Recycling, reutilizing and repurposing are key to conserving resources.

“Go to waste” has never been on Salah El Haggar’s agenda. A mechanical engineering professor at AUC since 1987, El Haggar is a guru when it comes to waste management, renewable energy applications and recycling. 

“It’s all about making use of what is normally perceived as garbage or trash. Every single piece of waste can be repurposed with economic profits to nations and individuals alike,” he said, adding that practicing this intense form of recycling will contribute to a stronger economy and open avenues for innovation.

To read the full article, click here.

The Egyptian pound weakened against the dollar again last Wednesday in a second dip since the Central Bank of Egypt announced the flotation of Egypt’s currency on October 27, 2022. The pound has devalued by more than 70% since March 2022, a problem that has been intensified by Egypt recording its highest inflation rates in five years. 

The Central Bank is moving toward a free-floating pound in order to receive financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but what does this mean for average Egyptians? 

How Many Exchange Rates Exist Right Now?

First, it is important to note that not every industry in Egypt uses the official pound-to-dollar exchange rate. The Egyptian government sets an official rate but other industries may use a parallel rate, also known as a black market rate. As of mid-January, the official government rate is about 29 pounds to the dollar, but certain areas in the private sector, such as auto dealers, use a rate of around 35 pounds to the dollar, says Hany Genena, adjunct faculty member in the Department of Management.

This most recent dip in value should not impact those private sectors that already maintain a weaker exchange rate. “The private sector already prices its products and services using an exchange rate of 30 to 35 EGP to one USD, depending on industry. So, on the margin, the recent moves shouldn't add much to an already high inflation rate,” explains Genena.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s dollar shortage is causing some prices to continue to rise. “Producers of food and beverage are facing a decline in their inventories of raw materials and finished products due to dollar shortage. So, the limited supply is triggering an upward increase in the selling price,” Genena says. 

In the public sector, government subsidized commodities, like fuel and food items, will change prices as well. “The price of goods and services from the government will change, since they follow the official exchange rate. Hence, inflationary pressures will likely continue to grow and hopefully peak by the second financial quarter of this year, which is April 1 to June 30,” Genena states. 

What Does the Future Hold?

How much lower can the pound’s value go? Hopefully, it should be stabilizing soon, Genena says. The government is slowly staging down the value of the pound to match the real market value, otherwise known as free-floating. If the government sticks to schedule, the pound should reach its final, lowest value by the second financial quarter of 2023, Genena forecasts.

“I believe the EGP may overshoot temporarily to 32 or 33 pounds per dollar before appreciating during the second half of 2023 to around 28 pounds per dollar,” he predicts. 

This should open up more channels for imported goods, an area which Egypt has been struggling with since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. 

“The first benefit of floating the pound is that Egypt will receive official funding from multilateral partners like the IMF, who required the decision for their collaboration agreement,” states Genena. “The second benefit is that once the government scales down the value of the pound to its real market value, it will simplify the foreign exchange into a single rated currency. This will encourage private imports that should alleviate the import shortage.” 

While the government and international organizations are initiating this long-term plan, Genena states that the average Egyptian still has to cope with the short-term fallout. “While inflation may not increase substantially with this last devaluation, it remains high — putting financial strain on families across the country, particularly those in the middle or lower classes who do not own USD, properties or stock,” he says. 

What Can Egyptians Do?

Some banks are encouraging Egyptians to save money by offering certificates of deposit. A certificate of deposit allows an individual to deposit money in the bank, under the assumption that they will not withdraw that money for an entire year. In return, the bank will apply an increased interest rate on that money, compared to the interest rate on a normal deposit that could be withdrawn at any time, making it a better long-term investment. This should improve inflation rates in the long term, as it did when certificates of deposits were used during the currency devaluation of 2017.

Genena advises that low-income families should take advantage of support programs from the government, while middle-income families should invest whatever they can from their savings into inflation-proof assets, such as gold coins, stocks, or the certificates of deposit. 

Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Egypt, according to Genena. “It is important to remember that a key strength Egypt possesses at this stage is that banks are well-capitalized and capable of absorbing shocks. Egypt should be able to sustain growth - no matter how anemic - despite the magnitude of the financial shock,” he concludes.

This fall, students from AUC and City University of New York collaborated virtually to study income and wealth disparity in Egypt and the United States. Using art, these students aimed to increase awareness about inequality under the collaborative Global Scholars Achieving Career Success (GSACS) program.

GSACS connects students from universities in the MENA region and CUNY through Collaborative Online International Learning. The program is centered around developing career readiness skills while researching United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In a core course at AUC called Art, Science and Global Aspects of Contemporary Sculpture, taught by Mahmoud Farag, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, students examined the global aspects of sculpture and ways in which art is influenced by political and social restraints. Farag’s course was paired with a Humanism, Science and Technology course taught by Rochell Isaac, professor of English at LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York.

“Before taking this course, I hadn’t taken the time to focus on the meanings within sculptures. Now I can see that anything as simple as a box, for example, can represent something,” reflected Farah Salem, integrated marketing communication sophomore. “It was great to learn the process of putting my own ideas and sketches into sculptures.”

Together, students explored UN Sustainable Development Goal #10, which aims to reduce inequality within and between countries. Drawing from their research and life experiences in the United States and Egypt, the students identified factors that lead to wealth and income inequality and suggested possible avenues for mitigation. Finally, they created sculptures that draw attention to this issue.

Salem and her group sculpted a set of two staircases made from shoe boxes and paint to represent gender inequality specifically. The first is a straight flight of steps, representing a man’s journey in his career — being smooth and straightforward. The second set vaguely resembles a staircase and could be called instead an obstacle course — full of uneven steps and twists and turns, this set represents a woman’s experience in the workplace.

“Women are responsible for many things — working, raising children and caring for their homes — meanwhile, society is constantly judging them,” explained Omnia Antar, graphic design sophomore and a member of Salem’s group. “We wanted to convey this through the cracked staircase.”

GSACS has enriched several courses at AUC through virtual exchange and experiential learning. One of the most exciting parts for University students is the connections they form with others, despite being oceans apart.

“When I learned we were doing a virtual exchange, I was excited,” Salem said. “It was great getting to know how students from other countries and universities approach their projects and coursework. I really enjoyed this experience.”

Global Scholars Achieving Career Success (GSACS) is supported by The Stevens Initiative , which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and is administered by the Aspen Institute. The Stevens Initiative is also supported by the Bezos Family Foundation and the governments of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

Learn more about the program here.

As the U.S. midterm elections passed this November it remains clear that the U.S. public is deeply divided by partisan lines. Democrats and Republicans remain on tense terms after President Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election and the subsequent January 6 insurrection.

But what effect will this have on the Middle East? Ambassador Karim Haggag, professor of practice and director of Middle East studies in AUC’s Department of Public Policy and Administration, considers the past, present and future of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. 

How would you compare Biden's Middle East foreign policy to that of the Trump or Obama administrations?

One big element of continuity over the last three administrations is that the Middle East has occupied much less of a central role in American foreign policy. Before these administrations, there used to be a time when the region dominated American foreign policy and the presidential agenda. However, if you read the latest National Security Strategy published by the Biden administration last month, you will see that it occupies much less of a central position. 

What presence does the Middle East still retain in the security strategy?

Things like counterterrorism, countering weapons of mass destruction and recalibrating U.S. military presence are still visible, but there are no big initiatives, such as former President Obama’s negotiations with Iran. In general, Biden fits in with this approach; he has placed greater emphasis on diplomacy as opposed to the use of force. 

Why is the Middle East no longer a priority for the United States?

There are many reasons. One is a real sense of fatigue with the Middle East when it comes to the U.S. foreign policy establishment. There’s a sense that the U.S. has become too involved in the Middle East and has very little to show for that involvement, besides becoming entangled in very expensive wars. 

The other factor is that the Obama administration conducted a reassessment of America’s global strategic interests and reached the conclusion that the emergence of China was now the biggest strategic challenge to the U.S., rather than the Middle East.

