Empathy in Action: Rethinking Our Relationship with Non-Human Life Summer 2026

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.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Demonstrate a deep empathy toward animals, plants and ecosystems.
• Recognize how human actions affect non-human life and planetary systems.
• Apply empathetic leadership to address real-world environmental and animal welfare dilemmas.
• Develop practical and compassionate solutions that support coexistence with non-human life.
• Communicate ideas about sustainability and empathy clearly and confidently.

Duration and Location

• July 19-22, 2026 (4 Days)
• Sessions will run daily from 9 am to 4 pm
• AUC New Cairo campus
• Fridays and Saturdays off
• Official Holidays are compensated for with extra hours

Fees

• EGP 4,500 (price including materials needed)
• 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. 

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’s in psychology, bringing a strong foundation in empathy and human behavior to her work with students.

Refund Policy

A 100% 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% 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.