(K-12) Educational Outreach

• Upcoming Events for Teachers
• Past Events for Teachers
• Educational Resources
  • Teaching Modules
  • Links for Educators
• Additional Services for Educators
  • Lending Library
  • Speakers Bureau
  • Consultation
  • K-12 Email List

Join the CCAS mailing list for new and updated information

Search

By Zeina Azzam Seikaly

From July 6 to 18, fifteen elementary and secondary school teachers from the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia enjoyed a study-tour of Egypt. It was organized by the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies’ Outreach Program with Hands Along the Nile Development Services, Inc., a nonprofit that sponsors exchange programs between the United States and Egypt. CCAS Assistant Professor Samer Shehata and Director of Educational Outreach Zeina Azzam Seikaly accompanied the group. 

Each morning during the group’s stay in Cairo, teachers got their buffet breakfast at the hotel and met in a special room, where Professor Shehata gave one-hour lectures. These covered numerous subjects in depth, such as Egyptian society, economics, geography, government, modern history, domestic and regional politics, and U.S.-Egyptian relations. The group visited many notable places in Cairo, including the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, a job-skills training program for women in “Garbage City,” the Wissa Wassef carpet and pottery school, Ibn Touloun Mosque, the Citadel, Coptic Quarter, Islamic Cairo, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, and Khan al-Khalili. 

A one-day train trip to Alexandria offered insights into the Greco-Roman heritage of Alexandria. After lunch at a local fish restaurant, the group made a special trip to the famous Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a very impressive library that was dedicated in 2002 and is perceived as the “rebirth” of the ancient library of Alexandria. A spectacular four-day excursion to Upper Egypt included tours in Aswan of the High Dam, Philae Temple (for the goddess Isis), Kom Ombo (for the gods Horus and Sobek), and Edfu (for the god Horus). The group sailed to Luxor on a cruise ship, and everyone was excited by crossing the lock in Esna on the way; traveling on the Nile River was itself a pleasurable experience. In Luxor the group visited the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, and Luxor and Karnak Temples. 

Everyone on the study-tour learned a great deal about ancient and modern Egypt, the prominence of the Nile River in Egyptian life, and the culture and people of this important Arab country. Many had not visited Egypt before and were thrilled to be fulfilling a lifelong goal. The intense summer heat was manageable with shady areas, hats, light clothing, skin cream, and lots of water—and it also meant that fewer tourists were at the famous sites. We had many of these places almost to ourselves, and we appreciated them all immensely.

Related Content

Photos:

Kallie Haas (Northwood High School, MD) uses a fan in the Aswan heat. Sandra McWhirter (Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD) and Arjunia Oakley (Paint Branch High School, MD) at Ibn Touloun Mosque in Cairo. Dr. Samer Shehata lectures to the group over breakfast. Palm trees on the banks of the Nile River in Upper Egypt. A view from Ibn Touloun Mosque, Cairo. Thomas Phu (Durham Academy, NC) at Gayer Anderson Museum, Cairo. Nubian girl in Aswan. Temple of Hatshepsut. Group photo by the statue of Ramses II in Luxor. Famous clay figurines made by Egyptian artisans. Josue Torres (Next Step Public Charter School, DC), Sandra McWhirter (Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD), Kathy Latham (Woodbridge High School, VA), and Thomas Phu (Durham Academy, NC) at Al-Rifai Restaurant in Cairo. Spice stand in Aswan. Colorful house in Aswan.