Program Description

Volunteer in the Middle East

Description

Marhaba: Volunteers in the Middle East offers service-learning summer programs for university students and recent graduates. Our mission is to encourage cross-cultural understanding between North America, Europe, and the Arab world while providing meaningful service to communities in the Middle East. Join us this summer in Cairo!

Program 1: Provide educational and vocational training for refugees from primarily African countries who have fled their homes due to war or other disasters.

Program 2: Teach converstaional English classes to young Egyptian adults who volunteer at an Egyptian non-governmental organization which offers programs and services involving Arabic literacy, food and clothing donation, courses for the blind and orphanages for street children.

Highlights

Volunteers will begin the program by participating in a one-week orientation program that will include intensive Arabic, cultural events, visits to the partner organizations, and group reflection.

Volunteers will spend approximately 15 hours per week at their volunteer site and preparing lesson plans. Volunteers from both programs will live together and jointly particpate in orientation, Arabic classes, seminars, cultural activies, group trips and a final retreat. Each program will also meet individually for weekly group dinners

Volunteers will study Egyptian colloquial Arabic with private tutors who will tailor the class to their level. Volunteers will be divided into three classes: those with no Arabic, those with basic knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), and those with advanced MSA and/or some knowledge of the Egyptian dialect. Program staff will help volunteers to arrange a more intense Arabic study if they wish to take more classes at their own expense.

Throughout the program, staff will arrange seminars with leaders in academia, journalism, or diplomacy to address topics relating to development in Egypt. Additional seminars can be tailored to volunteers' individual interests.

Staff will also coordinate cultural activities throughout the summer. Sites could include the Egyptian museum,m Coptic Cairo, concerts, visits to art galleries, or ther venues based on volunteer interest. Marhaba will also arrange trips to the pyramids at Giza and Saqqara and a weekend trip to Alexandria.

The last few days of the program are reserved for reflection and group activities which will take place at a desert site outside of Cairo.

Further Information
Cost Description: 

This covers housing, Arabic courses, teaching supplies, training, a cell phone, and a modest living stipend to cover food and transportation. A volunteer would not need to spend extra money in the course of the program.

Languages Learned/Spoken: 
Arabic, English
Living Arrangements: 
Apartment/Flat, Group living
Travel Arrangements: 
Participants Travel to Egypt Independently
Application Requirements: 
Letters of Reference, Written Application

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Program Info

Country: 
Egypt
City(s): 
Cairo
Volunteer Type: 
Humanitarian
Length of Program: 
1-3 months
Cost: 
$US2,600

Program Photos

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