Empathy in Action: Rethinking Our Relationship with Non-Human Life
Source: https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/summeratauc/bootcamps/empathy-action-rethinking-our-relationship-non-human-life Parent: https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/summeratauc/bootcamps
Our Planet, Our Responsibility: Lead the Change
How can we coexist with animals and plants as our world nears its planetary boundaries? This immersive five-day bootcamp focuses on non-human life, exploring empathy, ethics and sustainability through experiential, hands-on learning. You will engage with key topics including animal welfare, biodiversity and ecosystem balance, urban green spaces, food systems and factory farming, environmental justice and the ethical responsibilities of humans.
Through interactive workshops, field visits, reflective dialogue and group creative exercises, you will examine real-world dilemmas and environmental limits. The program invites you to explore how human decisions affect ecosystems and consider how compassionate leadership can operate within ecological constraints. By the end of the journey, you will design a practical initiative that promotes responsible coexistence with non-human life.
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Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate a deep empathy toward animals, plants and ecosystems to build a foundation for compassionate environmental stewardship.
- Participants will recognize how human actions affect non-human life and planetary systems by analyzing the interconnectedness of global biological networks.
- Each student will apply empathetic leadership to address real-world environmental and animal welfare dilemmas through ethical decision-making frameworks.
- Individuals will develop practical and compassionate solutions that support coexistence with non-human life within diverse ecological contexts.
- Participants will communicate ideas about sustainability and empathy clearly and confidently to inspire collective action and awareness.
Duration and Location
- July 19-22, 2026 (four days)\ Sessions will run daily from 9 am to 4 pm
- AUC New Cairo campus
- Fridays and Saturdays off
- Official Holidays are already compensated for with extra hours
Fees
- EGP 4,500 (price includes all required materials and transportation for field trips)
- The following discounts are offered:
- 10% discount for siblings
- 10% discount for AUC faculty and staff
- 15% discount for AUC alumni
Who Can Apply?
Students aged 12-18 years.
Certification
All the boot camp participants will receive a certificate of participation from The American University in Cairo.
Transportation
The AUC Bus Service is available for an extra fee. Details on the schedule will be shared before the program's start date.
Accommodation
Accommodation is offered at the University Residences in case needed. ded.
About the Instructor
Nellie El Enany
Nellie El Enany is an assistant professor at the School of Business at The American University in Cairo. She teaches courses on decision-making for sustainable organizations and business ethics, integrating experiential and community-based learning into her pedagogy.
El Enany is actively engaged in animal welfare initiatives in Egypt, including sterilization and vaccination campaigns, and collaborates with local and international partners on sustainability and ethical leadership. Her research explores trust, entrepreneurship in constrained environments and gendered livelihoods, while her teaching style emphasizes empathy, creativity and responsible leadership. She is also completing a Master of Arts in psychology, bringing a strong foundation in empathy and human behavior to her work with students.
Refund Policy
A 100 percent refund of the program fees will be granted if the request is submitted at least two weeks before the course start date, or if the request is due to one of the following reasons:
- Course cancellation
- Medical withdrawal
- Visa denial
A 75 percent refund will be granted if the request is submitted within the last two weeks before the course start date.
No refund will be issued if the request is submitted after the end of the last working day (4 pm) and before classes begin, including the weekend prior to the course start date, or after the course has begun.