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Using the Internet to Get from a Red-Cross Shelter in Egypt to Columbia University

Written by Subject: Egypt

Meet Moawia Eldeeb, the face of education in the information age. Although homeless and living in a Red-Cross shelter he was able to get himself into Colombia University.

How? The Internet!

Here is his story:

"I was born in Egypt," he said. "I worked on a farm until 3rd grade with no education. I came to the US for one year, started 4th grade, but was pulled out because my father couldn't find work and returned to Egypt for a year. The first time I went to an actual school was middle school, but the whole school was in one classroom, and I was working as a delivery boy to help the family. It was illegal for me to be working that young, but I did. When I finally got into high school, my house burned down. We moved into a Red Cross Shelter, and the only way we could live there is if we all worked as volunteers. I got through high school by watching every single video on Khan Academy, and teaching myself everything that I had missed during the last nine years. Eventually I got into Queens College. I went there for two years and I just now transferred to Columbia on a scholarship provided by the New York Housing Association for people who live in the projects. It's intimidating, because everyone else who goes to Columbia went to the best schools, and have had the best education their entire lives."

or if you'd like you can hear it from his own lips.

Meet Moawia Eldeeb, the face of education in the information age. Although homeless and living in a Red-Cross shelter he was able to get himself into Colombia University. How? The Internet! Here is his story: "I was born in Egypt," he said. "I worked on a farm until 3rd grade with no education. I came to the US for one year, started 4th grade, but was pulled out because my father couldn't find work and returned to Egypt for a year. The first time I went to an actual school was middle school, but the whole school was in one classroom, and I was working as a delivery boy to help the family. It was illegal for me to be working that young, but I did. When I finally got into high school, my house burned down. We moved into a Red Cross Shelter, and the only way we could live there is if we all worked as volunteers. I got through high school by watching every single video on Khan Academy, and teaching myself everything that I had missed during the last nine years. Eventually I got into Queens College. I went there for two years and I just now transferred to Columbia on a scholarship provided by the New York Housing Association for people who live in the projects. It's intimidating, because everyone else who goes to Columbia went to the best schools, and have had the best education their entire lives." or if you'd like you can hear it from his own lips.
 

These are the kind of borders that are being broken down in todays world.

Would this kind of thing be possible only ten years ago? I don't think so.

There are countless resources on the internet now where you can get access to world class teachers on almost every topic. Many top universities have opened up their entire curriculum and video lectures to the public.

Education is changing right before our very eyes. Are you paying attention?

By James Guzman

James Guzman is a American born writer and explorer based out of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico specializing in non-conventional markets and countries.

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