A group of students from Augsburg College traveled this year to Egypt to explore the impact of grassroots civic engagement and the challenges modern Egypt faces in the wake of its largely youth-led 2011 revolution.

The trip, led by Joe Underhill, associate professor and chair of political science, and Mohamed Sallam, director of Pan-Afrikan Student Services, was the first opportunity for some students to travel outside the United States. The cultural differences between the U.S. and Egypt were especially pronounced for these individuals, who during post-trip presentations discussed Egyptians’ impressive hospitality while also recalling the humor of trying to learn a barter system only after purchasing over-priced merchandise.

For Sallam, examining the difference between contemporary Egypt and the country he recalls from his youth was equally interesting. Sallam’s family moved to the United States from Egypt before he was born, but as a child he regularly visited the nation. He is fluent in Arabic, which helped he and Underhill organize the trip.

“I was always aware of the changes that were taking place from year to year,” Sallam said. “However, what made this time different was the excitement that the people we encountered expressed about the growing public discourse around social problems and politics. For me, those experiences were the most outstanding.”

Trip fosters critical thinking and civic engagement, helps develop of global citizens

Egypt’s political changes have been an axis through which several Augsburg programs, lectures, and travel experiences have connected. This year Augsburg offered students a course through which student delegates represented Egypt at the organization’s conference in New York City. The College also hosted the Batalden Symposium on Applied Ethics, and the convocation presentation featured founders of the Engaging and Empowering Egyptian Youth (EYouth) project. The three EYouth members who visited the College delivered a lecture on their experiences as protesters, presented observations on the process of political change, and participated in additional forums and workshops.

When Augsburg’s study abroad participants visited Egypt, they met with the EYouth students who had traveled to the Twin Cities. The groups continued the dialogue that began on Augsburg’s campus, identifying and discussing complex societal issues as well as the common threads that unite young people, such as hopes for the future and post-graduation goals. The students challenged preconceptions regarding each other’s culture, and the Augsburg students benefited from candid discussions that focused on the Egyptians’ civic participation and contribution to social change.

“Our students learned about civic engagement, which is a key part of Augsburg’s mission statement,” Underhill said. “We exposed them to people who are living civil duties to the extreme. It doesn’t get much more influential than putting your life on the line for a revolution.”

In post-revolution Egypt, civic engagement gives people a renewed sense of ownership in their country, according to Sallam. “Previously most private citizens were excluded from participating in public political life,” he said. Now, “people use their creativity and talents to make their lives and the lives of other Egyptians more meaningful.”

In addition to learning about Egyptian politics, the Augsburg students researched environmental sustainability, Muslim-Christian relations, and the effects of tourism, among other topics. Trip participants met with representatives from more than a dozen youth activism, economic development and environmental organizations that work to improve Egypt in its present time of political and societal transition. These visits expanded the knowledge students previously gained in the Augsburg classroom.

Underhill and Sallam partnered with the College’s award-winning to offer the trip. “Nurturing personal and professional connections makes our program meaningful and sustainable,” said Sallam. He and Underhill used their academic expertise, skills, backgrounds, and networks of international contacts to enrich students’ travel experiences by granting them access to unique and infrequently visited destinations.

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The Augsburg Choir

On May 6, the Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson ’76, departed for a 12-day tour of the Midwest. With stops in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington state, the Choir will perform nine concerts and have opportunities to connect with potential Auggies and their families as well as alumni and friends of the College.

Teaching English as a Second Language in Thailand with Kathryn Swanson

This is the fifth year that English professor Kathy Swanson and her husband, Jack, have taken students to teach English in Thailand as part of a short-term study abroad course through the Center for Global Education. Years ago, the Swansons served in the Peace Corps in Thailand for two years and still have connections in the small town where they once taught.

Before departing, students learn about language and culture in Thailand and practice speaking some “survival Thai,” Swanson said. For the teaching week, students learn the pedagogy of teaching English as a second language—essentially what and how to teach. Some students on the program are English or education majors, but others are from other majors including business, religion, and the sciences. Students take Swanson’s class, she said, not only to learn more about teaching English to language learners but also to experience life in a country half way around the world from the U.S.

