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Egypt Stories
Two Students per Governorate Get Annual College Leadership Scholarship
Iman Degwo, 18, is one of 54 Egyptian students -- two from each of the 27 governorates -- given full scholarships by the United States to attend the American University of Cairo. Ben Barber/USAID photo; June 2006
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CAIRO -- The special scholarship students working hard at their courses in the American University of Cairo (AUC) have been selected from across Egypt for a special program aiming to nourish the Egypt's future leaders.
"They really want to build leaders - you have a sense of motivation," said Iman Degwo, 18, from Monoufia, about two hours north of Cairo.
Degwo is one of the 54 scholars chosen each year -two students come from each of the 27 Egyptian governorates - to have a full scholarship in an intensive program aimed at creating new leaders.
The Leadership for Education and Development (LEAD) program, which was launched two years ago, found its students after placing ads in local newspapers across Egypt. Then LEAD officials picked two from each governorate to create an elite cadre of 54 students, all pledging to improve the lives of the people in their home regions.
There are 1,000 to 1,500 applications each year for the 54 slots available under the LEAD program, which is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Ministry of International Cooperation.
Students walk by the library of the American University of Cairo which receives support from U.S. assistance programs. Photo by Ben Barber/USAID
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The scholarships go to students who have gone to a government or public school - not to a private school.
The applicants must be interviewed, write an essay, pass an English test and do community service. In addition, they will be mentored during their university career to prepare them for leadership roles, according to Iman El Kaffass, executive director of LEAD and assistant dean at AUC.
The program has four components: academics; leadership; community involvement; ethics and values.
Degwo said: "Before I came here I looked at matters from my point of view - I didn't consider others."
She also changed her work habits and instead of doing things "at the last minute" she learned to set priorities and achieve goals.
She's even learned stress management.
Several of the students said they hoped to launch private enterprises in engineering and other areas when they return to their home districts.
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