By Dalia Al Nimr | This story appeared in the July 2017 edition of AUC Today.

Born in 1946 in Ramleh/Jaffa on the Mediterranean shores of Palestine, Souhail El Farouki '68 immigrated to Egypt in 1948, when the Arab-Israeli war broke out. In 1963, he graduated from Victoria College in Alexandria, then moved to the United Kingdom to complete his A-levels. For El Farouki, things in life did not come easy.

"Having been forced to leave my homeland in Palestine, I can relate to the refugee crisis plaguing our world today," reflected El Farouki. "When I went to the UK, I worked there during my holidays -- as a farmer; as a wheelbarrow porter transporting luggage and cargo at Folkestone Harbour Railway Station; and as a kitchen helper in restaurants. Being exposed to all these different types of jobs motivated me to do well in my studies."

Following in the footsteps of his father, Ghaleb El Farouki '33, Souhail El Farouki attended AUC, where he met his life partner Abla Leheta '69, who is originally from Port Said.

"I still remember the year -- 1964," recalled El Farouki. "We were on a freshman trip to Al Qanater Al Khayria. My camera ran out of film, but I pretended to take pictures of the scenic environment whereas my focus was to talk to Abla. When she asked me later about the photos, I never lied; I admitted that I had run out of film. There was and continues to be a lot of mutual respect between us."

For both El Farouki and Leheta, their University years were all about hard work and perseverance. With the close-down of her father's business in Port Said and Suez, Leheta found herself obliged to work as a part-timer at AUC's mail office and at an airline travel office to partially help support herself and finish her studies. Similarly, El Farouki overloaded himself with credit hours and took summer classes to graduate quickly in order to join the workforce and help his father. "AUC instilled in us the motivation and desire to work hard, make our lives worthwhile and be the least burden on our families," said El Farouki.

"AUC inspired us and opened our eyes to the fact that there are no privileges except through hard work and knowledge acquisition, whether you own a Ferrari or commute using a second-class bus ticket, whether you dine at posh restaurants or eat foul and ta'meya, whether you wear the same or different clothes every day. All students are equal at AUC, independent of background, social class or status. AUC gave us a different outlook on life and taught us not to be distracted by petty issues."

AUC was a home away from home for both El Farouki and Leheta. Not only did their siblings and relatives join AUC, but the University carried special memories for both of them: from Am Abdou who greeted them every day at the University gate to their favorite campus spots such as the cafeteria, Ewart and Oriental halls, the library and hostel to entertaining activities such as theatre performances, sports games and social events.

Even the "demanding professors, the tough graders," whom El Farouki and Leheta described as their favorite because they learned the most from them, were an unforgettable part of AUC. And of course, there are the extracurricular activities, which were not only fun, but a fertile learning ground outside of the classroom. These included El Farouki serving as a sports manager for the freshman class and as a social manager for sophomores, and running for the position of head of the AUC student body. Leheta was also chosen as one of the finalists in the Miss AUC competition. "Each of these activities taught us something new," said El Farouki. On one occasion, during an AUC trip to the American University of Beirut, their travel was partially funded by carrying items with them that were later sold in Lebanon.

After graduation, armed with their degrees -- a bachelor's in chemistry for El Farouki and a bachelor's in economics and political science for Leheta -- the two alumni were ready to venture into the real world. "AUC prepared us for the real world and equipped us with an eagerness to learn, which gave us the courage to get married and apply for graduate studies abroad," El Farouki noted.

Soon enough, El Farouki received an assistantship to pursue graduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he received his PhD in chemistry in 1976. Leheta worked as a full-time librarian at the same university until she acquired her master's in educational administration. "We lived in low-income housing and used Salvation Army furniture," El Farouki said. "I used to hitchhike to the university until we were able to buy a second-hand car. I distinctly remember receiving a Teaching Assistant Award -- a $25 check -- in 1975 and taking my wife and young daughter, Roba, to a pizza parlor where I used to work for extra money."

After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the married couple moved to Saudi Arabia, where El Farouki joined the Juffali family business. The group's managing partner, the late Sheikh Ahmed Juffali, husband of the renowned philanthropist and AUC Advisory Trustee Suad Al-Husseini Juffali, had plans to add Dow Chemical Company to the organization's diverse business activities. El Farouki was offered a job as a salesman to introduce Dow Chemical products into the market. Over the next four decades, El Farouki helped develop the Juffali chemical business into one of the largest, most diversified private sector chemical operations in the region. His achievements were cited in numerous publications, such as Growth Company: Dow Chemical's First Century and the late Ahmed Juffali's biography, Ahmed Juffali: A Life in Business.

Both El-Farouki and Leheta actively give back to their communities, be it contributing to local and regional charitable organizations, serving on the boards of trustees of local international schools, and developing a passion for the culinary arts by heading the International Chaine Des Rotisseurs Jeddah Chapter and the Gourmet Club Saudi Chapter

Although El Farouki recently left the Juffali group, he is still active in developing his family's coffee and roasted nuts wholesale and retail business and building a personal chemicals platform in Jordan.

Throughout their life journey, El Farouki and Leheta were keen to pass on a valuable lesson to their three children and nine grandchildren. "We have tried to implant in them the importance of working hard -- daily and over a period of many long years -- and contributing to others," said El Farouki. "All our children have been encouraged to have part-time jobs while studying at university. Even our grandchildren are active in fundraising, charity calls and serving in refugee camps. It is through both hard work and contributions to others that people, looking back, can appreciate and value all they have achieved."

Recognizing their accomplishments, AUC presented El Farouki with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999 and Leheta with a Distinguished Alumni Volunteer Award in 2004. Becoming forever a part of the New Cairo campus, the married couple named the Abla Leheta '69 and Souhail El-Taji El-Farouki '68 Courtyard.

"When we look back at our beautiful journey, we are grateful for what we have achieved," said El Farouki. "AUC was a stepping stone for us and helped us get to where we are now. We hope today's students who pass through this courtyard will have an even better journey than ours."

He added, "Giving to AUC was also part of my father's legacy, when he established the Ghaleb El Farouki '33 Endowed Scholarship in 1985 to support Palestinian students. I am very touched by the notes I receive from the scholarship recipients and want to do more for this University. AUC has a great snowball effect: It teaches us to excel in everything we do, and employers look specifically for AUC graduates because they have proven themselves in the job market. Then these employers, many of them big corporations, give back to AUC because of their gratefulness to it for producing such fine graduates."

