AUC Scholar Delivers Keynote Address at HSBC Event

As part of HSBC’s Diversity and Inclusion Awareness Month, the bank invited Mohamed ElShafie, political science student at The American University in Cairo (AUC) and recipient of the HSBC Bank Egypt Public School Scholarship for visually impaired students, to deliver words of inspiration to HSBC employees.
During his speech, Mohamed inspired both tears and laughter from the audience. Under the theme, “Connect with Difference,” Mohamed talked about the importance of diversity and differences in our lives. “At AUC, diversity helps us in two respects,” he explained. “It teaches you how to accept differences, but also pay attention to what makes us different and learn from it.”

Mohamed believes that we should not always focus on differences; instead focus on what we have in common. Through his interactions with students, faculty and staff at AUC, Mohamed realized that “the kindness of the human soul is what connects us all.” He added that although the advancement in technology changes the world, mankind shall always be the same.

According to Omnia Adel Samra, AUC alumna and head of communications at HSBC Bank Egypt, Mohamed was chosen as keynote speaker because of his unique character and determination to succeed. “Mohamed is the perfect person for this event,” said Samra. “Each time I meet Mohamed, I feel inspired.”

Samra explained that the decision to support visually impaired students at AUC was made in order to provide opportunity to talented and deserving students that enrich the diversity of the campus community at AUC.

HSBC has had a long relationship with AUC and when they decided to renew the Public School Scholarship Fund, they chose to support special needs students as part of their focus to help students with special needs. HSBC supports both Mohamed ElShafie and Hadeer Mohamed, computer science student at AUC. “We are very happy with the selection of the students as they are both very inspiring and ambitious and we are sure they will learn a lot from their experience at AUC,” added Samra.