The third reason is energy. The U.S. has become the world’s biggest energy producer. Most of America’s involvement in the Middle East was centered around energy, but now that the U.S. is essentially self-sufficient, there is no longer such a strong dedication to defending their interests in the region. 

So is Biden’s Middle East policy exactly the same as his predecessors?

Not entirely. The situation in Ukraine has put the Middle East back in a position of importance again, primarily because of energy supplies. While the U.S. is not dependent on foreign energy, it is disrupting the global economy, especially within Europe. So now the administration is back in the region, trying to repair some alliances that had been damaged, such as Saudi Arabia, as we saw during Biden’s visit this summer. 

What happened between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia?

The structural issue is that there’s a perception in Washington that the U.S. has become too reliant on Saudi Arabia and that Saudi Arabia has become too unpredictable, particularly with its intervention in Yemen. Since the U.S. is no longer reliant on Middle East energy, some believe that it should not be investing so much in the defense of the Gulf region when it isn’t getting much in return. However, the U.S. has realized that the global economy is still reliant on Saudi oil supplies.

How has Biden’s administration impacted US-Egypt relations?

The U.S.-Egyptian relationship has been remarkable in terms of its continuity over the years. The primary focus has been on defense cooperation, military-to-military cooperation, and a very substantive U.S. assistance program to Egypt. Biden’s administration has not significantly changed this. 

Has this relationship changed depending on if there’s a Republican or Democrat in office?

There is one area of friction that Democratic administrations tend to have and it is over the issues of democratization and human rights. This occasionally causes complications with Egypt’s assistance package, since funds are conditional on the progress of human rights and democratization. 

But for the most part, the U,S, and Egypt have compartmentalized that issue and remained focused on their strategic relationship, since Egypt remains a pivotal country in terms of regional security. 

Do you think the U.S. midterm elections will have any impact on this relationship?

Not much, in fact, probably very minimal. Really, there are no big initiatives when it comes to American foreign policy in the Middle East that Congress can interfere with. 

American citizens are widely divided over Democratic and Republican domestic policy. Why do you think foreign policy has remained so consistent between different party administrations?

In general, since the end of the Cold War, foreign policy has figured less and less in American domestic politics and especially in elections. There are some slight differences in how Democrats and Republicans approach foreign engagement, but these issues don’t really figure into American elections. 

Speaking of elections, former President Trump has announced he will be running in the 2024 election. What does this mean for Middle Eastern countries?

It’s become a sort of conventional wisdom that leaders in the region had a much closer personal rapport with Trump than they had with Obama, and to a certain extent, with Biden. So a return of the Trump administration may make certain countries in the region more comfortable. But in the end, I think the region will find that not much will change overall in the course of American foreign policy.

As climate change continues to degrade the environment, disrupt people’s livelihoods and threaten social stability, it has become increasingly important to analyze its impacts and solutions through an intersectional lens. Examining gender, generation, class and more, AUC master’s student Nayrose Abd El-Megid advocates for a nuanced approach to climate justice, which she discussed in her keynote speech in a video campaign hosted by the  Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation (FES) which was circulated at COP27.

During her speech and panel discussions on gender equality at the conference, Abd El-Megid utilized her academic background from AUC. As a current master’s degree student in the University’s Cynthia Nelson Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies, she is working on a thesis incorporating intersectional identities. Her research interests focus on gender, development work, the refugee crisis, climate justice and communication. Her studies explore how a person’s background may alter the way climate change affects them. 

“The consequences of the climate crisis are related to power dynamics that affect more marginalized and vulnerable individuals, including women. So, women face heightened vulnerability, as they are more likely to have smaller incomes and depend more on natural resources,” Abd El-Megid explained. “The power dynamics of gender affect decision making within a family, opportunities, needs and access to the land and public spaces. Thus, gender inequality affects a woman’s ability to adapt to climate-induced emergencies.”