To these fine graduates, El Farouki and Leheta advise: "Life is short. Live every moment. Work hard. Stay in touch with your classmates. Treat people with kindness, modesty and respect, no matter how much knowledge you have. This is the secret recipe for success."

By Tess Santorelli
 

For Farkhonda Hassan (MSc '67), the phrase "mother knows best" takes on an entirely new meaning. 

Hassan, professor emerita in the School of Sciences and Engineering, has been teaching at AUC for 55 years. Her extensive list of students includes Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan '91 and Nabil Fahmy '74, '77, Egypt's former foreign minister and founding dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Yet, she has some particular students she especially enjoyed teaching at AUC -- her children and grandchildren.
 

Hassan's daughter, Wegdan Lotfi '79, '91, was previously an adjunct faculty member at AUC's Department of Chemistry and had taught her own children as well, including Omar Khalifa '08. "He got a B minus in my class," Lotfi said jokingly. 
 

Khalifa also reflected, laughing, "Most of the people I meet say, 'Oh, your mother is Wegdan; your grandmother is Farkhonda. She taught me; she taught me!'"
 

As AUC's centennial approaches, Hassan, Lotfi and Khalifa sat together in the living room of Hassan's home, surrounded by photographs and family mementos, and reflected on what this centennial means to them as a multigenerational family of AUCians.
 

Hassan, who was present for the University's 75th anniversary in 1994, said she can't believe the centennial is this year. "I have been at AUC for more than half a century. I never imagined that I would make it to the centennial, but I really feel happy to be here," Hassan said. "I feel like I am part of AUC and AUC is part of me."
 

The Start of a Legacy

Hassan, who first joined AUC as a graduate student to study solid-state science in the Department of Chemistry, still finds herself happiest when she is teaching. "I'm a little bit tired of walking across the new campus between classes," she said with a smile. "But still, I find myself in the classroom."
 

In 1964, only a year into graduate school, Hassan was appointed assistant instructor. "Maybe I was a good teacher or something. Omar knows," she laughed, gesturing to Khalifa.
 

When she graduated two years later, Hassan left Egypt to earn her PhD in geology from the University of Pittsburg, after which she returned to teach geology at AUC. In addition to being a celebrated scientist and prominent professor, Hassan is also co-chair of the Gender Advisory Board of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, as well as secretary-general and a member of Egypt's National Council for Women since 2000. Elected to the Egyptian Parliament in 1979 and serving there until 1984, Hassan is currently chair of the Commission on Human Development and Local Administration in parliament. She was also named an honorary life member of the International Parliamentary Union. In Hassan's years of teaching, she has not only taught her own children and grandchildren, but her friends' children and grandchildren as well. She recounted with amusement the number of times students in her class, who were children and grandchildren of her friends, were too shy to introduce themselves as relatives of her friends. "I feel very happy when I teach the generations of my students," said Hassan. "I'm very proud of them."
 

Hassan said having her grandchildren in class taught her things she didn't previously know about them. "Like Omar, for example, he's very independent. I didn't know that before," Hassan said. "I learned that when he gets an idea, he will do it no matter what. He perseveres." 
 

Hassan recalled a time when Lotfi was in her class. She raised her hand and asked Hassan why she had received an incorrect mark on an exam when she believed she had answered every question correctly. 
 

"She came up to the podium and asked me to show her what was wrong on her exam," said Hassan. I told her, 'You see this? I couldn't read it.' When she turned to sit down, she said something, and the entire class laughed. Mother's Day was two days away, and, apparently, she mouthed to the class, 'I'm not getting her a Mother's Day gift.'"

When she turned to sit down, she said something, and the entire class laughed. Mother's Day was two days away, and, apparently, she mouthed to the class, 'I'm not getting her a Mother's Day gift.'" 
 

Professor Emerita Farkhonda Hassan (MSc '67) with her daughter Wegdan Lotfi '79, left; Lotfi with her father at her graduation; Omar Khalifa '09 at his graduation

Learning from the Best

After graduating from AUC's Department of Chemistry in 1979 and having her four children, Lotfi earned her master's in solid-state physics in 1991. A former member of the Suzanne Mubarak International Peace Movement and a former member of Egypt's International Economic Forum, Lotfi prides her family in their "respect for hard work." 
 

"I love teaching because it's in my blood," said Lotfi. "My kids appreciate work -- all of them. They all took courses with me, but they knew that they had to study." 
 

Lotfi tributes everything she learned about being a faculty member to her previous professors at AUC. "I remember any advice I was given," she reflected. "In all my life stages, I've had these beautiful professors. Everyone who taught me in the department helped me build character," said Lotfi. "I was shaped at AUC." 
 

Unlike their mother and grandmother, neither Omar Khalifa nor his two brothers, Khaled '04 and Youssef '17 chose the science route at AUC. At first, Lotfi insisted that her eldest son, Khaled, take science courses. To convince him, she arranged for him to meet with a particularly persuasive professor. 
 

"I left them together in her office for nearly an hour. When he came out, he told me, 'She's so kind. She convinced me to do what I want.'" Lotfi said, recalling her shock. "I asked him, 'What do you want?' and he said, 'I want to go into political science.' And that's what he did, and he started getting better grades and was happy." 
 

From that moment on, Lotfi decided to step back from her children's studies. "When it was Omar's turn, I told him, 'You do what you want,'" Lotfi said. 
 

As an active member of AUC's student body, Khalifa founded the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa organization, was a member of the Student Union, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Student Union Talk Show at Ewart Memorial Hall and was a top player for the University's water polo team. 
 

After graduating with a bachelor's in political science, specializing in international relations, Khalifa founded his own publishing and advertising company, Omedia, in 2009. Inspired by the employment fairs at AUC, Khalifa launched Shaghalni.com in 2015. He had a five-minute meeting to pitch the idea to the person who he says inspired him the most, Naguib Sawiris. The pitch resulted in Sawiris investing in the company. 
 

Though Khalifa describes himself as more business-oriented, he still took a class with his mother. He recalled in one of Lotfi's assignments, there was the option to either give a presentation on something small, write a paper or create a drawing. 
 

