Center for Arab-West Understanding Learning Center,

(‫مركز تعليم جمعية التقارب بين العرب والغرب‬.) also known CAWU Learning Center
as CAWU Learning Centre or Arab-West LC is a private
learning centre (LC) at the secondary school level in the
cairene suburb and district of El-Maadi in Egypt.

The Centre comprises a Middle and High School, serving kids

from Key Stage 2 (KS2) up to the IGCSE / Key Stage 4 (KS4)
level. It provides education using the British National
Curriculum for it's students.

CAWU's motto is "For the right to learn and live", in reference

to its mission and vision which is focused on migrant and
refugee students, and those who are otherwise unable to attend
a school freely[1]

History
It's not to be confused with the Center for Arab-West
Understanding, an Egyptian-based Dutch NGO started by Entrance to the School Campus
Cornelis Hulsman with the aim of promoting and furthering Address
religious & intercultural dialogue between Arab & Western
Bldg. 90, Street No. 14B
communities or societies. However, the LC was founded on the
ideals of the NGO and is part of it. Hulsman is (as of 2022) a El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt 11694
member of the LC's Board of Governors and the Vice Information
President of the CAWU NGO. Type Private, IGCSE
For the establishment and existence of the center within the Motto For the right to learn
Egyptian legal framework, a collaboration between the three and live
legal entities of the Center for Arab-West Understanding, the Established 2018
Centre for Intercultural Dialogue and Translation (CIDT), and
Arab-West Foundation (AWF) is a necessity.[2] Headmaster Peter Mathias
Enrollment 35 total (co-ed)
The Learning Centre was founded in 2018, after a period of
Student to 5:1
time where the CIDT and Arab-West Foundation began to take
note of the growing unresolved problem facing refugees in teacher ratio
Egypt, which is the inability to attain internationally recognized Campus Urban
recognized education or enroll in any institutions that provide Color(s) Fiery Red, Navy
such. Refugees in Egypt are in theory, allowed to enroll in state
Blue
schools but are not allowed to attend them.[3] While they are
allowed to enroll in independent schools, the fees for these Website www
schools are impossible to pay in their socio-economic .cawulearningcenter
circumstances. .com (http://www.cawul
earningcenter.com)

Recognition

Due to the lack of recognition from the Egyptian Ministry of Education as a registered school and legal
complications, CAWU is currently restricted in its ability to make it's students sit for the IGCSE exam
through the British Council in Egypt. It's currently in the process of gaining the recognition required to
have its senior students sit for the Cambridge Assessment examinations and obtain a certificate stamped by
the Ministry.

Associations and partnerships

The Centre and Organizations taking part in its establishment created the Learning Centre to be a non-profit
organization funded by an NGO with the aim of dedication to helping refugees and migrants in Egypt
through education and social integration.[4] The organization works in partnership with a number of
institutions and organizations, both locally and internationally, to support its mission and vision. The LC's
partnerships include organizations such as the United Nations, The Anna Lindh Foundation,[5] The
American University in Cairo, Duke University, Kindermissionswerk Die Sternsinger, Majorel, and
more.[6]

These partnerships have allowed the organization to provide educational support to refugees aged 12–21 in
Egypt, including access to educational materials, language courses, and musical training. The organization
also aims to increase awareness of refugee issues in the region, as well as to advocate for the rights of
young migrants in the region, especially those who may not be given the right to education.[1]

On June 3, 2021, the NGO affiliated with the Centre became a UN Partner organization. Brooke Comer is
the Duke Engage liaison in Egypt, coordinating activities for mixed groups of Duke University, AUC, and
CAWU LC students.[7]

Academics
The Learning Centre currently provides its students with the British National Curriculum, with the specific
board of teaching used being Edexcel and Cambridge Assessment. Currently, the Centre is yet to have any
of its students sit for the examination due to the regulations imposed on NGOs in Egypt, and due to the lack
of recognition of the LC as a legal school by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Extracurriculars
Outside of Academics, the Centre provides music classes to its students using the syllabus used by the
ABRSM. Through the partnership between Arab-West LC, Maadi Community School, and the American
University in Cairo, there's routine weekly extracurricular activities provided to the students including
Basketball, Association football (Soccer), and Gym.

References
1. Karsten, Júlia (April 12, 2022). "Interview with Mohammed El-Shafei, Educational Officer at
the UNHCR" (https://www.dialogueacrossborders.com/en/interview-mohammed-el-shafei-ed
ucational-officer-unhcr). Dialogue Across Borders. pp. -. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
2. Report, Arab-West. "Arab West Report" (https://www.cawulearningcentre.com/arab-west-rep
ort). CAWU Learning Center Official Site. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
3. El Sherbiny, Prof Dr. Ms. Wafaa; Amany, Prof Dr. Massoud (October 2015). "Refugee Child in
Egypt: Vulnerable of the vulnerable. Is it a way for empowerment?" (https://scholar.cu.edu.e
 g/?q=amanymasod/files/refugee_children_in_egypt.pdf) (PDF). Proceedings of ADVED15
International Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences.
4. Abdel-Hamid, Sara (November 2018). "CAWU presents its Learning Center on Saturday
November 17th and Open Day on Saturday December 1st | Dialogue Across Borders" (http
s://www.dialogueacrossborders.com/en/cawu-presents-its-learning-center-saturday-novemb
er-17th-and-open-day-saturday-december-1st). Dialogue Across Borders. Retrieved
2023-03-04.
5. "Center for Arab-West Understanding (CAWU)" (https://www.annalindhfoundation.org/memb
ers/center-arab-west-understanding-cawu). www.annalindhfoundation.org. Retrieved
2023-03-04.
6. "Partnership Between Majorel Egypt and CAWU" (https://www.ldn-lb.org/news/partnership-b
etween-majorel-egypt-and-cawu). www.ldn-lb.org. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
7. "Partners" (https://www.cawulearningcentre.com/partners). CAWU Learning Center Official
Site. Retrieved 2023-03-04.

See also
Refugee crisis
Centre for Arab-West Understanding
Cornelis Hulsman
American University in Cairo

Category:Egypt Category:Schools in Egypt Category:Educational organisations based in Egypt

Category:Child-related organisations in Egypt Category:Non-governmental organizations
Category:Charities