Aspiring graduates from German Schools in Egypt awarded with DAAD scholarship to study in Germany

The DAAD is glad to provide excellent students and scholars with opportunities to pursue their academic career in Germany. In the framework of the DAAD funding programme for students at German Schools abroad, financed by the German Federal Foreign Ministry, we recently had the pleasure to congratulate four young talents from different German Schools in Egypt on this special scholarship during a ceremony on 15 June 2022.

With this scholarship, the graduates will have the chance to complete their Bachelor’s degree at German universities. In Egypt, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) also participates every year with their own funding prerequisites for the scholarships: In 2022, SFSD will fund one of the four selected scholarship holders. The DAAD Regional Office is especially glad for this occasion since it is the first time the ceremony has taken place since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the ceremony, the students were given an opportunity to network, receive useful advice, but of course first and foremost to celebrate their extraordinary achievements which only a selected group of graduates from the German Schools all over the world accomplish. Starting off with the festivities, the Deputy Director of the DAAD Regional Office Cairo, Ms. Fatma Soliman, directed her greeting words at the audience, expressing the strong importance that this scholarship has for the DAAD since it is targeting opportunities for Undergraduates and supports the young scholars in their self-development.

Mays Abouhegab, the responsible Programme Director of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, added a personal note to the event by telling the audience about her own graduation from a German School in Egypt, her stay in Germany, the challenges as well as the experiences that came along with it. Besides being overwhelmed and at times confused, the new impressions and experiences to be made in Germany are valuable and Mrs. Abouhegab appreciates the positive impact that her stay has had on her until now.
The DAAD appreciates the support that the Sawiris Foundation and Ms. Abouhegab have provided over the years of collaboration, enhancing the chances of Egyptian nominees to make their dream of studying in Germany come true.

As representative of the German Embassy in Cairo, Felix Haala, Head of the Culture Department, underlined in his greeting words the special role that the students have in an intercultural context: Being “specialists” of both cultures, they can act as mediators between Germany and Egypt and contribute to international understanding in order to build up a strong relationship between both countries. Their very special knowledge and competencies are particularly important in view of the growing complexity of the world and will continue to be of much need in the future.

Referring to the aspect of responsibility already mentioned by Mr. Haala, Mrs. Annette Vogt, spokesperson for the Principals of the German Schools in Egypt, stressed the students’ duty to contribute to the development of their home country. By quoting an Arabic proverb, she expressed the need for the students to use the skills and knowledge they acquire in Germany for their own self-development which will then ultimately enable them to enhance the living conditions in Egypt.

Ms. Laila Kenawy already finished her studies in Germany. She also benefited from funding by the DAAD in the framework of the scholarship programme for German Schools abroad and acquired her Bachelor’s degree at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. Ms. Kenawy contributed with a report on her own experiences during her studies. By shedding light on her personal student life in Germany, she raised attention to important matters besides the actual studies, such as hobbies, socializing, travelling and other activities that add to the experience of studying in Germany and greatly accelerate the development of the young personalities.

With the support of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, the DAAD is proud to pave the way for these four talented young scholars to integrate into the global scientific community and to develop their potentials. We wish the scholarship holders of the year 2022 all the best for their academic careers and hope that their future endeavours will help them to fulfil their dreams and wishes. The DAAD will always remain a source of support for the new generation of scholarship holders and we hope to stay in touch with them over the course of their promising careers.