Special message from the Arab-West Report Interns

Language: 
English
Sent On: 
Wed, 2012-12-05
Year: 
2012

Arab-West Report Needs You! 

We volunteer, you donate, and together we cultivate meaningful dialogue!

 

 

No matter what your religion is, being very religious does not make you anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, anti-womenetc. One should never make generalized statements.

-Cornelis Hulsman 

 

Egypt currently finds itself in a delicate situation of transition—a democracy is taking shape, while the constitution has yet to materialize. The role of the media is now essential as people are eager to participate in current affairs and want to inform themselves. Arab-West Report (AWR) is dedicated to providing the objective information that the public needs.

 

In this dynamic landscape we, as interns of Arab-West Report, are pursuing various lines of research. We are exposed to multiple views on political, intercultural, and social relations in Egypt. Representing many countries and ethnic backgrounds, we are a mix of people with diverse academic interests who also learn a great deal from one another. We contribute to AWR by publishing papers and by reporting on meetings we have had with political authorities, professors, and activists, among others. Our research topics include migration of Egyptians; Coptic migration after the Revolution as portrayed by the media; post-Revolution feminism; poverty; and overcrowding and sectarian tensions.

 

As a faithful reader of our newsletter, you know that Arab-West Report is a unique source of information. News on topics of intercultural dialogue and Muslim-Christian relations in Arabic news sources is made available for those who cannot read Arabic. This work is of great importance in a time when dialogue is more important than ever. Working in this environment as an intern is a valuable experience. In return, Arab-West Report values its interns who are committed to the organization on a voluntary basis.

 

In order to improve the intern program, AWR will need to make some important changes. Hiring a paid, part-time intern coordinator; a paid full-time, English-language editor; and an academic supervisor will benefit the quality of AWR and provide interns with knowledge we can share in our home institutions and communities.

 

    

    Mette Toft Nielsen: “I have experienced different aspects of the Egyptian         

    society. This has allowed me to get an in-depth insight in the life of

    Egyptians articulated by themselves, from their own perspectives. Being

    involved with Arab West Report has so far enriched me through valuable

    knowledge not only within the field of my research, but also about the

    Egyptian society, not least the Egyptian people, in a broader sense.” 

 

 

 

Mette Toft Nielsen (28, Denmark)

MA student in International Migration and EthnicDiana Serôdio (21, Portugal)

Relation, currently MA thesis writer

Focus AWR: Migration of Egyptians

 

Diana Serodio: “It has been a priceless experience. I accompanied Mr. Hulsman while he organized an Egyptian delegation formed by representatives of the five main Egyptian parties. My responsibility

was to write reports of the various meetings to help improve the internal structure of those parties. Ever since, I have been deeply committed to facilitate dialogue between conflicting party leaders to improve inter-party communication, help find common ground and coordinate efforts to solve shared problems. After only two months at AWR, I already feel as though I have actively contributed to the consolidation of Democracy in Egypt!”

                                                                                       

                                               Diana Serôdio (21, Portugal)

Major in Political Science and International Relations

Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2009/2011) and

Sciences-Po Paris, (2011/2012)

Focus AWR: Egyptian Multi Party Group 

Rosa-Lena Keim (23, Germany)

       

    Rosa-Lena Keim: “I am really enjoying my time at Arab West Report,         

    especially the intercultural atmosphere in the office - to work with interns      

    and staff from all over the world and Egyptians with all different kind of         

    backgrounds. Moreover I appreciate having direct access to current news and     

    literature concerning current interreligious and both international and         

    national political topics. All in all I consider this program an unique

    experience and a very important part of AWR to foster the relationship

    between East and West.

   

     Rosa-Lena Keim (23, Germany)

   Student of Psychology (Intermediate Diploma/BA)

   University of Würzburg

   Focus AWR: Trauma, Religion & Mental Health, Poverty & Overcrowding                                                                                                                 

Jaco Stoop (23, the Netherlands)

 

 

 

 

 

Jaco Stoop: I think that during these changing times in Egypt,

it's of the utmost importance to create and promote mutual understanding between Muslims and Christians.

Arab West Report can contribute to and facilitate dialogue

between Muslims and Christians of various backgrounds in society, in order to prevent  the Egyptian society from slowly falling apart.

                                                                                                                                                                    

 

Jaco Stoop (23, the Netherlands)

BA Degree in Languages and Culture of the Middle East

University of Groningen

Focus AWR: Coptic migration after the  

Revolution as portrayed in the English and     

Arabic media 

 Eline Kasanwidjojo (24, the Netherlands)

    Eline Kasanwidjojo: “Interning at the Arab West             

    Report has given me a great insight in current         

    Egyptian politics, interreligious relations and

    intercultural relations. I interviewed a female Co-

    founder of the Freedom and Justice Party and be given

    the opportunity to meet with activists and other

    politicians. I really love to work in this environment

    with people from different backgrounds and with  

    different opinions. Also being on top of the news and

    involved in politics right now is such a valuable

    experience the midst of this transition period in Egypt.”

 

Eline Kasanwidjojo (24, the Netherlands)

BA Degree and MA Degree in International Relations and

International Organization

University of Groningen

Focus AWR: Post-Revolution Feminism in CairoJonas Sylvest (27, Denmark)

 

Jonas Sylvest: “I was inspired by an article by

Mr. Hulsman to do research on the relationship between poverty overcrowding and sectarian tensions in Greater Cairo, a very interesting, unique and not the least

important topic that has not been and cannot be researched enough. My time at AWR has given me valuable insight in how a NGO works and I had the pleasure of meeting the friendly and interesting employees and interns of AWR.

It has been interesting to follow Egypt first hand in the very important democratic transition that is taking place at the moment, and to be able to talk to Egyptians about their thoughts and feelings of the new government.”                                                   Jonas Sylvest (27, Denmark)

MA Student Middle Eastern Studies

University of Southern Denmark

Focus AWR: Poverty, overcrowding and

sectarian tensions in Greater Cairo

 

 

Arab West Report is read around the world by academics and people interested in Middle-Eastern affairs and Christian-Muslim relations. We ask for your help! If each reader would make a modest contribution of only 10 Euros (about 15 USD), we would be able to finance part or all the activities listed above.

 

Support received from our ongoing funders; Kerk In Actie, Misereor, and Missio, although greatly appreciated, is unfortunately insufficient to maintain our current operation. To keep up the good work and provide you all with an objective source of information, we not only need a bunch of motivated interns from all over the world, we need you!

 

Click here to donate now!

 

By clicking on the link above, you find out how to make donations from outside of Egypt via

Arab-West Foundation, by means of bank transfer or PayPal. Donations from the Netherlands are also tax deductible.

 

Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

The Arab-West Report Interns