The Gabr Fellowship East-West: The Art of Dialogue An Initiative of the Shafik Gabr Foundation 2015 Program The Shafik Gabr Foundation 2 The Shafik Gabr Foundation 3 Front Cover Image ‘The Smoker’ - Ludwig Deutsch Table of Contents Introduction by Shafik Gabr 3 The Initiative 4 The Foundations 5 Gabr Fellows Biographies: Egyptian Fellows 8-10 Gabr Fellows Biographies: American Fellows 11-14 Projects Because Baseball 16-17 Cleopatra to Coretta 18-19 Cooking Up Cultures 20-21 HADARA 22-23 VoteApp 24-25 The Bridge 26-27 Program Participants Egyptian Program 30-38 American Program 40-46 Program Schedule Egyptian Program 49-62 American Program 63-83 Gabr Fellows Photo Gallery 84-91 Impressions from the Gabr Fellows 92-97 Recognition 98 The Shafik Gabr FoundationThe Shafik 1 Gabr Foundation 2 The Shafik Gabr FoundationThe Shafik 1 Gabr Foundation 3 The Shafik Gabr FoundationThe Shafik 2 Gabr Foundation 2 The Shafik Gabr FoundationThe Shafik 3 Gabr Foundation 3 IntroductionIntroduction by Shafik by Shafik Gabr Gabr The ShafikThe goal Gabr of TheFoundations, Shafik Gabr both Foundations, in Egypt and in theboth US,the are dedicatedUS and Egypt,to creating is to create opportunities a platform for through citizens which to citizens can play a meaningful role in enhancing their enhance their own futures by providing them with the tools futures; and while this clearly involves maximizing to maximize their potential. the use of technology, it also necessitates availing ourselves of the first and most important of man’s Althoughinventions: technology communication. has revolutionized the way we all are able to interact with one another, placing a wealth of informationGrowing at accessour fingertips to electronic and connectingand social mediaus to hasone anotherspurred more rapidlythe notion than everthat before,today’s the young notion adults that thisare increases“global our knowledgecitizens”, familiar of each with other the could cultures not andbe furtherissues from theof theirtruth. compatriots Mass media around and social the world.media Butall tooin reality, often serve directas a filterunmediated that inevitably interaction shapes between our the perceptions, Arab world with theand most the sensational,West remains polarizing largely andconfined disruptive to elitesvoices of garneringbusiness the most and headlines. government The withmedium most truly citizens has become relying the message.on mass media to understand the world and its diverse populations. The notion that this offers any real context The “East-West:for deeper mutualThe Art understanding of Dialogue” hasinitiative proven sprung false infrom the conviction that non-governmental institutionsregion can after affect region. real In changefact, stereotypes and that areeach becoming citizen must play a role in building bridges towards sustainablemore pervasive,peace and while cross-cultural suspicion, miscommunication,understanding. The initiative’s flagship program, the Gabr Fellowship,tensions, focuses and conflictson providing continue opportunities to grow. for tomorrow’s leaders to create a meaningful impact on the lives of others within our increasingly globalized community. We are not only creating space for young Theprofessionals Gabr Fellowship to break and through other initiatives the digital of shackles the East andWest: engage The Art directly of Dialogue with one provide another a way face to bridgeto face, wethese are gaps also increating understanding a platform in an for immediate them to identifyand tangible issues, way. brainstorm We are not ideas only creatingand come a new up withplatform real-worldfor young solutions. professionals to meet each other and experience first-hand the best - and sometimes the more challenging - aspects of Eastern and Western culture. We are also providing a unique opportunity This year’sfor Egyptian Fellows and(20 youngAmerican professionals Fellows to from identify Egypt, issues, US andbrainstorm UK) have ideas, “lived assess together” needs for and 2 weeks potential, plus implement innovative, real-world solutions. in Egypt and 2 weeks in the United States and experienced first-hand the unique, and sometimes most challenging, aspects of both eastern and western cultures. They identify issues, brainstorm ideas, assess From empowering the entrepreneurial spirit in young women, to establishing networks of micro-clinics, needs and potential, and implement innovative, real-world solutions. These Fellows are accomplishing and creating digital communication portals and hubs, small cohorts of 4-5 Fellows are accomplishing what national governments and international corporations have repeatedly failed to do—they are closing what national governments and international corporations often attempt to do: they are closing