12th Fasu Games: Fasu's Third International Volunteering Cohort Discovers Egypt Beyond The Games
As competition continued at the 12th All Africa University Games in Cairo, members of the third FASU International Volunteering, Youth Leadership Training and Mentorship cohort took time away from the sporting venues to experience another side of Egypt.
The cultural programme, organised by the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU), included visits to the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids of Giza. For the young volunteers, the experience provided an opportunity to explore Egypt's heritage while connecting with fellow participants from across Africa.
Experiencing Egypt First Hand
For Lois Agbaje of Lagos, Nigeria, the cultural activities were an unexpected part of the programme.
"I was just expecting it to be strictly about the Games, mentorship and the leadership programme," she said.
Her experience changed that expectation as the cohort explored Egyptian history and culture.
"We learned a lot apart from the Games. We were able to dig deeper into ancient Egyptian culture," Agbaje added.
Margaret Muthoni Gicheru of Nairobi, Kenya, was particularly struck by the Grand Egyptian Museum, describing the experience as "very overstimulating" because of the amount of history and information surrounding her.
For Bryan Amanya of Kampala, Uganda, visiting the Pyramids of Giza fulfilled a childhood fascination.
"I didn't even sleep that day because I was waiting to see them," he recalled.
Seeing the pyramids in person also gave him a new appreciation of the knowledge and skill behind their construction. Gicheru shared a similar reaction to their scale.
"You wouldn't think they were that big when you looked at them online, in books or heard people talk about them. But when you are there in person, you are just like, 'Whoa.'"
Culture, Connection And Leadership
Beyond the landmarks, the cultural experience allowed participants to engage with Egyptian people and challenge some of the assumptions they had held before travelling.
The experience also strengthened connections within the cohort. Volunteers from different African countries, universities and professional backgrounds shared experiences throughout the Games, creating opportunities to learn from different cultures and approaches.
"There is unity in diversity," Agbaje said.
The cultural programme also complemented the wider objectives of the FASU International Volunteering, Youth Leadership Training and Mentorship Programme, which gives young Africans practical experience, leadership development, professional exposure and opportunities to build international networks through university sport.
For Gicheru and Amanya, interacting with people involved in university sport across the continent provided perspectives they could take back to their own environments.
Memories Beyond The Games
The participants left the cultural day with different memories. For Gicheru, the pyramids and museum stood out. Amanya remembered the tours, his first horse ride, the food and the people he met, while Agbaje highlighted the people, culture, history and experiences that shaped her time in Egypt.
The visit added another dimension to their Cairo experience. Having arrived to volunteer, develop their leadership skills and support the 12th All Africa University Games, the young leaders also became participants in a cultural exchange that connected them more closely with Egypt and with one another.
For the third FASU volunteering cohort, the Games provided more than an opportunity to serve. They became a platform for learning, cultural discovery and relationships that could extend beyond the competition.
Source: Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) Original report by: Victor Oluwaseun Olabisi