"I draw very well, so naturally, I picked drawing," said Khalifa. "I woke up in the morning before class, and in minutes, I drew a perfect solar eclipse. When I went to class and gave it to my mother, my friend told her, 'He just made that 10 minutes ago.' She knows I'm a good artist and told me I had to do the presentation instead. He ruined the plan," Khalifa said, as his mother laughed. 
 

Khalifa said the most important lesson learned after taking his grandmother's class was the meaning of integrity. "During lunch at her house, she wouldn't answer any of my questions regarding the course," Khalifa recalled. "Instead, she would tell me to visit her during office hours so I don't receive any extra treatment." 
 

A member of the Alumni Council and the AUC Fund committee, Khalifa hosts yearly employment fairs on the Tahrir Square campus as his way of "giving back" to AUC for fueling his ambition. "All of my ideas and dreams were created while studying at AUC," he said.
 

Making it Count

"Having a family of AUCians -- my son, my daughter, my in-laws and my grandchildren -- is really great," said Hassan. "I think we belong to the AUC culture. All of us."

As a faculty member, Hassan is most proud of her students because they learn how to navigate life while studying at AUC. "It is not just a degree. It is a way of thinking and living," said Hassan. 
 

Khalifa said AUC's impact on its students is evident throughout Egypt. "This is one of the oldest, most well-established universities in Egypt," he said. "Everywhere you go, even in the biggest companies you'll always find an AUCian on the decision-making team." 
 

"The University gives space for students to think out of the box," Lotfi agreed. "It encourages self-development and learning to the utmost." 
 

Khalifa added that not everyone knows his family's relationship to AUC. "But when they know," chimed in Hassan, "They link everything," Khalifa finished. 
 

"Having a family of AUCians -- my son, my daughter, my in-laws and my grandchildren -- is really great," said Hassan. "I think we belong to the AUC culture. All of us." 
 

How would the family describe AUC? "Character-building," they agreed. 
 

"I see students entering as freshmen, and when I see them as seniors, they've grown into completely different people," said Lotfi. "It is really quite impressive. In four years, they change. They're more confident. They are better at everything -- all because of their time at AUC." 
 

As Lotfi spoke, Khalifa's 2-year-old daughter Carla wobbled from one chair to the next. "The fourth generation of AUCians!" Khalifa said jokingly, as everyone laughed. 
 

"AUC is in us. I mean, we are all AUCians," said Lotfi, while Carla steadied herself against her great-grandmother.

Three Generations of AUC Families

• Lucy Amin '60 (right) with her daughter Nelly Ragai '89 at the 2016 homecoming in AUC Tahrir Square
• Nelly Ragai '89
• Ragai's late husband
  Teddy Tadros '88, '97
• Ragai, manager at AUC's Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center, with her son and daughter -- both AUC students
• Lucy Amin '60 (third from right)
• 

"We are a Jordanian-Saudi family that is proud of its AUCian roots, which go back to the year 1928, when our great uncle joined AUC. There are many more AUCian aunts, uncles and cousins in our family. It is the fond memories at AUC that our family takes back when we travel to our countries."

-- Rania Jabr (MA '90)

• Grandmother Najwa
  Al Imam '58
• Daughter
  Rania Jabr (MA '90),senior instructor II at
  AUC
• Grandson
  Bassel Al-Dabbagh '18

• Grandfather Ahmed Shafic Abou Oaf (MA '77)
• Daughter Mervat Shafic Abou Oaf '88, '02
  (right), professor of practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication;
  with her son Adham Zidan '09, '14

• Grandmother Mary Dafashy '75 (right),
  mother Mona Makramalla '85 (left) and
  daughter Sara Meleika '11

By Tess Santorelli | Photos by Ahmad El-Nemr

While AUC is celebrating its centennial, another important University birthday is happening this year -- the 10-year anniversary of the New Cairo campus. 
 

In 2008, AUC made history with the establishment of a new campus, designed from scratch, in New Cairo. After the decision to move from AUC Tahrir Square was made, the University purchased 260 acres of land in 1997 for its new home at the center of New Cairo. An international team of architects and planners made up of seven firms from three countries designed the campus. 
 

Throughout the planning phase, it became increasingly obvious that this would not be a process of simply moving the old campus to a new location. The New Cairo campus -- despite following the roots of AUC Tahrir Square -- would have its own unique identity and would continue to evolve and mature over time. 
 

In designing the campus, the team sought to capture the international identity of the AUC community as well as the multidimensionality of the liberal arts curriculum in an architecturally diverse space. Inspired by Egypt's history of advanced engineering practices, they revived traditional processes for cutting stone and sourced materials from Upper Egypt to build up the walls, bolstering the campus with the strength of a brilliant past. In 2009, one year after the relocation, the University received a special award from the Urban Land Institute for the design and construction of AUC New Cairo, now ranked as the top green campus in Africa. 
 

• AUC Portal
   
• AUC Portal

Built using 24,000 tons of reinforcing steel, as well as 115,000 square meters of stone, marble, granite cladding and flooring, the campus weaves Egyptian urban and architectural traditions into a modern campus and is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Sandstone for the walls of campus buildings is all from a single quarry in Kom Ombo, 50 kilometers north of Aswan. The stone arrived by truck in giant multi-ton blocks, which were cut and shaped for walls, arches and other uses at a stone-cutting plant built on the site. 
 

The new campus launched a wave of growth in New Cairo. What was once a slowly developing suburb flourished into a lively community with public performances, plays, exhibitions and special events, extending Cairo's rich arts scene to the area and making AUC a cultural hub. The growing campus life sparked the surge of a bustling urban landscape in the area, attracting the numerous businesses, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers and residences that now populate the city, and in turn, contributing to the economic development of the New Cairo district. 
 

• AUC Library
• AUC Library

Abdelhalim Ibrahim Abdelhalim, principal of Abdel-Halim Community Design Collaborative, led the international team in executing the master plan and architecture principles for the design and construction of AUC's New Cairo campus. He said in his first encounter with the campus being used that he was worried his team "lost the way."

"[Now], the campus is realizing itself," Abdelhalim noted. "A community is being created, and I'm not sure that it's the same community that was in downtown Cairo. It's different, and I'm glad to hear that. During the planning process, we assumed that it is a must to follow the roots of the old campus, but we discovered that the new campus is actually much more complex than just simply moving the old campus. I think the campus is now entering its maturity. It has already evolved and will continue to do so." 
 

