( CNN ) -- It has been a rocky couple of years for the people of Egypt . Since the 2011 revolution , the economy has tanked , street protests are an almost daily occurrence and the political situation remains volatile . However , a handful of young Egyptians have found that the best way to take a stand against the turmoil is with stand-up comedy . `` We are like a little beam of sunlight , coming through and reminding people , 'Do n't worry ! When this cloud passes , it will be brighter . It will be happier , ' '' says Rami Borai , a comedian in one of Egypt 's first home-grown comedy troupes , Hezb El Comedy . The group , whose name means `` The Comedy Party , '' was formed in 2009 by Hashim Al Gahry , who admits he started up with `` zero capital . '' Al Gahry and some friends pooled their savings , and started marketing the group through social media . When they 're not performing , Hezb El Comedy teaches the art of stand-up to other aspiring comics , instructing them on things like timing and body language . `` We 're not the funniest people in the world , but it 's the experience that has put us in a position to give them advice and tell them , 'These are our mistakes , and this is what you can do to avoid what we did , ' '' says Al Gahry . Read more : Book shows collection of Iran 's political cartoons . Other Arab nations are similarly investing in grassroots comedy . In Qatar , a few young comics have come together to form SUCQ ( an acronym for Stand Up Comedy Qatar ) . `` It 's an American art . We took it from the Americans . We have reshaped it to adapt to our culture and society and people , '' says Hamad Al Amri , 24 , a comedian who is also a banker by day . Mohamed Kamal , who also performs stand-up with SUCQ , notes that given Qatar 's political climate , there are limits to what he can joke about . `` We ca n't talk about politics , or very sensitive topics , like sex or religion , '' he notes . For those comics in the Middle East who do n't censor themselves , comedy can be a risky business . Earlier this month , Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef made headlines after he was charged for mocking both Islam and Egypt 's president , Mohamed Morsy . Other comics in the region have faced similar fates . Sami Fehri , a Tunisian producer of a political puppet show , was imprisoned for corruption charges , and Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was jailed last year for mocking religious figures . Read more : Syria 's `` freedom graffiti '' amid devastation of war goes viral . Al Gahry admits that as a comic , he must proceed with caution . `` You have to push the limit , but you have to be very careful , '' he says . Borai , meanwhile , finds humour in the prospect of facing arrest . `` If I ever read a newspaper that said , 'Ramy was indicted , ' I would say , 'Yo , mom , this is it ! ' I 'll fly out of here , but I would be like , ' I got kicked out of my country for being too damn funny ! ' ''
A handful of young Egyptians find relief from the country 's turmoil in stand-up comedy . The group , Hezb El Comedy , also teaches the art of stand-up to other aspiring comics . Young people in Qatar have also started a stand-up comedy group . Comment: