Two student scholars from Egypt, who are studying at Johnston Community College this year, have been reaching out to Johnston County communities to share information about their culture. Ayman El Kadamany, an International Business student, and Mostafa Kamal, an Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology student, arrived in Smithfield in August last year. After graduating in May and completing an internship experience, they will return home in July.

The students are being sponsored by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Johnston Community College is one of 23 colleges in the nation, and the only one in North Carolina, hosting students from predominately Muslim countries this year as part of the Community College Initiative (CCI) program.

Last semester, Ayman and Mostafa focused primarily on their studies and improving their English skills. They succeeded, and now have the confidence and determination to visit local schools, and offer their own class on Arabic language and Egyptian culture. Through their efforts to reach out and talk with young people about Egypt and teach their language and culture, the students feel they are serving their country well. They hope to make a small difference in changing people's perceptions about the Middle East by showing they are friendly, modern, and funny, just like most Americans you'd want to know. One of the best opportunities to change perceptions came in March on a visit to a local elementary school. Ayman and Mostafa walked into the classroom wearing typical student attire: jeans and sweatshirts. One student asked them where their long white robes, beards and funny hats were. Mostafa wondered, "I think he expected us to look like the pharaohs, who would be thousands of years old now! I'm only 30!" Students were impressed that Egypt had such modern cities and modes of transport. These days, most people travel by car, bus or train rather than camel.

In addition to visiting many of Johnston County's middle and elementary schools, Ayman and Mostafa have been holding a basic Arabic language and Egyptian culture class once a week at JCC. The class is a 6-week course covering basic greetings, descriptive words and questions, which also touches on important cultural facts including religious differences, gender issues, and holidays. With 16 students from the college and community, the free class has proven very successful. It will continue for 3 more weeks on Mondays, from 12:15-1:15 until April 27. The course is open to anyone who is interested.

Johnston Community College will be continuing its participation in the CCI program next year and will likely host a larger group of students from Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan. The college will be recruiting community mentors this spring to serve as guides for the students once they arrive in August. For further information on the CCI program at JCC or on the basic Arabic course, please contact Heather Murphy, Coordinator of Global Education and Outreach, (919) 209-2239 or hemurphy@johnstoncc.edu.

Related Links

1. http://www.johnstoncc.edu/studentservices/globaled/cciprogram.htm