In its relocation, AUC foresaw an opportunity to foster increased engagement with its surrounding community and trigger the positive development of the New Cairo area. The historic move created a new frontier for AUC to continue to lead as Egypt's global University.
 

The earliest discussion of the need for a new campus, exclusively built for the purpose of higher education, began just two years after the University was founded in the city center in 1919.

Those discussions were put into motion shortly after the University's 75th anniversary, with the establishment of the Century Committee in 1994 to begin looking toward AUC's centennial. Consisting of trustees, faculty, alumni and friends of the University, the committee was charged with recommending guidelines and priorities for AUC's future development -- with particular attention to its educational philosophy and long-term mission.

There was concern among the committee regarding congestion on the Tahrir Square campus due to the fact that some faculty members had to have their offices in rented apartments. In general, there was a need for more space. The consensus was that postponing relocation to some future time might become prohibitively expensive and unaffordable for AUC. It was time to act.

Jehane Ragai '66, '68, professor emerita of chemistry, served as the School of Sciences and Engineering representative on the committee. She was also chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education in Egypt and the Middle East, which was tasked -- among other things -- with determining whether or not AUC's campus should remain in downtown Cairo or consider moving some or all of its activities to a suburban area in the future. The subcommittee determined there was no further room for growth in its downtown location and recommended relocation. Though the Century Committee "reluctantly" agreed to the principle, Ragai said she is "strongly convinced that it was a timely and wise decision."

Ewart Memorial Hall has been a cultural hub of downtown Cairo since it opened its doors in 1928, serving as a gathering place for lovers of literature, cinema, music and all forms of arts and culture. "Ewart Memorial Hall is not only one of the oldest AUC facilities; it is also one of the largest, and to many in Cairo, it is the locus of cultural activity," Lawrence Murphy noted in The American University in Cairo: 1919 - 1987. 
 

How It All Began

When the Division of Extension (now the School of Continuing Education) was established in 1924, Charles Watson, AUC's first and founding president, needed a large meeting hall to host public lectures and present films, but he wasn't able to raise money for that from potential donors. It was not until 1925, when two American women visited the campus, that his vision started to become a reality. Ruth Litt, one of Watson's old friends who had donated a cup to honor students, was accompanied by another woman who had recently inherited a big fortune and was interested in contributing to AUC. When told that the University needed an auditorium, she offered $80,000, which later became $100,000, to pay for its construction. While she asked to remain anonymous, she requested that the auditorium be named for her grandfather, William Dana Ewart, who had previously visited Cairo to improve his ailing health. "It seems to be distinctly the hand of God opening the door," a delighted Watson wrote in 1925 to the Board of Trustees Chairman William Bancroft Hill, after whom Hill House in AUC Tahrir Square is named. The plan was to create a building that would accommodate not only the auditorium, but also AUC's needs in terms of classrooms and offices. While the building would cost approximately $150,000, the original gift was spent on the auditorium. The Board of Trustees paid the rest of the money. 
 

A Work of Art

Architect A. St. John Diament was responsible for designing the building and auditorium. Situated on the south side of the Historic Palace, Ewart Memorial Hall was built with the "best style of Arabesque architecture" inside and outside the hall -- on doors, windows, lamps and seats. The inscription above the stage -- Let Knowledge Grow from More to More, But More of Reverence in Us Dwell -- was inspired by the Kufi script and taken from the British poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 1849 In Memoriam. The auditorium was built to ensure the utmost comfort for the audience: a seating capacity of 1,150 people, the largest in Cairo at the time; wide rows and aisles, as well as space for extra seats in times of a packed audience; every seat having a clear view of the stage with no obstructions; a balcony; proper acoustics; insulation against external noise; non-glare lighting; a forced ventilation system; and sufficient retiring rooms located on both floors. Construction began in June 1926, the cornerstone laid in 1927 and final touches completed in April 1928. The laying of the cornerstone was "such a remarkable day," as Murphy described it. Hundreds of AUC friends attended this special occasion, including a personal representative of Egypt's King Fouad; Ruth Litt, who traveled from New York as the donor representative; and William Bancroft Hill, who spoke on behalf of the trustees. President Watson explained that the Division of Extension and Ewart Memorial Hall would "place at the disposal of Egypt ... the best that American experience and experimentation can afford."

As Murphy noted, the construction of Ewart Memorial Hall earned AUC a "more stable and respectful status in Egypt, where the king himself had recognized the importance of the AUC and prominent families started sending their sons there." In 1937, the Egyptian Broadcasting Company aired monthly radio concerts by Om Kolthoum, the legendary Egyptian singer, from AUC's Ewart Memorial Hall, solidifying AUC's position as a "benevolent community agency," as Murphy put it. "Audiences throughout Egypt and the Arab world knew that Om Kalthoum's performances came from Ewart Hall." Egyptian scholar Taha Hussein, who advocated for modernization in Egypt, lectured at Ewart Hall. In addition, the hall was a major cinema destination. The building was filled to capacity for the screening of Cecil B. DeMille's King of Kings year after year. The hall also featured performances by the French singer Edith Piaf, European and U.S. bands, the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Egyptian Musical Society. School groups used Ewart Hall to present their programs and hold commencement ceremonies. "[Ewart Hall] turned out to be highly successful, highly satisfactory -- so that within a matter of a few months, we had completely gobbled up the entertainment market in Cairo. All the recitals, all the concerts, anything of every value ... came to our hall," said Professor Herbert W. Vandersall, who taught at AUC for more than four decades since 1920, in a 1973 oral history interview with the AUC Archives. Since then, Ewart Hall has been witnessing history and has been a part of it. It has hosted distinguished national and international figures over the years. It continued to be the prime destination for AUC's commencement ceremonies, from the late 1920s until February 1988, when the University had to find a bigger place to accommodate the increasing number of students and their parents. Sherif Kamel '88, '90, '13, dean of AUC's School of Business, sees the hall as a "symbol of AUC" and feels privileged to have been among the last graduating class whose commencement ceremony was held at Ewart Hall. "We, as graduates of that class," Kamel wrote on the AUC Memories webpage, "were extremely lucky and fortunate to be among the generations that graduated from Ewart Hall, adding more excitement and joy to the uniqueness of this lifetime experience in such a breathtaking setting located in the heart of the Main Campus of AUC." 
 

"[Ewart Hall] turned out to be highly successful, highly satisfactory -- so that within a matter of a few months, we had completely gobbled up the entertainment market in Cairo. All the recitals, all the concerts, anything of every value ... came to our hall."

