Marc from Egypt 2017/18
English instruction and youth empowerment
[This article is part of the April 2023 issue of PAX Press.]
Despite having English as my third language, I didn’t know a lot of English at the beginning of my exchange year. I was the only Egyptian representative at the Workshop for Youth Leaders in English Teaching (WYLET) in 2018. Youth in my country struggle from the lack of English education, and this prevents them from accessing real life opportunities.
During WYLET, I realized how great an impact we can have as youth leaders in our communities. The knowledge I gained during the workshop was priceless!
Going back home to Egypt, I went through the culture shock phase, when your ideal plans to build on your YES experience and help the community hit reality. I felt like I was starting from point zero; however, I didn’t give up and had alternative plans in mind.
I started by joining EducationUSA, a competitive college club in Alexandria. In less than a year, I became the club vice president. Through this phase, my focus started to shift to English teaching and youth empowerment.
Throughout the following years, I completed more than 150 hours of community service and volunteering—mostly directed toward English teaching for visually impaired students, those with disabilities, and students from underrepresented villages in Upper Egypt.
Throughout the following years, I completed more than 150 hours of community service and volunteering—mostly directed toward English teaching for visually impaired students, those with disabilities, and students from underrepresented villages in Upper Egypt.
I was also proud to help middle and high school students through their college application process by enhancing their CVs and profiles, finding the best opportunities to become more competitive, and open many doors for better life conditions. I have proudly received over 45 certificates and honors from four countries, nine international representations as an ambassador for Egypt, and directly impacted 800+ students and indirectly impacted 2,500+ more!
From more than 35 WYLET alumni applicants, American Councils selected me to come back as an alumni assistant and serve as a role model for 30 YES and FLEX students from all over the globe. This wasn't just a great opportunity but a dream came true! I first got selected in 2020—just two years after coming back, but due to COVID-19, it got canceled. That was disappointing, but I kept my hopes up and kept working on myself and my surrounding community.
Luckily, in 2022 I got to travel to Washington, D.C., once again—this time as a staff member and youth leader. I was proud to be a role model who succeeded in turning his exchange experience into a great way to enhance others' lives and make a true impact on my community through education, English teaching, and youth empowerment. It was one of my biggest dreams to come back as an alumni assistant for WYLET!
I always aim high, and this is just the beginning for me. I have done several TV Interviews and am involved in several civic initiatives to empower our youth, using their full potential to grow mentally, academically, and to support them with materials and opportunities that could change their lives and turn them into effective leaders.
I am really proud of my journey and my ups and downs, but nothing makes me happier than having an impact on someone's life. I believe I have a lot to achieve, and I wanted to share the story on my birthday!
—Marc (YES, Egypt), hosted by the Koehlinger family 2017/18 (IN)
