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Amideast is proud to join in today’s celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD).  Amideast is committed to making a difference in the lives of women across the Middle East and North Africa by expanding access to opportunities for training and education.  Here are some of the ways in which we are working towards this goal:​

Enrollments of Egyptian students in U.S. institutions of higher learning have been rising modestly in recent years. Last year was no exception. According to the 2014 Open Doors Report, the number of Egyptians at U.S. colleges and universities rose nearly nine percent to reach 2,832 in 2013/14, the highest level in 15 years.

The economic participation of women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is lower than anywhere else in the world. MENA women have limited access to financial and training services, and face far higher unemployment rates than men. Added to this are common perceptions and beliefs that women should not be the financial heads of households.

Since Rhamna Skills was inaugurated in November 2012, close to 750 youths have completed the center’s employability skills training programs, leading to job placements for more than three out of five trainees — meeting a high priority in view of the country’s high unemployment rates, particularly among recent graduates.

Many students took two sessions, enabling them to make strides in tackling what is arguably one of the world’s most challenging languages. Their extended stay, moreover, gave them time to explore the country, deepening their familiarity with the country’s cultural riches, welcoming population, and natural beauty, while also providing opportunities to practice Arabic. 

To date, the DKSSF has been able to match nearly 70 deserving youth to scholarships, tihanks to the generosity of donors and more than 40 participating colleges and universities (see list). A source of pride is that this effort has achieved gender balance, helping to open doors to educational opportunity for deserving young women as well as men.

Amideast’s solar power system complements an already-existing rainwater harvesting system, developed by former Amideast/Yemen Country Director Sabrina Faber as part of her Rainwater Aggregations (RAINS) Project, which won the 2010/2011 Philips Livable Cities Award. The system has created the cleanest, quietest, and most sustainable learning environment possible for exchange students, EL students, and international test takers. Now, individuals interested in learning English, taking the TOEFL© Test, and applying to international, Amideast-administered scholarships can do so carbon free!