The Goethe-Institut Cairo hosted its 2nd German Learners Day yesterday under the festive theme of “Between Kahk and Lebkuchen," bringing together students from across Egypt in a vibrant celebration of language learning, cultural exchange, and youth creativity.
The event, described as a “Festival of Cultures, A Competition of Ideas,” transformed the institute into a lively space where German learners from various Egyptian schools met through theater, storytelling, and student performances.
Participants came from five different governorates and ten schools, all of whom had advanced through earlier selection rounds to reach the final stage at the Goethe-Institut Cairo.
The day opened with welcoming remarks from Katharina Karpa, projects coordinator at the Goethe-Institut Cairo, who highlighted the institute’s continuous collaboration with teachers and students and emphasized the importance of German language learning as a bridge to new opportunities and cultures.
She also referred to the event as a celebration of youth vitality, cultural dialogue, and educational exchange.
Lilli Kobler, Regional Director of Goethe-Institut MENA Region, described the day as a “living celebration of youth at the heart of cultures,” noting that the event brought together learners and teachers of German in a shared space of creativity and interaction.
She emphasized that language learning opens doors not only to Germany but also within Egypt, adding that winners would receive scholarships.
She also expressed gratitude to the German Embassy and Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education, wishing participants a successful and inspiring day.
From the German Embassy, Thilo von Gilsa, the cultural attaché, delivered remarks on behalf of the ambassador.
He expressed his honor at attending for the first time and highlighted the growing importance of German-language education in Egypt.
He noted that around 590,000 learners currently study German in Egypt, making the country a key center for German cultural exchange.
He also referenced long-standing educational cooperation, including German schools in Egypt and the “100 German-Egyptian Schools Initiative,” with the first school opening in 6th of October City last year.
He concluded by thanking the Ministry of Education and the Goethe-Institut for their continued partnership.
Representing the Ministry of Education, Hala Abdel Salam, the head of the Central Department of General Education, conveyed greetings from Minister Dr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, describing the event as both educational and cultural.
She stressed that such initiatives embody human-centered investment in education, strengthen intercultural understanding, and open new pathways for the future. She also reaffirmed the strong cooperation between the ministry and the Goethe-Institut.
This year’s edition focused on theatrical performances created by students around the themes of Christmas and Eid El Fitr (Zuckerfest), as well as broader reflections on cultural diversity and celebration.
The performances blended humor, imagination, and intercultural dialogue, showcasing how young learners interpret traditions across Germany and Egypt.
First place winners were Capital International School, Cairo, with their performance "Ziko Discovers Earth’s Festivals" and their teacher Eman Gomaa Hamed.
This imaginative performance followed a curious alien who lands on Earth and embarks on a journey to understand human celebrations.
Through encounters with Egyptian and German traditions, the play explored what makes festivals meaningful, highlighting both differences and shared human joy.
The second-place winner was El-Swedy Experimental School, Sharkia with their performance "A Dream Exchange" and their teacher Aya Ibrahim Sadek
The story centers on two colleagues with contrasting festive traditions, one rooted in quiet candlelit celebrations and the other in lively family gatherings.
Through a dreamlike twist, each experiences the other’s culture firsthand, raising questions about empathy, perspective, and understanding across differences.
The third-place winners were El Hayah International School, New Cairo, with their performance "The Family Duel: Two Festivals, One Heart," and their teacher Marwa Nour El-Din Ghazy.
This comedic play followed three brothers competing over festive traditions, from food and decorations to gift-giving styles. The performance humorously explored cultural blending, ultimately suggesting that identity can embrace multiple traditions at once.
Honorable Mention went to Amr Ibn El-Ass Experimental School, Gharbia for their performance titled "The Colorful Tablecloth" and their teacher Asmaa Gouda Saad Hussein
The story depicted a family preparing simultaneously for Christmas and Eid al-Fitr, resulting in humorous chaos as cultural symbols and traditions intersected in unexpected ways. The performance celebrated hospitality and cultural coexistence.
Throughout the event, speakers and participants repeatedly emphasized a central idea: language is a bridge.
German learning was presented not only as an academic pursuit but also as a gateway to intercultural understanding, creativity, and opportunity.
The event also highlighted the growing demand for German language education in Egypt and the expanding educational cooperation between Egyptian institutions, the German Embassy, and the Goethe-Institut Cairo.
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