For more than 600 members, AIESEC Egypt is not simply a powerful network of innovators, it’s an international web that reaches across borders and helps members understand different cultures. This student-based organization disdains the gray corporate world we have come to fear with its small desks, tiny work-spaces and non-stop ringing phones, and instead views the professional career world in colors.
“Since AIESEC Egypt started in 1974 there was only one goal: 'Achieving Impact' and supporting Egyptian youth to evolve into change agents,” says Lavinia Dieac, Corporate Communication Manager in the Middle East and North Africa Exchange and Leadership Development Seminar 2011. Then, as well as now, the objective remains to change the world and drive youth to achieve one vision. “The peace and fulfillment of humankind’s potential.”
AIESEC, an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, is a global, non-political, independent, not-for-profit organization run by students and recent graduates of higher education institutions. AIESEC provides its members with an integrated development experience comprised of leadership opportunities, international internships and participation in a global learning environment.
Kofi Annan, Former UN General Secretary, said of AIESEC, “In an era of globalization AIESEC’s programs have helped young people around the world to develop a broader understanding of cultural, socio-economic and business-related management issues.”
AIESEC is now considered the world's largest student-run organization. One of the organization’s main goals is to become the international platform for young people to discover and develop began in 1948 in Europe.
“Six different people from six different countries thought of this idea to reunite Europe after the horrible experiences of the World War II,” says Dieac, “these people built the first level of AIESEC, and now we are present in 107 countries and territories and offer over 10,000 leadership opportunities each year, in addition to over 10,000 international internship opportunities.”
After operating for 36 years in Egypt, AIESEC Egypt is present in 5 universities and has more than 600 student members. Worldwide, the organization boasts as many as 45,000 members. Though AIESEC Egypt started as a small group of students, it won the UBS Regional Excellence Award in 2001, 2009 and 2010, the most prestigious award given by AIESEC International.
“Since 1997, PricewaterhouseCoopers – Egypt (“PwC”) has been working with AIESEC to strengthen their presence in Egypt,” says Tarek Mansour, Country Senior Partner in PriceWaterhouseCoopers, “we recognize the importance of helping youth to exchange culture and benefits, and we have had almost 25 interns from AIESEC. They have worked in different departments and achieved the goal of AIESEC to develop youth and interact with different people and different cultures.” According to Dieac, AIESEC members have the opportunity to apply for managerial and leadership positions whereby they lead a team of 3 to 600. Working towards a specific goal, they come closer to attaining AIESEC’s vision. The leadership positions range from leading a team with a specific background working on a specific portfolio or function, to leading AIESEC Egypt’s entire body.
Through projects and conferences that AIESEC runs, members gain organizational skills and take on responsibilities at a young age. The current leadership body of AIESEC Egypt is formed of 100 people between the age of 18 and 25 from Egypt, Netherlands, Romania, Jordan and Colombia.
In the 36 years of activity of AIESEC Egypt, many of Egypt most prominent business leaders participated in the success of the organization. Among its most famous Alumni are Amr Aboul Eish–CEO, Tanmeya Enterprise; Hatem Dowidar–CEO, Vodafone Egypt; Tarek Kamel–Egyptian Minister of Telecommunication; and Ehab Abdou–Founder of Nahdet al-Mahrousa.
Finally, the next big AIESEC Egypt event is coming up soon. “I am part of AIESEC Egypt and together with a team of 15 people we are organizing an international conference that will be hosted in Egypt in March 2011,” says Dieac.
The Middle East and North Africa Exchange and Leadership Development Seminar (MENA XLDS) is an annual conference and a celebration of youth leadership and diversity bringing together over 250 young leaders from over 30 countries and territories along with senior management of over 30 companies to Egypt.
“MENA XLDS is held in March of every year in one of the MENA countries.” says Dieac, “After hosting it in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan, the 5th edition will be hosted again by AIESEC Egypt, from 11 March to 17 March, 2011.”
According to the spokesperson, main objectives of the 7-day conference are: enhancing leadership skills, raising awareness of the importance of culture exchange, and offering international internships.