For the three weeks they are in Thailand, Swanson said the group has an intense schedule filled with a variety of experiences. They travel by plane, boat, train, taxi, subway, tuk-tuks (a small open motorized vehicle, like a rickshaw), and even have a chance to ride elephants. They also take in tourist activities such as visiting temples, rafting on the river, and visiting pottery and silk makers. Then for ten days, they teach in Prachuap Khirikhan, the town where the Swansons taught while in the Peace Corps.

Swanson said the students often comment in their travel journals that they are completely shocked by their experiences in Thailand—by the sights and sounds and by the stark contrast between the poverty and opulence that can be seen there. “The only way to understand anything about the world is to do it,” she said. “Word of mouth among students is that it’s exhausting but it’s worth it.”

Pictured above: Students on the 2008 Thailand program. See photos from the program on flickr.

Youth Movements and Social Change in Egypt with Joe Underhill and Mohamed Sallam

In this combined course in political science and history, students will explore the roots of Egypt’s largely youth-led revolution and ongoing efforts to rebuild Egypt. Students will examine the effects that the 2011 revolution has had on public discourse about environmental sustainability, police brutality, Muslim-Christian relations, and access to basic services. They will also observe the historic presidential elections taking place in late May, visit mosques and pyramids, Nubian villages, an ecotourism resort on the Red Sea, and a Bedouin camp in the desert.

Read about the group’s experiences on the authored by Joe Underhill.

International Management and Finance in Germany with Marc McIntosh

For four weeks in May and June, a group of German students and professors from Karlsruhe paired with Augsburg students and assistant business professor Marc McIntosh to study international business practices.

The group met for the first two weeks in Europe, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg and witnessing firsthand the financial crisis that was coming to a head in Europe at that time. They also went to the Frankfurt stock exchange and experienced the volatility in the financial market as a result of the crisis, McIntosh said.

While in the U.S., the students visited three companies with strong ties to Germany and gained insights into how to do business in overseas markets. Finally, the students participated in an intensive business simulation game with teams competing to maximize shareholder value through the launches of multiple product offerings.

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The first of these opportunities is the Batalden Symposium on Applied Ethics which will feature three members of the EYouth (Engaging and Empowering Egyptian Youth) project. The lecture on Monday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., is free and open to the public.

Said Joe Underhill, professor of political science and adviser for Augsburg’s Model UN course, “We are hoping these events will provide students with a rich and inter-related set of learning experiences that will inspire and empower our students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.”

Opportunities for community and student engagement include the following:

Feb. 13-16:  The Batalden Symposium on Applied Ethics featuring Alaa Abd El-Rahman, Nada Yehia, and Noor Hafez of the EYouth project

Convocation lecture: Monday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m., Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center

Workshop: Feb. 13, 1:30-4:30, East Commons, Christensen Center

Interfaith dialogue on political action: Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Building (corner of Riverside and 20th Ave S)

The convocation presentation by Mr. El-Rahman, Ms. Hafez, and Ms. Yehia will describe their experiences as part of the protests and observations about the process of youth-led political change in Egypt. In addition to the convocation, the speakers will work with Augsburg students on projects of common interest (such as collaboration on a public opinion survey for youth on civic engagement), a town hall forum and interfaith dialogue on social change, and a workshop on youth leadership development.

Mar. 1-3 Nobel Peace Prize Forum

Events and workshops related to youth empowerment and social change (including in Egypt, Somalia, India, and in the Twin Cities). Featured speakers and performers include former South African president F. W. de Klerk, human rights activist Naomi Tutu, and rapper Dessa. The Forum includes tracks in business, arts and music, education, and global studies. Learn more at the .

The Model UN Course at Augsburg 

This year delegates will represent Egypt at the Model UN Conference in New York City in May. They will also meet with the Egyptian Mission to the UN and Council on Foreign Relations expert Ed Husain.

May 19-June 11: Youth Movements and Social Change in Egypt

In this summer study abroad course, Augsburg students will meet with the Egyptians from the EYouth Movement to continue building the partnerships and collaborative relationships around youth empowerment. Students will also study the revolution and sustainable development in Egypt. Deadline to sign up for this seminar is February 10.

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