AUC and Civic Engagement
Ali
November 28, 2012
LEAD-IN:
The idea of volunteering has become a trend for
students in today's world. The American University in Cairo proves to have a
diverse set of these activities as we explore the role of civic engagement in
Egypt. A-U-C’s Samah Ali has the story.
MUSIC: “Perlender Champagner” by Ronny Matthes
The
American Psychological Association defines civic engagement as “individual and
collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.”
Richard Adler from the Journal of Transformative Information
defines it as “the ways in which citizens participate in the life of a community
in order to improve conditions for others or to help shape the community’s
future.”
The Coalition
for Civic Engagement and Leadership at the University of Maryland defines it as
“acting upon a heightened sense of responsibility to one’s communities.”
The
University of Vermont however states that “there is no set definition of ‘civic
engagement’ or ‘community service.’” And that “students define these terms
based on their own unique experiences.”
But,
let’s stop here. We will focus on Egypt, home to the American University in
Cairo A-U-C.
Dr. Barabara
Ibrahim, director of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic
Engagement, tries to answer what civic engagement really is, when it comes to
this particular country.
IBRAHIM:
“That’s a good question. You know, before the revolution when everybody sort of
said there’s no civic participation in Egypt, we would get jokes saying well we
think in Egypt, religious engagement are just fine for young couples. They
would make fun of what we did but in fact, building citizens and encouraging
collective action to solve society’s problems is what civic engagement is all
about.” (:28)
IBRAHIM:
“In terms of the history in our own university that it was really the
presidency of John D. Gerhart from 1998 until 2002.When you began to see a
difference both in the student generation, taking more initiative, not sitting
back and waiting for the government to solve their problems, forming new clubs,
going out to serve in their communities, and John Gerhart recognized that. He
saw it, he enjoyed spending time with our students, he learned a lot from them
and helped me to recognize that maybe this was a new era and of course we now see
in fact that’s been the case.” (:38)
From what has been explained, civic engagement includes or demands
the act of doing, giving or contributing. It is volunteering, out of your good
will. It takes your time, your effort, your energy and sometimes your money.
You receive nothing in return, at least not tangible. And yet, thousands of
students do this every day. Hundreds of A-U-Cians set out to create their own
solutions to fix their community.
NATSOUND of AUC New Cairo campus
IBRAHIM:
“A-U-C students are very diverse. And so, their rationale, their motivations to
serve or to be involved are just as diverse as they are. For some students, the
motivation is faith and religion. And a belief that to be a good Muslim or to
be a good Christian, it’s not enough to pray or to have personal piety. But we
must look outside of ourselves and we must try to build the good society.
That’s a strong motivation at this particular historic moment in Egypt. You
will also find out a lot of our students are motivated by patriotism, by a love
of Egypt, a desire to make it a better place … Alshanek Ya Balady (A-Y-B) as
you know, is one of the clubs that’s formed here, it’s quite large and popular.
It’s For You My Country. So that tells you …” (:53)
MUSIC: “Perlender Champagner” by Ronny Matthes
The A-Y-B Club started with the vision of a young girl at the age of
12. Raghda El Ebrashi had encountered a poor and miserable family during a
school trip, which made her reflect on the failing economic situation in Egypt.
It not only gave her the idea of creating this club but also changed the way
she viewed the world.
After attending the A-U-C, she started the A-Y-B club in 2002 as a
campaign only leading it to become a club in 2005. The club now has its own
office situated in Maadi and is recognized as an independent N-G-O. It strives
to develop people’s skills as well as provide volunteer and work opportunities
to students and citizens.
To
many, A-Y-B is a home away from home. Petroleum engineering student of the
A-U-C, Walid Hussien, received the opportunity to volunteer and experience a
different life with this prominent organization.
HUSSIEN: “My
experience at A-Y-B was very very enriching, and it opened my horizons,
especially after that I got to teach English for a group of unprivileged people
in a community of Ein El-Seera, which is a very poor and undeveloped community.
I got exposed to that community, which I used to think that going to downtown,
and such places is the worst Egypt could be, but when I went there I saw how
hard their lives were and yeah, how difficult it was for them to sustain that
life for themselves and their children and yet they made time for education. It
was very interesting.” (:36)
However, what is it that makes A-U-C different from other
universities? We have witnessed Cairo University’s community create the
organization Resala, only to become one of the largest N-G-Os in the entire
region.
IBRAHIM:
“Public universities, those that are funded and controlled by government, have
had a very narrow room to maneuver. Classroom teaching was done in a very
classic style, lectures, large halls, exams at the end of the semester. Some
universities were able to start a few student clubs but they were very restrictive.
A-U-C, because of its heritage as a Liberal Arts university in the American
tradition, has always encouraged extra-curricular activities, service, building
citizenship skills.” (:38)
Hussien
agreed that his short stay with A-Y-B did make him reflect on his life. He was
exposed to someone else’s life. He spoke with them, taught them and laughed
with them. It was unlike watching a features segment on the television. He,
like many others, was experiencing real life.