Abd El-Megid was selected by FES to represent Egypt for their video campaign series, during which she gave a speech on climate justice. Additionally, she attended COP27 and provided insight during panel discussions about how gender, other factors of an individual’s identity may impact their experience of the climate crisis, such as physical location, age, socioeconomic status and nationality. For instance, economically disadvantaged women who contribute to the agricultural workforce face a unique challenge in balancing their roles as breadwinners and household managers.

“Additional pressures on girls force them to leave education in order to help their families in facing these burdens. In some communities, factors such as early and forced marriage, street harassment and disease and malnutrition decrease attendance rate in schools,” Abd El-Megid states. “These sociocultural norms and lack of access and time for education and training resources leave women less able to face crises.”

Abd El-Megid emphasizes that the climate crisis does not only affect women, but that women’s disadvantaged position in society means their struggles must be addressed when creating solutions. This intersectional and holistic approach would account for these aspects of identity like class and gender. 

“We can't achieve climate justice without gender equality. Governments need gender transformative adaptation tactics and national plans to mitigate these challenges and risks, including violence against women,” Abd El-Megid said. “Institutions need to be held accountable and governments need to introduce legislation that encourages adaptive, appropriate and sustainable behavior, as well as a mindset change.”

In addition to the legislative level, personal activism is also needed for this social transformation. “Women's full and equal participation in climate issues empowers society as a whole. Youth-led climate action and showing transparency, accountability and agency must be an individual commitment. ” Abd El-Megid stated. 

Abd El-Megid developed her passion for climate justice and gender equality at AUC. “My undergraduate research concentrated on gender analysis for television ads and my master’s degree is specialized in gender and women’s studies in the Middle East and North Africa,” Abd El-Megid explained. “My studies allowed me to dive deep into contemporary gender transnational perspectives, and how they are encoded in social, cultural and political quotidian practices. I am dedicated to combining the knowledge gained from the program and my professional experience to contribute to the AUC community and Egypt’s 2030 vision as an alumna.”

In the future, Abd El-Megid plans to work as a gender communication expert in the development and humanitarian field. She intends to begin research projects that will help lead her community towards positive change, in addition to continuing to attend international events, campaigns and webinars.

As an interdisciplinary program co-administered by AUC’s Department of Psychology and Department of Biology, the new behavioral neuroscience minor will allow students to study the relationship between the structure and function of the nervous system with an emphasis on the biological and psychological elements that affect emotions, behavior, learning and memory. 

“There has been increasing interest and requests from AUC students for a Neuroscience program,” explains Patricia Correia, assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience in the Department of Psychology. “Internationally, behavioral neuroscience is a growing field, widely represented in top universities and research centers across the world. We believe this minor is an excellent first step towards opening a new, exciting field in Egypt at AUC.”

For students, this minor will provide a new perspective on biology and psychology and create a foundation for admission to graduate or professional programs, primarily for careers involving research, teaching, medicine, consulting and the pharmaceutical industry.

“Through this minor, I am hoping to broaden my knowledge and understanding of how the nervous system functions, and how the brain is involved in everything we think or do,” says Mariam Elnahhas, a biology major. “Hopefully, completing this minor will be a great first step for me to continue to study neuroscience after graduation and possibly make a career out of it someday.”

In terms of research, Jacquelyn Berry, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, uses behavioral neuroscience to study learning and expertise in humans. “I am super excited about the new minor. It works well with my research and teaching about how people learn and I can focus more on how different brain areas are involved,” Berry states.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded The American University in Cairo (AUC) $86 million for USAID Egyptian Pioneers, a new program that provides scholarships and training to Egyptian students with emphasis on sectors that can advance Egypt’s climate goals. Through a nine-year cooperative agreement, AUC will administer the program in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of International Cooperation, and private and public sector institutions. Prioritizing women’s empowerment, diversity, inclusion and climate resilience, the USAID Egyptian Pioneers will build and develop the capacity of a cross-disciplinary network of public, private and academic entities. The program includes:

• Scholarships for at least 700 young Egyptians (50% women) from underserved communities to obtain undergraduate degrees in Egypt
• Scholarships for at least 60 midcareer government professionals to obtain master’s degrees in the United States or Egypt
• Scholarships for at least 50 midcareer government professionals to pursue postdoctoral studies in the United States
• U.S. and Egypt-based technical training for at least 280 midcareer Egyptian government professionals and at least 220 mid-career professionals from non-public entities

Accordingly, more than 500 Egyptian women will engage in leadership and professional training, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, and study-abroad programs in the United States.

