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“What do you think about the Israeli / AUC controversy?” |
35 Under 35: El Ebrashi wins Shell corporation award
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| Heba El Sherif /CARAVAN STAF FOR MY COUNTRY: El Ebrashi works on making Alashanek Ya Baladya an effective service for all Egyptians. |
The journey began when she was an undergraduate student at the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she founded a community service club. In the heart of old Cairo or Madinet El Fostat, Raghda El Ebrashi, AUC alumnus and president of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Alashanek Ya Balady or For My Country, spoke of her passion for her country in an interview with the Caravan.
El Ebrashi won the “35 Under 35 Award,” established
by World Business magazine and Shell Corporation in recognition of her
role as a leading business and social entrepreneur under the age of 35.
“I feel proud to represent the success of the organization,”
said El Ebrashi. “I was proud to be the only Egyptian at the ceremony.”
“I want to see Alashanek Ya Balady, in every governorate in Egypt,
serving every single Egyptian,” said El Ebrashi. She is one of two
Egyptians who will receive the Young Social Entrepreneur’s Award
granted by United Nations Development Program, Microsoft and Canada Fund
in Malaysia next December.
Alshanek Ya Balady started as a club at AUC in 2001 to educate youth about
the importance of development independent of charity, which according
to El Ebrashi, was missing at the time. The club also wanted to incorporate
development into other student-run organizations.
From providing grants and micro-loans to offering English and computer
literacy classes to the underprivileged, Alshanek Ya Balady is now the
main community service project of the Student Union at AUC.
El Ebrashi faced a number of challenges when the club was first established.
The community of Ein El Sira, the area the club focused on, was not very
welcoming to the young volunteers. In addition, it was difficult to raise
funds for the different projects because sponsors were accustomed to sponsoring
events and raising funds for development projects was new, according to
El Ebrashi
“Our aim was to invade universities,” said El Ebrashi. Today,
the club’s scope includes students at the German University in Cairo
(GUC), the French University in Egypt, Cairo University and Ein Shams
University.
As president of the club, El Ebrashi was known for her positive attitude.
“She is very genuine and has a real desire to achieve development
in Egypt,” said Ramza Sedky, manager of community service programs
at the Office of Student Development at AUC.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration
and a minor in development studies, the ambitious entrepreneur completed
her masters in professional development, also at AUC. Currently, she is
doing her PhD in strategic management at GUC while working as an assistant
lecturer in the department of strategic management at the same university.
Growing up in a family that encourages involvement in civil society, El
Ebrashi decided to continue in her volunteerism. In 2005, four years after
founding the club, she followed her dream and established the NGO under
the Ministry of Social Solidarity, despite the bureaucratic procedures.
“I wanted to ensure that the dream would continue after graduation,”
said El Ebrashi, emphasizing that volunteer work is a social obligation
rather than just an activity to pursue in leisure time.
Many of her co-workers in the club Alshanaek Ya Balady continued to actively
work as members of the NGO. Currently, Mohamed El Ebrashi, her brother,
and another AUC alumnus, is the treasurer of the organization.
“She derives her happiness from other people’s smiles,”
said her older brother, emphasizing that, despite their family ties, they
keep a professional relationship when dealing with matters concerning
the organization.
