Hey everybody, my name is Desmond Lee. I am a rising junior studying Public Policy, Arabic and Islamic Studies. Outside of school, I enjoy playing sports, jazz music, and reading(especially books on the Crusades and early Christianity!). Since I was in high school, I’ve loved volunteering with children, and I still can’t believe I’ve been given such an amazing opportunity to pursue this passion. Middle Eastern culture has also fascinated me for much of my life, and I look forward to working during such a pivotal moment in Egypt’s history.

 

 

 

Ahlan, my name is Sarah Haas and I am a rising sophomore at Duke. Probable majors I’m considering are Cultural Anthropology, Women’s Studies, Public Policy, and Arabic. I’m from a small town in North Carolina called Granite Falls. This will be the first time I’ve ever traveled outside of North America, so I am excited for what this summer will hold for me in Cairo- especially during such a historic time. I’m passionate about social justice and volunteerism, which led me to DukeEngage. I love to read and write (especially poetry!) and I’m always updating a blog or social media site. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @DECairo2012 and Facebook this summer! I’m looking forward to working with partner organizations and sharing my experiences in hopes of shedding light on the importance of civic engagement.

 

Hey y’all. I’m Kishan, a rising junior from Carmel, Indiana. I am a Public Policy major and a Chemistry minor at Duke, and plan to enter medical school and be a pediatric plastic surgeon in the future. I have been fascinated by the history, culture, and language of the Middle East since high school, and Duke has allowed me to pursue these interests through various courses and the DukeEngage program. I love traveling and reading, and eventually plan to open public health clinics in the Middle East as a philanthropic endeavor. I cannot wait to immerse myself in the culture of Cairo and begin our partnerships with the organizations. I can’t wait to share my experiences with you all.

 

Marhab! My name is Amber Watson and I’m a rising sophomore at Duke. I’m from Chapel Hill, North Carolina but have always been a hardcore Duke fan (especially Duke basketball) as you can tell by my picture. I’m planning to major in International Studies, minor in Arabic and receive a certificate in Marketing and Management. I’m very passionate about travelling to foreign places, learning different languages, and experiencing new cultures. I hope to take full advantage of the opportunities Duke gives me to travel and study abroad and I can’t think of a better way to spend my freshman summer!

 

Hey all, my name is Ryan Gaylord. I am a sophomore at Duke. I’m currently planning on double majoring in Public Policy and Arabic, although I may add a minor in music as well if I have time. In my free time, I enjoy writing, performing, and producing a wide variety of music. I am the oldest of ten kids, so I’m looking forward to working with the street children this summer! I love the culture of the Middle East, and am very excited about getting to know Cairo.

 

 

I’m Yohana Zecarias and I am a rising sophomore at Duke. At this moment in time, I am an English major with a Visual Arts minor and a Markets & Management certificate. I’ve attached myself to the Middle East after the onset of the Arab Spring and the strong parallels with the Occupy movement. Being able to work in Cairo during this historical moment and actively participate in worthy organizations is literally a dream come true. Seriously, I dreamt about it.

 

 

Ahlan! I’m Dylan Peterson, a rising sophomore from Wall, New Jersey. I plan on majoring in Computer Science and possibly minoring in Finance and/or Arabic. I am fascinated by the role that technology plays in changing the world (i.e. Facebook in the Arab Spring) and love learning new languages, so I am interested in using my technical and language skills to help the children of Cairo. I cannot wait for this once in a lifetime opportunity offered to me by Duke’s amazing DukeEngage program and getting to experience democracy and history in the making.

 

Hi everybody! I’m Stephanie, and I’m a rising sophomore at Duke. I haven’t quite pinpointed my major yet, but I’m currently planning on double majoring in International Comparative Studies and Public Policy with a minor in Linguistics. This will be my fourth time to the African continent, but my first time in the Arab World. I really enjoy learning about languages and cultures and meeting new people, so I am very excited to experience Cairo and to work with the wonderful people!

 

 

 

Hey everyone! My name is Marianna Jordan and I am a rising junior majoring in International Comparative Studies with a concentration in the Middle East. I am also planning on getting a certificate in Policy Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Arabic. Eventually, my dream is to become a journalist reporting on issues in the Middle East. Everything about this area of the world—including the people, the culture, and the politics—has fascinated me since travelling to the region after high school. I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of experiencing Cairo during such an important time in Egypt’s history. I love working with children and can’t wait to immerse myself in our work with Egyptian NGOs!

 

Hello, my name is Dan O’Keefe and I’m from Rochester, New York.  I’m a rising junior majoring in Biophysics, and plan on getting a minor in Literature.  The Middle East has always fascinated me, and it’s very exciting that we have the chance to go there, especially during such a historic period.  I think it’s wonderful that we have the opportunity to learn about the culture while simultaneously doing work to help others.

 

 

 

My name is Amanda Young and I am from Palo Alto, CA. I am a rising junior studying Public Policy and Arabic. I am also very interested in education and journalism. I volunteer at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club and am a research assistant at the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy. I am super excited to make my first trip to the Middle East and to work with street children, learn about the Cairo community, and explore Egypt during a time of great political and social change. I will also be keeping a personal blog detailing my daily adventures, so if you’d like to follow that, here’s the link! http://engagingwithcairo.blogspot.com/