The Centre of Arab-West Understanding is organising with support of the ACE-club in Maadi, Cairo, a program during the summer holidays for the students of the CAWU Learning Centre. The ACE club is a club for expatriates living and working in Cairo.

The program, between July 12 and August 19, offers a mix of educational, physical, and musical activities. The goal is for them to enjoy, have fun and learn through it!

Mondays till Thursdays we provide the students with different activities as well as a warm meal for lunch.

Our students learning a new dance for the Afri-Choir at the Ace club facilities

On Mondays, we first meet at the CAWU centre and then leave for the ACE club in Maadi by bus. Learning Centre Board of Governor’s member Paul Mansley, who also is an ACE club member, arranged the permission to use their space and musical equipment. There, music and dance classes are given, leading to a new performance by our Afri-Choir later in August at the Ace Club.

Students working out and  practicing basketball with a volunteer coach, at the Gym of the Olympic Stadium in Maadi.
 

Every Tuesday, we use the facilities of the Olympic Stadium in Maadi. There, our students split three hours of exercising between the gym, the basketball court, and the football court. It is safe to say, that Tuesday is the most popular day of the program. The students enjoy the physical activities very much. In addition, thanks to CAWU member Mary Lai, five students can join the Dragon Boat water sport activity every Tuesday and every Wednesday afternoon. The Dragon Boat is a traditional team sport in China and is now also offered in Cairo at the Muhammed Ali Club. All students get the chance to join the training as we sign up different students every week.

On Wednesdays we stay in the CAWU centre. Our teachers Martin Orbidans and Kevin Anozie create a more relaxed and playful environment while teaching IT skills, history, and geography. The focus of all lessons throughout the summer school is on African History. Since all our refugee students are African it is of course important they know their own history.

Thanks to our volunteer Peter the students experienced liquid soap making

We also have Peter, a volunteer from South Sudan, coming in on three days who is offering lessons in soap making as well as Shinning, an American artist giving drawing lessons. The material for this was donated by Katie Woods, a private donor who lives in Maadi.

We aim to take our students on a trip every Thursday. This is highly depending on donations which are needed because of the cost of transportation. So far, we have been visiting the Cave Church in the Muqattam mountains as well as the Holy Virgin Church in Maadi which is a major landmark on the route of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. Both trips have been very successful, and the students enjoyed their time while learning more about their surroundings.

Our students had a guided tour to learn about the Holy Family Path in Egypt, and visited the Cave Church with Intern Kenzy 

A BIG thank you goes to our dedicated school staff as well as to our volunteers, interns, and donors.

Cairo, August 09, 2021

Alexandra Albrecht,

Intern at the CAWU-Learning Centre between May 15 and August 31, 2021.