AUC celebrates its centennial with inaugurating Tahrir Cultural Centre
The American University in Cairo (AUC) on Saturday celebrated 100 years since opening its doors in Egypt.
The gala celebration witnessed the inauguration of AUC’s Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC), the town’s biggest, most facilitated centre, which is planned to be a hub for young talents in the fields of music, theatre, and cinema.
The centre is funded by famous businessperson Naguib Sawiris who took part of the event being one of the AUC’s alumni.
The event was attended by dozens of intellectuals and public figures who were once students in the elite university, including the Minister of Tourism, Rania Al-Mashat, prominent anchor Lamis Al-Hadidy, adventurer Omar Samra ,and veteran host MonaAl-Shazly.
In his speech, Sawiris stated that he funded the TCC and expects nothing in return, as he believes in the importance of culture in shaping youth’s lives.
“Funding the Tahrir Cultural Centre is my way of showing gratitude for AUC for graduating the most qualified youth we can hire at our companies,” he said.
He stressed on the fact that the AUC’s graduates are, currently, the country’s top talents that can be relied on in the labour market.
Sawiris added that his funding of the TCC aimed at helping young generations to fight extremism in the community.
“Nothing promotes a country but its youth, and nothing can educate youth more than culture does,” he added.
The event also commemorated the legendary singer Um Kolthum who once stood at the AUC stage, where the event took place, and performed some of her most famous songs.