Young Egyptian recipients of the "Leadership for Education and Development" (LEAD) scholarship, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, organized a conference in Cairo to address breast cancer awareness. The event highlighted early detection's significance, marking the 11th year that LEAD scholars have contributed to their communities by hosting events on critical social or health issues.
Katie Donohoe, Education Director at USAID in Egypt, addressed the participants: "As LEAD scholars, you have a unique voice at your school and in your communities. By raising awareness of breast cancer, you can increase the chances of early detection – and help save lives."
Attendees received training from the Egyptian Society for Women’s Health on recognizing breast cancer symptoms, early detection guidelines, and self-examination techniques. They also learned about supporting cancer patients emotionally during treatment. The closing ceremony included speeches from representatives of LEAD, the American University in Cairo (AUC), USAID, health professionals, and cancer survivors sharing personal stories.
LEAD is a collaborative initiative between AUC, the U.S. government, and Egypt's Ministry of International Cooperation. It provides scholarships for students to study at AUC to prepare them as future leaders.
For nearly four decades, through nationwide programs in health, education, governance, and economic development, the American people via the U.S. Embassy and USAID have worked to enhance Egyptians' quality of life. This includes launching the U.S.-Egypt Higher Education Initiative offering almost 1,000 scholarships and exchanges as well as providing numerous scholarships to both Egyptian universities and U.S. institutions since 2010.