- Professor Herbert W. Vandersall

• Ewart Hall construction, 1926 to 1928
• Ewart Hall construction, 1926 to 1928

The Facelift 
 

Today, more than 90 years after its construction, Ewart Memorial Hall has been renovated to suit modern-day demands. The hall's original technology was only feasible for spoken words and incorporated basic lighting and sound systems. AUC has been partially maintaining the hall since its establishment, and in the early 1990s, alumni donations were used to renovate it. In 2015, a grant by the United States Agency for International Development's American Schools and Hospitals Abroad was used to refurbish Ewart Hall. This included changing the sound system to improve acoustic quality in the hall, updating the lighting system to be both energy-efficient and have dynamic control and quality, revamping the video and presentation equipment to meet advanced audiovisual needs, and installing an advanced control system to monitor audio-visuals anywhere inside the hall. In addition, a wireless system has enabled simultaneous translation into three languages to accommodate a multilingual audience, and a newly installed assistive listening system makes events accessible to a greater variety of people.

The renovation project is part of a larger plan to revive AUC Tahrir Square as a cultural center in downtown Cairo. These upgrades ensure that Ewart Hall continues to be a prime destination for hosting various community and cultural events, for AUC and beyond, including public lectures; seminars; conferences; speeches; concerts; talent shows; musical, dance and theatrical performances; film screenings and other public events. Throughout the renovation process, the historical look and feel of the place had to be taken into consideration. "Reviving such a cherished place as Ewart Hall while preserving its archaeological and classic identity was not easy, particularly that the place is under the accountability of the General Authority of Monuments," noted Nader Sedhom, director of event support services at AUC's Classroom Technologies and Media Services and co-director of the Ewart Memorial Hall renovation project. "With the help of our engineering department, we had to find a reliable team to run the raceways and cables for the new technology while preserving all the vintage wall inscriptions."

• Ewart Hall filled to capacity during one of AUC's popular lectures in the 1930s
• Ewart Hall was the prime destination for AUC's commencement ceremonies until 1988
• Ewart Hall today

The sound system was updated to a high-quality reputable brand, and new microphones, monitors and wires have been put in place to ensure the highest sound quality. Acoustic tiles were also added on the walls, without spoiling the vintage identity, to guarantee the purest sound and eliminate any reverberation time. Front-fills to enhance the sound quality have been added to the stage, while maintaining its unique architecture and engravings. "To maintain the hall's aesthetic appeal while giving it a modern touch, the stage curtains and the floor's wall-to-wall carpet have been renewed, as well as the upholstery -- keeping the original chairs untouched," said Sedhom. The lighting has been modernized through the installation of light fixtures; a lighting console; red, blue and green LEDs; and moving heads. A new, high-quality dimming system has replaced the old one, and fixtures above the stage facilitate professional background lighting during theatrical performances. In terms of equipment, an advanced projector with a perforated screen improves sound effects, and a huge LED screen highlights the entire stage area during presentations. "The screen goes back and forth to create the best vision for everyone in the hall," said Sedhom, noting, "One of the most interesting additions are the moving video cameras, which have been placed at all corners and at the center of the hall to capture different audience reactions." Despite these renovations and changes, Ewart Memorial Hall will remain the same for many AUC graduates -- holding a special place in their hearts and minds. As one alumna, Sophie Farag '90, '93, explained on the AUC Memories webpage, "Ewart is a beautiful hall that carries many memories for all AUCians." For AUC, it will continue to serve as a cultural icon in the heart of Cairo, dedicated -- as is inscribed outside the hall -- to the "well-being of the people of Egypt and neighboring lands."

Click here for memories of Ewart Hall from alumni.

EWART MEMORIAL HALL
 

In 1925, an anonymous donor offered AUC a gift of $100,000 for the construction of a 1,150-seat auditorium. She requested that the auditorium be named after her grandfather William Dana Ewart, who had in the past visited Egypt for health reasons. Since then, Ewart Memorial Hall has housed musical and theatrical events, including Egypt's renowned singer Om Kolthoum and AUC's own Osiris Singers. Egyptian presidents have attended events at the hall, and in the 1970s, when the Cairo Opera house burned down, it became one of the venues for the Egyptian opera and ballet. 
 

HILL HOUSE
 

Hill House was named after William Bancroft Hill and his wife Elise Weyerhaeuser Hill. William Bancroft Hill served on AUC's Board of Trustees for almost 25 years, including 20 years as chairman. Hill House started as a student dormitory when it was first opened and later became AUC's main library in 1959, holding 60,000 volumes at the time. It was remodeled in 1984 to house the University bookstore, classrooms, offices and meeting rooms. The Weyerhaeuser family, who donated $150,000 for the original construction of the building that opened in 1953, also financed Hill House's remodeling, which was completed in 1986. 
 

TAREK JUFFALI ENDOWED FELLOWS PROGRAM

Suad Juffali, AUC advisory trustee and chair of the Ahmed Juffali Foundation, established the Tarek Juffali Endowed Fellows Program in counseling psychology and community psychology and named the Tarek Juffali Professorship in Psychology, both in honor of her late son. She also established the Suad Al-Husseini Juffali Scholarship for students from Palestine and named the Serenity Room at the AUC Library and La Palmiera Lodge female student dormitory, among many of her generous contributions. She received the Global Impact Award in 2017 from AUC for her leadership in philanthropy. 
 

BARTLETT FAMILY LEGACY

The Bartlett family has a long tradition of giving to AUC. Thomas Bartlett, who served as AUC president from 1963 to 1969 and as interim president from 2002 to 2003, has made numerous contributions to the University, most notably, establishing -- with his wife, Mrs. Mary Louise Bartlett -- The Bartlett Room student lounge at AUC New Cairo. 
 

Sharing his father's passion for education and for AUC, Richard Bartlett, chairman of the Board of Trustees, has served as a trustee since 2003. Richard Bartlett has contributed significant time and energy to the University, as well as philanthropic support for numerous programs and scholarships. In 2011, he established the Molly Bartlett Endowed Scholarship in his mother's name to support top-performing Egyptian public school students who wish to attend AUC. He also contributed to the Access to Knowledge for Development Center. In 2018, Richard and his wife, Kerri Bartlett, gave $2 million to establish The Bartlett Fund for Critical Challenges, an endowed fund to encourage research and other projects that address defining challenges shaping Egypt and the region. Through this fund, AUC will play a leading role in developing creative responses to challenges, such as issues of sustainability, poverty, demographics, health, education, urbanization, water resources, governance and regional politics.

