AUC Signs MOU with Misr El Kheir To Empower Egyptian Youth

The John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business at The American University in Cairo (AUC) signed an MoU with Misr El Kheir Foundation to cooperate in community development and promote youth engagement in Egypt. The MoU was signed by Sherif Kamel, dean of the AUC School of Business and Mohamed Abdelrahman, deputy CEO of Misr El Kheir Foundation at AUC New Cairo campus.

The MoU includes co-development of curriculums and training materials related to civil society and civic leadership; exchanging the know-how, practical tools and best practices in youth participation and community development; coordinating joint events to promote youth engagement in the Egyptian communities and collaborating on research projects and case studies. Moreover, Misr El Kheir Foundation will host every year a cohort of participants from AUC Gerhart Center’s development certificate program to provide them with the technical and on-ground experience required to fulfil the program.

Sherif Kamel, dean of AUC School of Business noted that the cooperation between Gerhart center and Misr El Kheir Foundation will be a great opportunity to promote youth engagement in the Egyptian communities. “This engagement will happen by empowering young Egyptian people with the skills, knowledge and practical experience needed to meet the dynamic requirements of the modern sustainable development ecosystem. These skills will only develop through comprehensive capacity building courses and apprenticeships.”

AUC Provost Ehab Abdel Rahman sees this cooperation as another immense opportunity to strengthen Egypt's civil society and civic leadership. “This is a collaboration which enhances not only the capacity of our students, but also of third sector organizations across Egypt. AUC is proud to continue working with Misr El Kheir to help strengthen Egyptian civil society."

In his remarks in the signing event, Mohamed Abdelrahman, deputy CEO at Misr El Kheir Foundation said that this cooperation with AUC goes with the expansion of community development in Egypt during the past few years, and the political leadership’s declaration that 2022 is the year of community development.

Established in 2006, The John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business aims to further the AUC’s mission to advance social responsibility and active citizenship. It is a leading provider of knowledge and resources to strengthen philanthropic and civic practice in the Arab region. The center was named after the late John D. Gerhart, AUC’s ninth president, whose career provided a model of public service.