MCSDP Co-sponsors UNEP Sustainability Generation Workshop in Nairobi, April 20-25, 2009

On April 20,the Sustainable Generation Workshop will begin in Nairobi, Kenya. College students from across Africa will meet to creatively and innovatively engage on issues related to climate change. The April workshop is the outcome of the first International Mainstreaming Environment and Sustianability in African (MESA) Universities partnership conference held in November 2008, when students gathered to proactively engage in mainstreaming environment and sustainability at their respective institutions. During the upcoming Nairobi workshop Dr. Adly Hassanein, MCSDP President will facilitate sessions on writing proposals and implementing sustainability projects, and guide working sessions on policy formulation for sustainability at institutions of higher learning. In addition he will co-facilitate the presentation of student project proposals with Professor Naituli from Strathmore University. Students were challenged to submit proposals for sustainability projects on their campuses. Some 34 proposals were received tackling issues from awareness-raising, waste water treatment, harnessing rain water, and solar energy, to forestation, eco-houses, composting, water conservatio and solid waste management.

Differentiating Needs and Wants: Building Blocks for a Sustainable Future

The first week of March, MCSDP welcomed Cairo American College students for their annual Week Without Walls program. This year a diverse group of high school students tackled such sensitive topics as poverty and justice, needs v.s. wants, equitable distribution of wealth, and the impact of climate change. As part of their service learning requirement, they planted trees to offset carbon emissions and participated in the center's on-going reuse and recycling efforts. Aside from these "green" initiatives, the CAC students planned for and hosted students from a Beni Suef school for the physically disabled. As usual it was a day filled with smiles and new friendships as the students transcended language barriers with their disarming laughter and shared a day of games, arts and musical activities.

Two Weeks of Non-stop Activities Rock English Access Program Alumni during February

Bring together students from Assiut, Minia, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Cairo and Alexandria; mix carefully with icebreakers,walks in the desert, sunsets, new friends, campfires; toss with sessions on creating a sustainable alumni network; sprinkle with song fests led by American folk-rock singers; top with a visit from American Ambassador Margaret Scobey; and you have the makings of the English Access Microscholarship Program Alumni Network. After completing a two-year afterschool English program funded by the U.S. Embassy Regional English Language Office, some 190 program alumni and their teachers were invited to attend English language camp during their February winter school break. Immersed in the language from morning to night the youth worked in teams to achieve their goal of creating a sustainable alumni network that would support its members to continue to learn and use the English language, pursue their education, contribute to the well-being of their communities through service activities, and participate in cultural exchanges.

Ringing in the New Year: Welcome Alexandria!

We had barely said goodbye to 2008 when dozens of students from the International Schools of Egypt in Alexandria arrived at our gate. Our intern, Zabrina Whitman literally disembarked from the plane that brought her from frosty Canada and jumped in the Jeep headed for camp in Beni Suef. MCSDP staff were aided by three interns from American University in Cairo who were on winter break. Two groups of eager students from grades 4-6 and 7-9 had time during their stay to visit nearby Maydoum Pyramid in addition to discovering how they can contribute to making their city and their world a better place.

New Pictures of Our Center

Wondering what we actually do here at Kan Yama Kan Village? You're in luck! We have put together a photo showcase to provide a visual overview of what we're about. Look for photo galleries from each school visit coming soon!

The Power of One: Fall/Winter Internship Available

We are looking for one intern, yes, one intern to join us in September for the new school year. Internships are individually designed to be sure that you get what you are looking for out of your time with us at the center. If you are interested in environmental, international or sustainable development education, or youth programs and curriculum development then you have just hit the jackpot. If you also know how to maintain and update a website, then give us a shout. Interested? Send your CV and a cover letter to Djodi at: infomcsdp.com. and tell her what you hope to gain from the experience and what you have to offer.

What people are saying about our camps?

Your center is really beautiful, a true respite from Cairo for the Egyptian students attending the [Access Alumni] camp. Please share my thanks with...all your team at the Mediterranean Center for their support in giving these students such a wonderful opportunity."

U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Margaret Scobey