubian people.

This project is backed and supported by Therese Lowton, who helped Tarek Asela initiate the Nuba Dessa project, the Sesen Temple retreat which supports Nuba Dessa, and manages this campaign for Tarek Asela.

WHY NOW?

Heissa Island is in the last remaining indigenous Nubian led areas of Egypt, containing one of the oldest villages in Africa. The damming of the Nile severely affected the agricultural connection to the land, and has deeply impacted the cultural heritage. Heissa Island currently undergoing a profound spiritual awakening and it is time for a full revival.. With visitors from around the world drawn to its energy, now is the time for the Nubian community to step forward and reclaim their sacred land, restore their ancient traditions, and create a model of unified health and healing for Egypt and the world.

THE BIG VISION: HEALING LAND, PEOPLE AND SPIRIT

The Nuba Dessa Project is more than a renovation. It’s the first step toward turning the island into a food forest, installing water pumps to restore food sovereignty, and reviving the ancient plant wisdom and herbalism that once flourished here, following the traditions of Nubian priests, healers, and hermetic alchemists.

Tarek Asela, in the footsteps of his ancestors, carries the vision of a self-sustaining island, where the Nubian community thrives again, living in harmony with nature as they did for eons.

PHASE 1 (GOAL: £20,000 GBP)

Your donations will support the foundation of this vision. Here’s where your contribution will go:

Renovating a Nubian House (£10,000): To house Inca elders from Peru and other Indigenous medicine people in December, and to accommodate volunteers working on land and educational projects. This house will become a sacred space for global wisdom exchanges and a home for land regeneration.

Accommodating Elders and Volunteers (£2,000): Ensuring the wise elders and volunteers who come to share their wisdom and work with the land are well cared for.

Travel Expenses (£8,000): To connect with Indigenous elders from Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, weaving their wisdom into the Nubian tradition. This travel is essential for nurturing global collaborations, bringing back knowledge from the Amazon to be shared with Heissa Island, ensuring it benefits the local community in a powerful way.

Contingency & contribution to next phases (£30,000)

THE POWER OF A NUBIAN-LED INITIATIVE: WHY IT MATTERS

Heissa Island is a sacred, energetically potent land, home to the descendants of the Nubian pharaohs, priests, and chiefs. Tarek’s grandfather was the last chief, and now Tarek is leading the first-ever Nubian-coordinated regeneration project for the island. This is the only initiative from within the community itself, led by those whose ancestral lineage is woven into the land.

At a time when many outside efforts are tapping into the island’s spiritual power, Nuba Dessa stands apart as a deeply-rooted, authentic movement. It is essential that this internal vision—one that is truly Nubian-led—guides the regeneration of the island, ensuring that the sacred heritage and wisdom of the land is honored.

RESTORING THE LAND, REVIVING TRADITIONS:

Turning the Island into a Food Forest: We are committed to installing water pumps and creating irrigation systems to initiate a food sovereignty project. This is about reclaiming the land, regenerating it into a self-sustaining, food-bearing paradise, and empowering the Nubian people to return to their ancestral plant knowledge and agricultural wisdom.

Planting the Blue Lotus: A sacred plant in both Nubian and Egyptian traditions, we will reintroduce the blue lotus to the island, building lotus ponds and teaching locals how to care for and harvest this powerful symbol of spiritual purity and awakening.

Healing through Global Collaboration: We are bringing together Indigenous tribes from around the world—from the Andes to the Amazon— to weave their knowledge with Nubian traditions. This global cosmovision fosters a powerful connection between ancient cultures, amplifying the healing potential not just for Nubia, but for all of Egypt and the Earth.

WHAT WE WILL CREATE IN PHASE 1:

FUTURE PHASES:

Phase 2: Building retail markets for local artisans, renovating two more houses for rent, and using the proceeds to support community resources and install more water pumps for the food sovereignty initiative.

Phase 3: Establishing a retreat center with a ceremonial temple space, creating a global hub for healing, wisdom sharing, and spiritual renewal.

JOIN US NOW: THE TIME IS URGENT

This Nubian-led project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore Heissa Island, renew the ancient traditions of Nubia, and create a global model for unified health and healing. The work we do now will ripple out to Egypt and the entire world.

With the increasing number of outside projects, now is the time for the Nubian people to step forward and reclaim their land and traditions. Your donation helps us achieve that.

Together, we can turn this vision into reality—healing the land, reviving sacred traditions, and creating a future where Heissa Island becomes a beacon of unity, regeneration, and healing for the world. Contact us directly if you’d like to support Phase 2 or Phase 3.