AUC President Ahmad Dallal said, “Leading the USAID Egyptian Pioneers program is a great honor for AUC. We commit to extending our longstanding leadership and excellence in education, capacity development and training to ensure the sustainable integration of the public, private and academic sectors. Egyptian Pioneers will surely leave an enduring impact on Egyptian society, advancing Egypt’s economic development and progress toward its Vision 2030. We thank the U.S. government and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research as we endeavor together on this partnership journey,” 

USAID Deputy Mission Director Margaret Sancho stated, “Climate change is an enormous challenge for all people, all over the world. But we also know that women and girls bear a disproportionate burden of its impact. Despite this, women and girls are leading climate change solutions in their communities. That is why USAID’s Egyptian Pioneers program will include leadership and professional training, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, and study-abroad programs in the United States for more than 500 Egyptian women."

A former expatriate environmentalist accused of cyber terrorism, a Greek dance teacher and a dead body on an art thief’s property in central Texas set the scene of Confessions of a Knight Errant, a recently published novel by Gretchen McCullough, senior instructor in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition. The comedy explores cultural differences through its witty characters and engaging dramas.

So, what is Confessions of a Knight Errant about?

The story is set in 2011 and follows two men on the run. They arrive on the Friday of Rage during the Egyptian uprising, Dr. Gary Watson, an environmental activist and professor who is accused of being a cyber terrorist, and Kharalombos, a Greek dancing teacher wanted by the secret police. They are tempted by a job offer from a German tourist they met in Cairo. They end up in a girls’ camp in central Texas but find themselves entangled in another drama involving a dead body and stolen Middle Eastern antiquities.

How did you decide to write a comedy about an Egyptian and a former expatriate running around Texas?

These two characters actually met in another novella I wrote, where the American guy was an expat living in Egypt. This was the last novella in my story collection, Shahrazad’s Tooth, published in 2013. At the end of the novella they are invited to a German woman’s girls camp in Texas, so this novel was an exploration of what would have happened had they accepted the invitation.

Why Texas?

My parents have a second home in central Texas in an area called the Hill Country where they have a lot of posh sleepaway camps for kids, the type where they stay for five weeks and do activities. One day while my mom was at the house painting there were suddenly helicopters flying overhead and police cars rolling up.

What happened?

There had been a murder at an adjoining property right behind my parent’s house. Apparently the guy who bought the property had paid for it in cash and had a collection of very expensive antique cars. He was mysterious and had hired some shady characters to maintain the cars who all did drugs. So, all of that played into the plot with the character in the book who is an art dealer.

How did you work that into the plot?

In the book, there’s a character who is an antiquities dealer. He’s basically an art thief. The long and the short of it is that there’s a murder on his property and Gary and Kharalombos get roped into the drama and end up on the run again.

Your novel features a lot of interesting personalities. What inspires your characters?

I’m inspired by the people I meet. The antiques dealer is an obvious one, but characters like Gary and Kharalombos are also inspired by my experiences as an expatriate living in Cairo. And there’s an Irish cook who is inspired by a woman I met in Monaghan County near the border of Northern Ireland.

In a story with such diverse characters, what message do you want your readers to walk away with?

I’m frustrated with this idea that comes from globalization — the idea that every place is the same. Since technology can transport us so quickly to different places and we can communicate more easily, people often have the misconception that all places are the same. But in reality, every place is local and cultural differences will still play out.

How do these cultural differences play out in your novel?

The novel is playful. It’s a comedy exploring the gaps between globalization and local cultures, the tensions there. In my previous writing I explored how foreigners react to living in Cairo and now I want to explore what it's like for expatriates to return to their home country. People have a really hard time adjusting and reintegrating when they come back. Gary, even though he’s an American, rebels against the very scheduled and uniform system of the girls’ camp, as does Kharalombos.