Richard and his brother Paul, both AUC trustees and Princeton University graduates, established the Bartlett Family Fund for Innovation and International Collaboration between AUC and their alma mater. The 150-meter-long Bartlett Plaza, a hallmark of AUC New Cairo and the principal outdoor location for AUC's largest events, including commencement and alumni homecoming, is made possible through a generous donation by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bartlett. In addition, Thomas, Richard and Paul have all provided support for the Center for Arabic Study Abroad Endowment Fund.

JAMEEL: 'LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON'

In 1982, prominent Saudi businessman Abdul Latif Jameel donated $5 million, the largest gift that AUC had ever received at the time, to build the Abdul Latif Jameel Center for Middle East Management Studies and the Abdul Latif Jameel Chair in Entrepreneurship. Located on AUC's Greek Campus, the building accommodated the steady growth of the student body in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as well as the increasing demand for management, engineering sciences and other professional programs.

In 2009, Yousef Jameel '68 inaugurated the Abdul Latif Jameel Hall on the New Cairo campus in the name of his father. The building houses the School of Business and School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, in addition to the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism and The Photographic Gallery. A pioneer in his own right, he also established the Yousef Jameel '68 Science and Technology Research Center in 2003. At that time, there were no research facilities in Egypt capable of developing micro/nano devices. Jameel had the vision to create such a center of excellence at AUC in the field of nanotechnology, bringing together top-notch researchers and scientists from around the world.

Increasing access to quality education, Jameel launched the Yousef Jameel MBA Fellows Program in 2004. The program continued for more than a decade, with more than 150 graduates. He also funded the Yousef Jameel '68 GAPP [Global Affairs and Public Policy] Public Leadership Program, supporting 300 fellows in 12 cohorts of 25 Egyptian graduate students per year. When AUC's PhD program began in 2010, he initiated the Yousef Jameel '68 PhD in Applied Sciences and Engineering Fellowships. AUC's first PhD graduate, Yosra El Maghraby '04, '08, '14, was a recipient of this doctoral fellowship, which graduated more than 40 students.

Supporting Scholarships

ABDALLAH JUM'AH STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS

Abdallah S. Jum'ah '65 served as president and CEO of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), the world's largest oil-producing company, from 1995 to 2008. He established the Abdallah Jum'ah Study Abroad Scholarships in 2015 to support undergraduate AUC students seeking a study-abroad experience for one semester in order to expand their horizons and broaden their cultural perspectives. He received a Global Impact Award from AUC in 2016 for his innovative approach to business and strong interest in developing leaders.

"Before joining AUC, I hesitated on whether I wanted to join AUC or study abroad. But during my freshman year, I realized that the opportunities that AUC offers are not to be found elsewhere. ... And the study-abroad [scholarship] opportunity only adds to this rich and versatile experience. AUC is preparing future leaders who understand a world beyond their own. We know what it means to compete on local and international scales."
Seif Hamed '17 
Business Administration 
 

MOHAMMAD ABUGHAZALEH '67 ENDOWED PALESTINIAN SCHOLARSHIP 

Former AUC Trustee Mohammad Abughazaleh '67 has been serving as chairman and CEO of Del Monte Fresh Produce Company in Jordan for more than two decades. In 2006, he established the Mohammad Abughazaleh '67 Endowed Palestinian Scholarship at the University to support five deserving and talented Palestinian students. A total of 17 students have benefited from this scholarship. In 2005, Abughazaleh received the Distinguished Alumni Award from AUC.

"Thank you for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. You have helped me work toward accomplishing my goals and building my future."
Ayah Harhara, business administration

JOHN AND GAIL GERHART ENDOWED PUBLIC SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
 

Named in honor of AUC's late ninth President John D. Gerhart, the John and Gail Gerhart Endowed Public School Scholarship was established in 2002 to support talented students from Egypt's public schools. A recipient of an honorary doctorate from AUC in 2002 and the only president to hold the title of president emeritus, John Gerhart was a firm believer that an essential aim of a liberal arts education is to instill values of service and civic responsibility among students. More than 230 AUC friends have provided generous support to establish this scholarship in his name, including his wife, Gail Gerhart, who has made significant contributions to AUC.

"Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. My time at AUC has completely changed who I am. I hope to take what I have learned and work to improve both my immediate community and entire country." 
Mohamed Ibrahim 
Electronics and Communications Engineering

ABDULHADI H. TAHER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

The Abdulhadi H. Taher Endowed Scholarship supports Egyptian and Saudi Arabian students with outstanding academic performance. Currently, eight students are studying at AUC as recipients of this scholarship. Following in their father's footsteps, Nashwa and Tarek Taher have created transformative experiences for AUC students, including the Nashwa A. H. Taher Arab Women Scholarship in 2004.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to study at the most prominent institution in my country" 
Nouran Barakat 
Undeclared Freshman

MOHAMMED BIN ABDULKARIM A. ALLEHEDAN SCHOLARSHIP AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FUND 

Established in 2015 by the late Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim A. Allehedan, the fund aims to support talented Arab students and encourage specialized scientific research in uncommon disciplines in the Arab world. As the late Allehedan put it, "I come from a modest family, and I didn't get the chance to be educated. After researching, I found that the best place for me to put this endowment would be at a university in Egypt, and I found that The American University in Cairo is the best University in Egypt. ... I am one of the believers that Arabs would not exist without Egypt, and Egypt would not exist without Arabs. And if Arabs are not well-educated, they will not be strong."

"As both a student and a member of the research community at AUC, I would like to thank [Sheikh Allehedan] for his support of innovative research. That support will allow us to have strong academic careers and give us opportunities to develop our skills." 
Ahmed El Sayed '15 '17 
Pursuing a PhD in Applied Sciences at AUC

AL GHURAIR STEM SCHOLARS

Supported by Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, one of the largest privately funded philanthropic education initiatives in the world, the Al Ghurair STEM Scholars program creates opportunities for underserved, high-achieving Arab students to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree at leading universities in the region, including AUC. Launched in 2016, the program has supported more than 150 students at the University, helping them pursue their dreams of a high- quality STEM education. With a Master of Science in nanotechnology, Menna Hasan (MSc '18) is the first AUC alum of Al Ghurair STEM Scholars Program.