the the divide between regions, creating workable, sustainable model programs, improving their societies divide between regions; creating workable, sustainable model programs; improving their societies; and and mitigating the erosion of public understanding. stemming the erosion of public understanding. The GabrThe Fellowship Gabr Fellowship has engaged has engaged some someof the ofmost the mostaccomplished accomplished and creative and creative minds minds of this of generation. this generation. As politiciansAs politicians on both on sidesboth sides of the of Atlantic the Atlantic struggle struggle to deal to deal with with conflict, new realities terror, atnew home realities and on at thehome global and onstage, the global these stage,Fellows these are able Fellows to explore are able options to explore unrestrained options by unrestrained political protocols by political or partisan protocols priorities. or partisanThey priorities.are melding They their are skills melding and experiencetheir skills andwith experiencenew visions with and newpioneering visions solutionsand pioneering that utilize solutionsthe thatmost utilize innovative the most technologies, innovative astechnologies, well as the asmost well basic as the element most basicof success: element human of success interaction. - humanThrough interaction. their Through participation their andparticipation their projects, and theirthese projects, Fellows theseare sowing Fellows the are seeds sowing of community the seeds and of communitycooperation and thatcooperation promise tothat change promise our toworldview, change ourour worldview,economies, and and ourour economic,future. social and political trajectory toward a positive future. ShafikShafik Gabr Gabr Founder, The Shafik Gabr Foundation Founder, The Shafik Gabr Foundation The Shafik Gabr FoundationThe Shafik 2 Gabr Foundation 2 The Shafik Gabr FoundationThe Shafik 3 Gabr Foundation 3 The Shafik Gabr Foundation 2 The Shafik Gabr Foundation 3 The Initiative The mission of the Shafik Gabr Foundation’s initiative, “East-West: The Art of Dialogue’” is to promote greater mutual understanding by building bridges between the people of the Arab world and the West, particularly with the U.S., by instigating dialogue and the exchange of ideas between these two cultures. Established in 2012, in response to the increasing tensions building between the East and West, the Foundation sponsors and fosters exchanges between emerging leaders from both cultures in the fields of arts, science, law, media and entrepreneurship – both business and social. The “East-West: The Art of Dialogue” initiative is a dynamic exchange program designed to connect and build constructive relationships between future leaders from the Arab world and the West. Its flagship program, which has come to be known as ‘The Gabr Fellowship’, works towards the vital goal of building on the aforementioned ties between nations through cross-cultural dialogue and the development and execution of collaborative projects, which are the result of the combined creative visions of the Fellowship’s carefully selected participants. Each year, the Fellowship consists of 20-24 Fellows, approximately 10 Americans and 10 Egyptians, with an equal distribution of men and women. The Fellowship featured its first participant from the UK in 2015 and will continue to expand to include additional nationalities in the future. Program participants spend two weeks in Egypt, followed by a further two weeks in the U.S., building enduring connections through hands-on activities, rigorous discussions, web-based interaction and most importantly, their own collaborative action projects. Over the past years, American and Egyptian Fellows have developed collaborative projects where they can leverage their experience and develop impactful initiatives. They share their experiences of the exchange with their peers, colleagues and societies. The exchanges do more than introduce the Fellows to new societies. They alter the very perceptions that have been fabricated by decades, even centuries, of misinformation. They provide the opportunity for frank discussions about the issues impacting both regions and create alliances between leaders of the next generation. The Gabr Fellows have acquired a greater understanding of both Egypt and the United States and the challenges faced by both communities. Having served as cultural and linguistic ambassadors to one another, they return home to play the role of diplomat, introducing Egyptians and Americans to a people, a culture and a future never before explored in this way. Together, through their cooperation and their projects, they are creating the legacy of ‘The Gabr Fellowship’: an international cohort dedicated to pursuing cooperative,