How has your time at AUC influenced this novel?

Living in Egypt and studying Arabic has been very important. I had many marvelous teachers in the Arabic Language Institute who encouraged me to learn Arabic.

My first collection of stories, Three Stories from Cairo (2011), was inspired by many of the stories I heard in Garden City. My husband, Mohamed Metwalli, a poet and translator, translated three of the stories into Arabic. The collection is bilingual. Three stories in English, then you flip the book, the same three stories in Arabic. 

How has AUC supported your writing process?

AUC has supported my writing. Two story collections, Three Stories in Cairo (2011) and Shahrazad’s Tooth (2013) were the fruit of a leave in 2006. The books were published locally by Afaq Publishers. I finished Confessions of a Knight Errant during a leave in 2016. I will be on leave in spring of 2023 to work on a book project set in West Texas in the 1930’s during the Depression, inspired by my grandfather’s life. I also have discovered that many Syrians immigrate to Texas through Mexico and I want to weave that into the new novel.

Besides the leaves, the university has granted me support to attend numerous writing conferences. This was an opportunity to meet writers and get feedback on my work.

What are some of the challenges that come with writing a novel?

Writing a novel and becoming an author is a very long process. I worked on this book for five years and received a lot of feedback and then I had to find a publisher. You really have to be internally motivated to write a novel because there’s no guarantee that any publisher will take it.

As a published author and a professor, what advice would you give to people who want to start writing?

Start small. Find local opportunities. Students will come to me and say, “I want to write a book,” and I say “How about an article? Or a short story?” I wrote a full length novel at the University of Alabama and didn’t publish it, which was disappointing. This is very common. Many novelists have “a novel in the drawer.”

A friend at the time gave me some really good advice; he told me to set aside the novel and work on smaller projects. Writing shorter essays and publishing them gave me a lot of confidence. I regularly publish essays, reviews and translations in venues like: World Literature Today, The Literary Review, Brooklyn Rail in Translation, the LA Review of Books.

Things don’t happen overnight. It’s risky.  It’s a little like being a marathon runner. You just have to keep persisting.

Fake, verified Twitter accounts caused chaos after Elon Musk, who purchased the platform in October for $44 billion, allowed users to purchase verification marks without confirming their identities. Rasha Abdulla, professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, examines the impact of this decision on freedom of speech, misinformation and the future of one of the world’s biggest social media platforms.

What has happened since Musk bought Twitter?

The first couple of weeks since Elon Musk took over Twitter have certainly witnessed quite a few alarming decisions. The firing of so many Twitter staff, particularly those concerned with human rights and the ethical use of AI, is quite the red flag and has gotten digital rights advocates very concerned about the future of Twitter.

What is the future of free speech on Twitter?

While I'm personally for pushing the limits of freedom of expression, having no regulations whatsoever on a platform of Twitter's scope and magnitude makes it prone to misuse and privy to hate speech and misinformation. Musk has announced that he is forming some kind of a council to come up with proper regulations, and we are yet to see how this council comes along and what they come up with. 

What could happen if this problem goes unchecked?

We have seen from the misuse of Facebook in Myanmar, for example, that major social media platforms can be severely misused and such misuse can lead to loss of life. Platforms have a responsibility to not let that happen and we, the civic society, should also stay vigilant in this regard.

How does Musk’s decision to charge for verification impact this situation?

I think Musk's decision to monetize the blue mark on Twitter is a huge mistake. Originally, having a blue mark basically meant that Twitter has confirmed the owner of the account is who they claim they are. It was reserved for celebrities and/or people of a certain academic, social or scientific status. Unfortunately, now anyone who pays $8 a month will be able to get a blue mark under any name, which defies the whole point of verification. 

What are some potential problems with the new verification system?

