On Tuesday evening, September 1, 2026, the stage of the Egyptian Opera House came alive with a celebration that brought together the joy of creativity and the remarkable brilliance of Egypt’s young talents.
The occasion was the closing ceremony of the 2026 cohort of the “Egypt’s Wonder” program, with the inspiring festivities running from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., marking a new chapter in Egypt’s investment in the minds of its young innovators.
The vibrant cultural and educational celebration brought together a distinguished group of leaders from Egypt’s educational community, headed by Dr. Hossam Badrawi, the spiritual mentor of the Education First Foundation; Dr. Salma El-Bakry, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Education First Foundation; Dr. Mahmoud Hamza, Executive Director of the Foundation; Ms. Hanan Seif, Acting Managing Director of Crédit Agricole Bank; Dr. Akram Hassan, Assistant Minister of Education and Technical Education for Presidential Initiatives and Curriculum Development; as well as a distinguished group of prominent figures from the arts and the coaches of the Egypt’s Wonder team.
Dr. Salma El-Bakry delivered a speech on behalf of the Education First Foundation, presenting an overview of the extensive efforts undertaken over the past period to discover, nurture, and support these talented young people. She reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to investing in exceptional minds and creating opportunities for them to grow and thrive.
The exceptional program featured impressive presentations of innovations developed by the Science Team and Technology Team, interspersed with an elegant artistic performance. The evening concluded with a ceremony honoring the talented students, followed by a moving theatrical performance entitled “A Gift.”
Yet amid the formal and celebratory atmosphere, another kind of “gift” was waiting for the project’s spiritual mentor.
An Unexpected Surprise on Stage
The evening was not merely a celebration marking the graduation of a new cohort. It also included a warm and deeply personal moment.
The Egypt’s Wonder team and the Education First Foundation surprised Dr. Hossam Badrawi, a member of the Egypt’s Wonder Board of Trustees, with a special musical performance prepared to celebrate his birthday on stage.
Bows moved gently across violin strings as voices filled the theater with the familiar song “Happy Birthday, Beautiful One,” creating a heartfelt scene that reflected the affection and appreciation felt by everyone toward a figure so deeply admired.
An Inspiring Message and a Vision for the Future
Dr. Hossam Badrawi began his speech visibly moved and impressed, emphasizing that “Egypt’s Wonder is truly a name that lives up to itself.”
Addressing the audience, he explained that what had impressed him was not limited to the achievements and projects presented by the young participants. What impressed him even more was the unique harmony among the members of the team.
They worked with one spirit, setting aside the desire for individual recognition in favor of collective achievement and the success of the model as a whole.
Dr. Badrawi also praised what he described as an unprecedented step that embodies the meaning of institutionalization: allowing graduates of previous Egypt’s Wonder cohorts to participate, together with the Education First Foundation, in managing and supporting subsequent cohorts.
Such continuity, he noted, helps ensure the sustainability of success while expanding the circle of participants and contributors.
In a speech marked by philosophical and intellectual depth, Dr. Badrawi recalled a lecture he had previously delivered at Oxford University on the subject of “The Disintegration of Civilizations.”
He explained that when analyzing the strength of the United States, one finds that its civilizational model is not dependent on a particular president or government. Rather, it rests on a solid foundation of universities, scientific research, production, innovation, and creativity.
It is this ecosystem that is supported and developed until ideas are transformed into projects capable of generating income, allowing the country to become self-sustaining rather than dependent on external assistance.
He then delivered a message from the heart:
“This is what I would like to see happen in Egypt. Egypt possesses the potential and resources to become a great power. At the top of those resources stands its greatest wealth: its people and its youth. Egypt is rich in its children, and Egypt is a continuously renewed civilization.”
Dr. Badrawi then took the audience on a journey through his own passion for knowledge. Although he is a physician and university professor, he explained, he continues to explore other fields of knowledge, including physics and quantum physics.
He emphasized that these readings had transformed and deepened the way he looked at biology, reinforcing his belief that there are no limits to learning and that no age should stand in the way of acquiring knowledge.
The more knowledge one gains, the greater one’s ability to make an impact.
He also captured the audience’s attention with a profound philosophical reflection on the “butterfly effect,” explaining how an extremely small change—perhaps imperceptible at its beginning—can eventually produce an enormous transformation capable of shaking the entire universe.
In closing, Dr. Hossam Badrawi reaffirmed his unwavering faith in Egypt and in its capabilities. He also expressed his confidence that the young people of Egypt’s Wonder would continue to amaze everyone with their talents, creativity, and potential.
He extended his deep appreciation to all those in attendance and to the entire organizing team for creating a truly unforgettable evening.
A Celebration Led with Grace
Dr. Mahmoud Hamza skillfully and confidently hosted the ceremony, contributing through his presence and leadership to an atmosphere of harmony and joy among the audience and the honored students.
He seamlessly connected the different segments of the program, adding a refined and distinctive touch to the evening.
About the “Egypt’s Wonder” Project
Egypt’s Wonder is a scholarship program for talented students in Egypt’s public schools, sponsored by the Crédit Agricole Egypt Foundation for Development and the Education First Foundation, and conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the Ministry of Social Solidarity.
The program aims to identify talented students across Egypt in the fields of science, technology, and the arts, targeting students between the ages of 14 and 18.
The initiative reflects a belief in the vital role of civil society and the private sector in developing and motivating talented students.
Since its launch in the summer of 2018, the program has supported talented students through an annual summer camp. Each year, 25 talented students are selected in the fields of science, information technology, and the arts, with the participation and support of a number of companies and institutions.
Egypt’s Wonder seeks not only to discover talent, but also to open broader pathways for young people to develop their talents and transform their ideas and projects through partnerships with institutions and companies.
In the summer of 2018, the program celebrated the graduation of its first cohort. The top three students were rewarded with a week-long summer camp in the United States, serving as both recognition and encouragement for them to continue developing their diverse talents.
The program’s sponsors have also provided a variety of additional forms of support to the talented students participating in the camp, helping them transform their potential into lasting opportunities for growth and achievement.