"This scholarship has been a dream, getting a chance to travel outside of Yemen to receive a proper education. Getting a scholarship, what can I say, it's like a passport in my life. I can never thank the foundation enough. Never."
Mohammed Al-Sabri 
Mechanical Engineering

By the Numbers

Since the 1970s, more than $100,000,000 has been raised to support scholarships and fellowships.
 

Approximately $630,000,000 financial support given to students since 1975.
 

More than 3,000 students per semester have received any form of financial assistance in the past five years.
 

Approximately 6,000 donors since the 1970s.
 

Yousef Jameel '68 is AUC's single biggest supporter of education, funding research as well as master's and PhD fellowships. 
 

AUC'S TOP DONORS IN THE PAST 100 YEARS
 

$5 MILLION+
 

Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education

Sheikh Faisal Kamal Adham
 

Dr. Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Hon LHD

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim A. Allehedan*

Dr. Sarwat Sabet Bassily*

H.R.H. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hon LHD

Mr. Mohamed Shafik Gabr '73 
 

Sheikh Abdul Latif Jameel Hon LHD*

Mr. Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel '68, Hon LHD 
 

$1 MILLION+

Abraaj Group

Mr. J. Dinsmore Adams, Jr.

Sheikh Kamal Adham*

Mr. and Mrs. Moataz Al Alfi

Dr. Hamza Bahey El Din Alkholi

H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi Hon LHD

Sir Nadhmi Shakir Auchi

Mr. Theodore S. Bacon, Jr.*

Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Bartlett

Mr. Richard and Mrs. Kerri Bartlett
 

BP USA

Dr. Barbara Brown and Dr. Steven C. Ward
 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Cashin
 

Commercial International Bank (Egypt)
 

Paul I. and Charlotte P. Corddry

Mr. Miner D. Crary, Jr. and Mrs. Mary Crary*

Mrs. Mary Cross*

Mr. Hassan '73 and Mrs. Jill Dana

Mrs. Elizabeth S. Driscoll

Mr. Hesham Helal El Sewedy '88

ExxonMobil Corporation

Mr. Paul B. Hannon Hon LHD

Dr. and Mrs. Elias K. Hebeka

Dr. and Mrs. Ahmed M. Hassanein Heikal

HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E.

Mrs. Hadia Abdul Latif Jameel

Mrs. Suad Al-Husseini Juffali Hon LHD

Louise Moore Pine Trust

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce L. Ludwig

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Loutfy Mansour

Mr. Hatem Niazi Mostafa* and Mrs. Janet Mostafa

Mr. Youssef Ayyad Nabih*
 

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Hayel Saeed '68

Saudi Arabian oil Company (Saudi Aramco)

Schlumberger Stichting Fund

Sheikh Mohammed Wajih Hassan Abbas Sharbatly '89

Dr. William K. Simpson Hon LHD*
 

Dr. Abdulhadi Hassan Taher*
 

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 
 

The Ford Foundation

The Selz Foundation 
 

The Tokyo Foundation

*Deceased

Hon LHD Honorary Degree

By Katherine Pollock | This story appeared in the July 2017 edition of AUC Today.
This is the cover story for the July 2017 edition of AUC Today.

"It was a huge responsibility. In school projects, if something goes wrong, the worst-case scenario is that you'll get a bad grade. But as real-life architects, there is no such thing as a bad grade. Money, time and people's lives are at risk."

This is how Shaymaa Hesham, a graduating senior majoring in architecture, described her experience in the Sustainability in Architectural Design Studio class, taught by Khaled Tarabieh, assistant professor of sustainable design. In the class, students were empowered to create their own architectural designs based on real-life community needs. They were challenged to not only create the architectural designs, but also develop a holistic plan that includes financials, feasibility studies and other practical concerns.

"It helped a lot to focus on the financial aspect of my design, not only the aesthetic part of it," said Farah Wahdan, a graduating senior majoring in architecture.

Students completed two major projects in this class: one drawing heavily on Cairo as an extension of the classroom to address community needs, and the other using the New Cairo campus as a field site for practical learning. "Both projects engaged students in experiential, hands-on education that enhances their creativity, adaptability and professional skills," said Tarabieh. "This learning-by-doing approach makes all the difference."

El-Teseen Street

The first project was a community design initiative for New Cairo, whereby students surveyed community needs and site conditions at various locations across El-Teseen Street. Based on their community needs assessments, the students proposed projects ranging from an outpatient medical clinic and community center to a government services building.

Emphasizing the real-world application of such proposals, the student projects were submitted to the LafargeHolcim Awards for Sustainable Construction, the world's premier sustainable design competition. Each student in Tarabieh's class submitted an entry to the competition, with AUC representing 33 submissions out of 120 entries from Egypt and 620 from the Middle East and Africa. This year, AUC was also chosen to host the regional jury cycle of the awards, becoming the first University in the region ever to do so.

"Because we were taking part in the LafargeHolcim Awards competition, we made extra sure our projects were practical, buildable, culturally compatible and, of course, sustainable," said Sara Seyam, who is majoring in architecture. "The idea of ensuring practicality and cultural compatibility in one's design is vital, as it produces projects that are realistic and capable of responding to human needs with the addition of experiential spaces. We developed an eye for detail that drove us to produce thorough, well-thought-out designs."

As many students noted, the El-Teseen Street project was not without its challenges. "It was my first sustainable design project," said Wahdan. "It was really challenging to research and come up with an innovative and sustainable technology that would simultaneously fit with the context and environmental conditions here in Egypt."

"The best part of this project is that students were left on their own to interact with the
client as professional architects. They were given a request for proposal, and they presented it in a typical manner conducted by real-life professionals."

Hadeel Koura, another architecture student, added, "Researching new technologies, materials and means of sustainability while customizing them to suit our environment and target group was both challenging and rewarding."

Architecture student Rawan Sohdy noted that the project taught her to "include sustainability in every aspect of the design process: economic sustainability through entrepreneurship, social sustainability through multi-use, and environmental sustainability by including environmental techniques in the making of kinetic walls and roofs, instead of the typical solar panel add-ons."