This will inevitably lead to a plethora of fake "verified" accounts. This is a huge disaster and could lead to much misinformation that could be life-threatening. Think of a World Health Organization fake verified account telling people vaccinations are dangerous during a pandemic! Think of a fake verified United Nations agency account tweeting about the Russian invasion of Ukraine! Such examples could lead to actual disasters long before Twitter gets a chance to deal with the fake accounts. 

Should Musk rescind the new system? 

We've already seen several problems in the few days that this "service" has been available, most notably a fake Eli Lilly account promising free insulin. I think Twitter really needs to take this back.It defies the whole point of verification and can cause much potential harm of the worst kind. It also takes away from the credibility of the whole platform.

It appears that Musk has temporarily halted the system. Is this a good thing?

I think it's coming back in a couple of weeks. So my comments stand unless any major developments take place.

What is the future of Twitter?

As a result of all these actions, I see scores of Twitter users, including myself, already migrating to other platforms such as Mastodon, which is a decentralized version of Twitter. We'll see how things play out in the days to come.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” is an oft-repeated adage that shines through the work of Haidy Helmy ‘20. The young artist is harnessing the power of illustration to raise awareness and foster a dialogue about mental health issues in an intuitive and engaging format, avoiding the uneasiness that is often associated with such subjects. Her comic book, Khamsa w Rage’  (خمسة و راجع),  is infused with Helmy’s striking visual style as well as critical reflections on mental health.

“I wanted to help create something that will make it easier for people to give [mental health] their attention, without the discomfort of discussing mental health.” She saw illustration and animation as a powerful medium to capture interest, drawing people to engage – even unknowingly – with sensitive mental health conversations that, while needed, are often hushed. 

The narrative follows a protagonist with depression, who navigates through a mythical land with an invented language, culture, and creatures. Readers follow along on the journey in search of purpose, love, and acceptance, including confrontations with pervasive misconceptions about depression and lessons about detecting the signs of depression. 

Helmy discovered her interest in mental health and depression during her second semester at AUC, in Introduction to Psychology. “It really opened my eyes — being introduced to this other world I never truly knew anything about,” she reflected. 

A graphic design major, Helmy had the chance to enroll in this course outside of her area of specialization because of AUC’s core curriculum requirements. Her academic exposure to mental health was complemented by the array of well-being-oriented services on campus, now formalized under the university’s Mental Health Well-being Initiative. Helmy described, “During my time at AUC, seeing all the initiatives to help students all over the campus…it really shaped my perspective on this topic.” Helmy credits these experiences both in and outside of the classroom with inspiring her to envision the innovative comic book as her senior project.

Beyond graduation, Helmy seeks to battle the stigma surrounding mental health, which can be paralyzing for any young adult — perhaps even more so in the Middle East. “Here in the Middle East, it’s harder,” she said, “as young adults feel scared and uncomfortable talking about mental health or even thinking of seeking help, and even if they did, it is not easy to talk to their parents about such a topic.” Khamsa w Rage’ therefore targets both young people who may need help and the community, who needs to recognize the signs and respond with empathy, support and knowledge. According to Helmy, “the comic book tackles both ends, the depressed [person] and [their] surrounding environment, enabling readers to help others and themselves.”

In a full-circle moment, Helmy was able to share her work with the University that inspired and equipped her to create it. During AUC’s Mental Health Week in October, Helmy’s characters and illustrations were posted across campus and online, attracting interest to her art and the powerful message behind it. Her project was spotlighted by AUC's Department of the Arts in collaboration with the Office of Student Life with the goal of bridging the gap between the arts and AUC initiatives.

"What is astonishing about Haidy's work is her ability to visualize every mental illness as a dynamic character with certain characteristics," said Amena El Defrawy, senior specialist for Educational Outreach at AUC's Department of the Arts. "This helps people visualize the characters and create stronger connections with mental health."

Helmy’s hope for Khamsa w Rage’ is simultaneously simple and ambitious: helping people to see themselves more clearly and to look more closely at those around them. “That’s what I wish this project can achieve,” she expressed, “to reach others and to help them and the community to talk about depression and other mental health topics. To notice the signs and seek help or help others.”