The Gabr Fellowship, sponsored by the Shafik Gabr Foundation and organized by the Arab American Institute, is an innovative international educational exchange designed to promote intercultural dialogue and collaboration between Egyptians and Americans. The Gabr Fellowship brings together a diverse group of 20 promising young professionals from across Egypt and the United States – 10 Egyptians and
10 Americans. Together, they travelled to Egypt in June 2013, and will travel to the United States in October 2013, to develop a better and in depth understanding of each other’s societies, customs, traditions, religions, politics, law, art, science and both social and business environments. The range of topics is broad and reflects complicated and interconnected issues: fine arts and literature, religion, history, commerce and trade, international affairs, development, poverty and income distribution, mass communications, media and technology, environmental protection, political and legal systems, science and public health. Designed as high-level introductions to complex topics, these sessions are intellectually rigorous and will form the basis for further inquiry. The Gabr Fellows are required to develop collaborative action projects to address one or more of the issues discussed relating to art, science, media, law or entrepreneurship. By implementing these projects, the Fellows will bring their experience during the program to impact their peers and societies with the objective of sustainable bridge building. Through collective learning, the Gabr Fellows will acquire a greater understanding of both Egypt and the United States and the mutual challenges the countries face. The fellows will be interpreters for one another as they confront issues common to their Egyptian and American societies. The Fellowship is designed not only to introduce these emerging leaders to shared challenges, but also to create a network of Egyptians and Americans who can candidly and constructively address national and international issues in the future. Their ongoing collaborations will be the Gabr Fellowship’s legacy. The first year of the Gabr Fellowship, “East-West: The Art of Dialogue” will establish a foundation for future transnational cooperation and exchange. The Shafik Gabr Foundation intends to continue to broaden the initiative’s scope and impact by multiplying both its programs and participating countries. Additional financial support from Eastern and Western corporations and philanthropists will continue this initiative.