NATSOUND of playground with children and adults
HUSSIEN: “A
typical workday at A-Y-B would be like, me going to the place, the Ein
El-Seera, a little place for youth. It’s like a small cultural center and
sports center and then I go to the classroom, I wait a little bit for people,
they come in and greet me, they’re of different ages, I used to teach mothers
and their children in the same class and …. I ask them questions about their
days and they ask me questions about mine; where I come from, and things about
my culture, they used to ask me questions about that more than they asked me
questions about the teaching material, and at the end of the class, we talk for
a little bit. They promise to bring me food and they would cook me for the next
time, and everything and they’re very friendly and then I go home.” (:44)
Perhaps
Hussien alone cannot be the representing image of the entire student body at
A-U-C that volunteers. He is simply one student, one of us.
Dr. Eric Mlyn, a visiting professor at A-U-C,
is the director of the Duke Engage program at Duke University. This program is
all about service learning and he firmly believes that anything that builds
capacity in society is a part of civic engagement.
NATSOUND of AUC New Cairo campus
MLYN:
“You might affect one person over the course of the semester. Now, if a
thousand people are doing that or five thousand people are doing that or with a
hundred thousand people are doing that, then that could have a broader impact.
So, civic engagement can vary. It can be something as narrow as a one-on-one
interaction with the person or it could be working for an N-G-O where you’re
really helping them build capacity. So if you’re building a website or you’re
organizing their financial report or you’re doing research for them. That can
have a much broader impact. And I have no judgment on which one of those are
more valuable. I think all of those are civic engagement.” (:37)
MUSIC: “Let the sun shine” by Cyborgjeff
For students who are civically active, they not
only develop exposure but also talents and skills. They are able to solidify
their personalities, their views and even create opinions on policy matters.
Lauren Clark, a graduate student at the A-U-C
and also the project coordinator of the University on the Square project,
agrees and disagrees at the same time on whether civic engagement is effective.
CLARK:
“When I was in Spelman College, in Atlanta, Georgia, I was involved in a
protest where we were protesting the particular rap video, which was made by a
hip hop star. And it showcased African American women in very disgusting and
negative light as being sexually deviant, hyper sexualized, it was very
exploitative and with our work with that and what not, we were able to get a
certain segment of a T-V station taken off. We were able to get this very
exclusive segment called Uncut that was placed in a particular T-V station
taken off so yes.” (:36)
This in turn, creates a politically aware
citizen, which is a term used by most when describing civic engagement.
However, there have been arguments as to whether political engagement and civic
engagement are to be considered the same.
Dr. Mlyn explained that he always encounters
such questions from his students.
MLYN: “So one example I always use is efforts
to register people to vote, which is something we do in the United States. To
me, that’s volunteer work for the public good because you’re increasing
democracy. But it is also political because in the end it will affect who is
serving us.” (:19)
No matter what the arguments are on the topic
of civic engagement, students of the A-U-C will continue to volunteer no matter
what.
IBRAHIM:
“We want to enhance the culture of giving and civic action across the Arab
world. That’s our mission.” (:8)
MUSIC:
“Playin Games” by Cyborgjeff
HUSSIEN:
“To gain a lot of experience, to make connections, and it gives me a lot of
self-satisfaction to help others.” (:6)
NEGM:
“Well I personally volunteer because I think it’s very important for one to be
connected to other people in one’s society even though we are of different
living standard. It’s also very important for the development of the country
and for the development of the person themselves. And I think it’s beneficial for
them. And it makes me feel really good when I do help them.” (:17)
SALIH: “I do community service because it’s fun and
productive. I get to meet people and learn more while I’m doing that.” (:9)
BENMAHCENE:
“Well, why I volunteer. I volunteer because I actually have a personal belief
that volunteerism is a way of giving, the same way that you take from society
and the same way you’re taking from your nation, you have to give as well. So
this is actually duty, duty and pleasure at the same time. That’s why I
volunteer.” (:16)
This
documentary was produced by Samah Ali.
Special
thanks to Dr. Eric Mlyn, Dr. Barbara Ibrahim and Walid Hussien, as well as
Lauren Clark, Chada Benmahcene, Grazza Salih and Lina Negm.
Sources from:
Ma’an Arab University Alliance, the A-U-C, the A-Y-B, the Gerhart Center, American
Psychological Association, Journal of Transformative
Information, Coalition for Civic Engagement and Leadership at the
University of Maryland and the University of Vermont.
Music used: “Perlender
Champagner” by Ronny Matthes, “Let the Sun Shine” by Cyborgjeff and “Playin
Games” by Cyborgjeff
Thank
you for listening to Civic Engagement at AUC.
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