For Sohdy, taking part in the LafargeHolcim Awards competition was a dream come true. "Last January, I found myself scrolling through Google for student architecture competitions," she recalled. "Despite my enthusiasm, I gave up on the idea since I had no guidance and didn't know where to start. A couple of weeks later, I found myself in class, with Dr. Tarabieh saying, 'Guess what? You're the lucky batch who will participate in an international competition for this semester's studio project!' No words can describe how rewarding it was to break out of my comfort zone and find myself, almost four months later, clicking the submit button when my project was done and compiled."

Campus Craft House

The second class project was a simulation of a client-architect project, where the students were asked by AUC's Office of Residential Life and Office of Facilities and Operations to design a craft house in the entry courtyard of the University Residences. The craft house had to be sustainable, accessible and creative, allowing dorm residents to learn and enjoy various crafts as a break from academic pressures. The designs had to focus on sustainability, both in the types of crafts available for dorm residents and in the design, construction and ongoing operations and maintenance of the craft house itself. Some of the sustainability ideas proposed by students in Tarabieh's architecture class include installing green walls and solar panels in the craft house as well as recycling material for different purposes, such as: using clay, wood, rice-straw and paper tubes as building materials; soda cans as tin bricks; car tires and cardboard to make furniture; and aluminum cans to make screen walls.

"The trickiest part was being both sustainable and economic," recalled Sohdy. "Hence, my group and I relied on touching down on Egyptian heritage by using clay. Through research and by following up with Dr. Tarabieh, we learned to design a small-scale building that can operate completely without mechanical systems such as air conditioners and heaters."

At the end of the Spring 2017 semester, students presented their proposals to a jury of University experts in design and sustainability as well as AUC President Francis J. Ricciardone. Proposals ranged from designing a craft house entirely constructed of cardboard to an architectural plan that included dynamic walls that can move to create different spaces for dorm residents.

"The best part of this project is that students were left on their own to interact with the client as professional architects," said Tarabieh. "They were given a request for proposal, and they presented it in a typical manner conducted by real-life professionals."

And the students felt the same way. "The highlight of the class was definitely the client meeting for the craft house project," said Wahdan. "It was a truly fulfilling experience to interview 'real clients' and create a design based on their needs and preferences, while also adding our opinions and design ideas."

As Sohdy noted, "With a client, it stops being just about how accurate our drawings are, but how we manage to sell our ideas and their potential to the client, despite being limited by client requirements."

In one project proposal, Warshetna (Our Workshop), the students were able to rethink and redesign the cardboard material into a sustainable and innovative means for construction. Their detailed proposal had a conceptual approach that used cardboard to "reflect the freedom of expression of the activities performed inside of it."

"The biggest challenge was our chosen building material of cardboard tubes,'" said Wahdan. "We had to read many journal articles and talk to professionals in order to identify the structural capabilities of this unconventional material to convince our clients of our choice."

Another student proposal for the craft house, titled Studio Circle X, utilized recyclable materials to create a flexible space with convertible and adjustable walls to adapt to student needs and maximize the natural environment. In their presentation, the students emphasized that "every space hosts an activity" and that no room should be under-utilized.

"What was rewarding about this project is that I saw an end goal to it; the design could actually be executed in real life," explained Hesham.

AUC as a Living and Learning Lab

Reflecting on the larger concept and purpose inspiring his class, Tarabieh noted, "We are using our campus as a living and learning lab, a concept promoted by AUC's Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment. Using student expertise to provide solutions to the University, especially in creating a sustainable, energy-efficient environment that minimizes waste, is an overall effective strategy that can further position AUC as a sustainability leader in Egypt and the region."

In addition to advancing AUC's reputation as a regional leader in sustainability, Tarabieh emphasized the importance of helping students gain real-world experience. "It is critical for students to be trained as professionals and to interact with clients before they graduate," he said. "This gives them an edge in the market and allows them to understand market needs and the professional language of practice."

Earlier this month, 14 AUCians joined young changemakers from the MENA region at the first-ever Regional American Field Service (AFS) Youth Assembly in Cairo to tackle urgent issues like climate change, education and food security.

Inspired by the United Nations Summit of the Future, the regional assembly met for one day to discuss the needs and interests of future generations while calling for meaningful participation of youth in forums for progress. Junior Jannah Hella, who attended on behalf of AUC and is a representative of the student-led organization Heya: The Women’s Initiative, said, “Having these discussions in Cairo, surrounded by passionate peers, made the issues feel even more urgent and relevant to our region.”

The theme was “Leading with Purpose: Empowering Generations to Create the World We Want,” bringing together youth and older generations to dissect topics of global importance. It consisted of four panels focused on climate change, the future of learning, foot security in MENA and Africa, and innovation for the future. 

“These themes couldn’t be more relevant,” said Hella. “The MENA and Africa are already facing the consequences of climate change, from water scarcity to disrupted agriculture, making the discussion extremely urgent. We need solutions designed by those who understand the region’s context and challenges, and that’s why youth must be involved.”

Sophomore Nathaly Thoma of the AUC Folklore Troupe also represented the University at the regional assembly. “I think the overall theme and panel topics are quite significant for our region,” she said. “I especially appreciated how the discussions emphasized the importance of empathy and inclusivity, even in areas like innovation, which are often seen as purely technical.”

"We need solutions designed by those who understand the region’s context and challenges, and that’s why youth must be involved.”

The conference sought to create a space where young voices can be heard and youth can engage with experienced leaders. “Being in a space where my ideas were taken seriously was incredibly empowering; it made me feel seen, heard and motivated to advocate for change in my own community,” Hella said. “I hope that this assembly inspires more youth to step out of their comfort zones in order to learn new things about themselves as well as the world they live in. 

“Investing in youth is the best way of investment for our future,” Thoma added.

Ultimately, this network sought to serve as a catalyst for action, enabling participants to create lasting change through mentorship opportunities for growth and sociocultural exchange. “My main takeaway is the fact that peace can be achieved through cross-cultural programs … [The Regional AFS Youth Assembly] revealed a fresh and powerful perspective on how peace can be fostered at the grassroots level,” said Thoma.

Hella has big hopes for the assembly’s future, from continued youth involvement to real community-based change: “I would love to see the ideas we shared turned into action. I believe in the AFS mission because it goes beyond empowering individuals; it builds a global community that lasts for generations.”

Photo caption: Jannah Hella and Nathaly Thoma attend the Regional AFS Youth Assembly alongside 12 other AUCians.