The Global Solidarity Network concluded the activities of the training program of the African Union Simulation Model, dedicated to students of the Schools of Excellence in Science and Technology (STEM). The program’s lectures and training workshops were held throughout August 2026, with the participation of 120 male and female students from various governorates across Egypt.
The program featured a number of specialized training sessions aimed at introducing students to the nature of the African Union institutions, decision-making mechanisms, and cooperation frameworks among African countries. It also sought to enhance their awareness of contemporary issues and challenges facing the continent through an integrated educational experience that combined theoretical knowledge with practical application through the simulation model.
The program included three main tracks addressing Peace and Security, Intra-African Trade, and African Civil Society, with the participation of a distinguished group of experts and specialists in African affairs. The training content focused on understanding institutional mechanisms within the African Union and the role of various stakeholders in supporting development pathways and continental integration. The program was inaugurated with a lecture delivered by Ambassador Amr El Gawaly, Director of the Directorate of African Diaspora Organizations and Civil Society at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa. The lecture addressed the economic role of the African diaspora in supporting development across the continent, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the nature of joint African action.
The Peace and Security Track addressed several issues related to conflict management, peacebuilding, and strengthening governance across Africa. Hassnaa Tammam, African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace – North Africa Region, delivered a session discussing concepts of conflict, violence, and peace. During a specialized session, Hager Azzouz reviewed the frameworks of both the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), highlighting their role in supporting stability and strengthening conflict prevention mechanisms. Dr. Heba Assem, a specialist in governance and peacebuilding at the African Union Commission, discussed, during a session titled “Silencing the Guns… Building the Future: How Can Youth Contribute to Achieving the Vision of Agenda 2063?”, the pivotal role of youth in supporting peace and development efforts and consolidating stability across the continent. Political researcher Ibrahim Tantawy also participated in the track’s activities, addressing various African peace and security issues.
The Economic Track focused on opportunities for economic integration among African countries and the challenges facing African economies amid accelerating regional and international transformations. Dr. Mohamed Hassan Khodairy, a specialist in African economic affairs, delivered a session on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its role in enhancing trade and economic integration among African countries. Dr. Samar El Bagoury, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies, discussed the resilience of African economies and their ability to face geopolitical repercussions. Dr. Raed Salama, Founder of Orbit Research and Economic Studies Company, reviewed the impact of current geopolitical developments on the global and African economies and their implications for supply chains across the continent.
The program also included a specialized module on the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), aimed at introducing students to its role in enhancing the participation of civil society organizations and youth within the framework of joint African action, as well as understanding the mechanisms through which non-governmental actors contribute to supporting development and continental integration. Ambassador Mohamed Haroun, Vice President of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), delivered a session titled “Towards Conscious African Leadership: The Model of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council.” The session addressed the nature of the Council’s work and its importance in strengthening societal dialogue across the continent. Farouk Deif, researcher at the Information and Decision Support Center of the Egyptian Cabinet and a specialist in African affairs, reviewed ECOSOCC’s role in shaping Africa’s future and enhancing the participation of various stakeholders in development-related issues.
Dr. Abdel Latif Gouda, a researcher specializing in international organizations, also delivered a session titled “Introduction to ECOSOCC Accreditation and NGOs’ Participation,” addressing mechanisms for accrediting civil society organizations and frameworks for their participation in institutions and mechanisms related to the African Union, highlighting the important role these organizations play in supporting institutional cooperation and strengthening partnerships among different components of African society.
Researcher and anthropologist Hassan Ghazaly, founder of the Global Solidarity Network, under which the African Union Simulation Model is implemented, stated that the program reflects the network’s vision of enhancing Egyptian youth awareness of African issues and providing them with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the continent and the mechanisms of collective action within African institutions. He explained that the model represents an integrated educational platform that provides youth with the opportunity to understand decision-making mechanisms within the African Union through a simulation experience combining academic knowledge and practical application, while promoting an African perspective that reflects the continent’s own contexts, priorities, and realities, beyond perspectives that may not fully capture Africa’s unique characteristics.
Ghazaly added that the program seeks to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become active partners in issues of peace, development, and African integration by combining diplomatic, academic, and research expertise. This approach provides a unique experience that contributes to developing skills in dialogue, analysis, negotiation, vision-building, and position formulation. He noted that the model goes beyond providing information about the African Union and its institutions; rather, it aims to empower youth to recognize the shared challenges facing the continent and explore opportunities for cooperation and integration among African countries.
Ghazaly extended his congratulations to the model’s team of researchers and students led by researcher and translator Mervat Sakr, African affairs researcher Abdullah Qazzaz, and Teyam Mohamed, President of the Students of STEM Schools for Science and Technology, for their efforts in overseeing the implementation of the program’s activities and its various tracks. These efforts contributed to achieving its educational and training objectives and maximizing the participants’ benefit from this experience.
The African Union Simulation Model, established in 2012, is one of the programs of the Global Solidarity Network. It aims to enhance Egyptian youth awareness of African collective action, introduce them to the institutions of the African Union and their mechanisms, and provide a training platform that combines academic knowledge with practical application through simulation, contributing to the development of young people’s skills in dialogue, negotiation, and decision-making.
