Huda Shaarawi is a pioneer of Egyptian feminism. She set up, in January 1920, the Wafd Central Committee, of which she was elected Chairwoman. In 1923, shortly after the death of her husband, when she returned to Egypt, she decided not to put her scarf on and continued her political struggle with her face uncovered. This has brought her an international fame. She is involved in politics and social issues by founding public schools and public health centres open to disadvantaged groups. She takes part in international conferences, sponsors associations and in 1925 launched an openly feminist Arabic periodical, named The Egyptian Woman. In 1944, Huda organized the first arab feminist congress in Cairo which links feminism and pan-Arabism.