Ashraf AboArafe
Seeds of Enlightenment: When Knowledge and Faith Join Hands at Helwan
Ministers of Higher Education and Religious Endowments Participate in the “Correct Your Concepts” Seminar at Helwan University
Minister of Higher Education affirms:
- The “Correct Your Concepts” initiative is a pioneering step toward enhancing youth awareness and strengthening national belonging.
- Youth remain at the heart of the Ministry’s efforts to build enlightened consciousness and foster active participation in national development.
Minister of Religious Endowments affirms:
- “Correct Your Concepts” is a comprehensive national initiative aimed at correcting negative behaviors and misconceptions while reinforcing values.
- The initiative is a cornerstone in building the Egyptian citizen and safeguarding public awareness.
Helwan University President affirms:
- The university seeks to build enlightened national awareness and deepen students’ sense of belonging.
Both Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Osama El-Azhari, Minister of Religious Endowments, participated in a seminar at Helwan University dedicated to the national initiative “Correct Your Concepts.”
The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Religious Endowments under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and supported by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, reflects Egypt’s commitment to building a generation rooted in awareness, values, and constructive engagement.
The event welcomed senior academic and governmental figures, including Dr. El-Sayed Kandil, President of Helwan University; Dr. Mostafa Refaat, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Universities; and other leaders from the Ministry of Higher Education. A large audience of students from public, private, national universities, Al-Azhar University, and higher institutes attended the gathering at the Arts and Culture Complex.
Minister of Higher Education’s Remarks
Dr. Ayman Ashour stated that the seminar represents an important step within the presidential vision for building the New Republic on foundations of awareness and belonging.
He praised the Ministry of Religious Endowments for launching the initiative, highlighting its alignment with the Ministry of Higher Education’s efforts to:
- Strengthen youth awareness and national identity
- Support national initiatives
- Empower universities to prepare an enlightened generation capable of meeting challenges and contributing to Egypt’s renaissance
He emphasized the importance of awareness in a rapidly changing world shaped by intellectual, social, technological, and identity-related challenges. Building this awareness, he noted, requires mindfulness, openness, and active engagement.
Dr. Ashour reviewed key efforts by the Ministry to deepen religious and national consciousness among students, including:
- Awareness seminars with Al-Azhar, the Ministry of Endowments, and Dar Al-Ifta
- University competitions and short films promoting values and moderation
- Integrating the book “Tolerance and Dialogue with the Other” into university curricula
- Hosting national and intellectual figures
- Organizing camps and programs to enhance patriotism and belonging
Minister of Religious Endowments’ Remarks
Dr. Osama El-Azhari thanked Dr. Ashour and university leaders for their dedication to strengthening cooperation between the Ministries of Endowments and Higher Education in promoting awareness and correcting misconceptions.
He traced the origins of “Correct Your Concepts,” explaining that it began as a national awareness campaign and evolved into a comprehensive project supported directly by the Prime Minister. The initiative aims to correct harmful behaviors and misconceptions, protecting society’s moral, religious, and social values.
He noted that the initiative addresses a wide spectrum of issues affecting daily life and societal ethics, including:
- Extremism
- Fraud and law violations
- Child abuse
- Drug abuse
- Bullying
- Mistreatment of people with disabilities
- Road misbehavior
- Bribery
- Family fragmentation
- Suicide
- Football fanaticism
- Extravagance
- Social media addiction
On the religious side, the initiative corrects distorted concepts linked to extremism using calm scientific reasoning and modern media tools, transforming the initiative into an integrated national project for building enlightened public consciousness.
Dr. El-Azhari stressed that the initiative aligns with the vision of the New Republic, where correcting misconceptions is central to building the Egyptian citizen and protecting societal awareness from confusion and misinformation.
Helwan University President’s Remarks
Dr. El-Sayed Kandil reaffirmed Helwan University’s deep commitment to its enlightenment role in confronting extremism and misconceptions.
He emphasized the need for collaboration among state institutions to protect society—especially youth—from destructive ideas.
He explained that the university strives to deliver a cultural and religious discourse that merges authentic values with scientific knowledge, enabling students to distinguish truth from misinformation and to strengthen their national belonging.
Describing university students as the first line of defense against extremist ideas, he urged them to embrace knowledge, dialogue, and active participation in shaping Egypt’s future, stressing that Helwan University will remain:
- a beacon of enlightenment
- a sanctuary of intellectual awareness
- a foundation for generations capable of leading the nation toward progress and stability
Open Discussion and Student Participation
During the seminar, Dr. Osama El-Azhari engaged in an open dialogue with students, listening to their questions on:
- The role of critical thinking in shaping behavior
- The influence of social media and artificial intelligence
- Youth responsibilities in spreading awareness
The session created a dynamic space for constructive exchange between ministers and students on issues of consciousness, values, and safeguarding society from harmful ideas.
Event Organization
The seminar was organized by the Students for Egypt Family – Helwan University, led by Dr. Mohamed Helmy, in cooperation with the Students’ Union and the General Administration for Student Welfare under the supervision of Ms. Nashwa Ali Mostafa.
