Washington, DC – Today, Atlas Corps, Civic Enterprises, and the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) held a discussion with three locally-based Atlas Corps Fellows and young non-profit leaders who are visiting the U.S. from Egypt: Sally Salem, Mirette Bahgat, and May Kosba. John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises, Chairman of NCoC’s National Advisory Board, and former Assistant to the President of the United States moderated the discussion.

All three participants were integrally involved with the initial formation and ongoing revolution currently underway in Egypt.These Fellows arrived in America shortly after the Egyptian Revolution, which began January 25, 2011, and lasted 18 days at its peak of protest and violence. The citizen-driven revolution resulted in the resignation of the country’s president, Hosni Mubarak, and paved the way for democratic leadership in Egypt. Video of the discussion is available at http://ncoc.net/EgyptReflections

“When the revolution in Egypt began, I had no idea how big of an impact it would have. Like many other Egyptians, I was skeptical about the movement’s ability to succeed. I’m glad that my initial cynicism was proven wrong, and I now have even greater faith in individuals’ ability to create positive change. Through my Atlas Corps Fellowship at Grameen Foundation, I will continue to learn how we can work together to improve our local and global communities,” said Atlas Corps Fellow Sally Salem, who was attacked with tear gas during the protests in Tahrir Square.

“When I applied for the Atlas Corps Fellowship last year, Egypt was still under a corrupt regime. However, I told myself that I could make a difference – even if just in my local community – to improve social justice and living standards in Egypt. Now that the revolution has occurred, I believe that my ability to help empower the Egyptian people is even greater. The Atlas Corps Fellowship and my work with Civic Enterprises provide an incredible opportunity for me to advance my career in community development and take full advantage of my country’s newfound freedom,” said Atlas Corps Fellow Mirette Bahgat.

“Through my experiences in the U.S. thus far, I have learned that I identify myself as a feminist. As a Muslim woman in a masculine society, I had to work hard to keep from becoming disempowered and to advance my career in the nonprofit sector. I believe that the Egyptian revolution will result in more freedom for women and all Egyptian citizens, and I look forward to continuing to stand up for equal rights,” said Atlas Corps Fellow May Kosba, who wrote poems and posted them on social media to protest the Egyptian government.

During the panel discussion, Mirette, May, and two other Egyptian Atlas Corps Fellows shared and reflected on their experiences during the Revolution. They also related their experiences to what they hope to learn during their time in the U.S. Any follow-up interviews with the participants can be arranged by contacting the individuals listed above, and biographies of the Fellows can be viewed here: http://www.atlascorps.org/current-fellows.html.

About Atlas Service Corps (Atlas Corps)
Atlas Corps, founded in 2006, is an international network of nonprofit leaders and organizations that promotes innovation, cooperation, and solutions to address the world’s 21st century challenges. Their mission is to address critical social issues by developing leaders, strengthening organizations, and promoting innovation through an overseas fellowship of skilled nonprofit professionals. Profiled as a “best practice” in international exchange by the Brookings Institution, featured in the Washington Post as a model social entrepreneurship program, and recognized as a Top 10 International Voluntary Service Program by the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, Atlas Corps engages experienced nonprofit leaders in 12 to 18 month fellowships to learn best practices, share unique insights, and return home to create a network of global changemakers committed to addressing some of the world’s critical social issues. To date, 74 rising nonprofit leaders from 23 countries have served as Atlas Corps Fellows in Washington, DC, New York, and Bogota, Colombia. Atlas Corps plans additional national and international expansion in the next 12 months. For more information about Atlas Corps, please visit www.atlascorps.org.

About Civic Enterprises
Civic Enterprises is a public policy firm that helps corporations, nonprofits, foundations, universities and governments develop and spearhead innovative public policies to strengthen our communities and country. Created to enlist the private, public and nonprofit sectors to help address our Nation's toughest problems, Civic Enterprises draws on some of the best minds in the country to fashion new initiatives and strategies that achieve measurable results.

About the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC)
Founded in 1946 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the National Conference on Citizenship provides information on the nation’s civic life. The organization tracks, measures and promotes civic participation and engagement in partnership with other organizations. NCoC focuses on ways to enhance history and civics education, encourage national and community service, and promote greater participation in the political process. For more information, visit www.NCoC.net.

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