By Lolita W. Mansour
Director of Character Education, Safeguarding Lead
Hayah International Academy
Character education has always been a cornerstone in schools around the world, evolving in various forms—from ethics and values education to social-emotional learning, community service, and well-being initiatives. These approaches aim to develop the skills, values, and understanding necessary for students to become balanced and compassionate members of society.
At Hayah International Academy, our journey with Character Education began with our founders, who built the program upon the pillars of the school’s mission. At its core, the Character Education program is designed to embody this mission, shaping its philosophy, curriculum, and tools accordingly. Its success relies not only on finding the right advocates to deliver it but also on adapting to the needs of each new generation, while staying grounded in the school’s guiding principles. With the right balance, a program like this can have a profound and lasting impact.
Core Values in Action
The key concepts that drive the Hayah mission—growth, purpose, cultural identity, diversity, and service to humanity—are deeply ingrained in our Character Education program. From kindergarten through grade twelve, we focus on fostering these values, helping students develop the understanding, skills, and habits needed to serve both themselves and their communities.
Flexibility is essential to the program’s success. It must evolve to address the ever-changing challenges facing different generations, from social and emotional well-being to mental health and community cohesion, all while keeping the school’s mission at the heart of its efforts.
The Hayah Experience: A Long Legacy of Character Building
As Egypt’s pioneering Character Education school, Hayah has seen 14 cohorts of graduates pass through this transformative program. Our alumni describe Character Education at Hayah as a space where they formed meaningful relationships with mentors, reflected on their personal journeys, and felt truly heard and understood. It was a place that taught them purpose, balance, and the importance of giving back.
Many alumni have returned to Hayah to share their insights, becoming mentors and guest speakers for the next generation of students. Their experiences illustrate the profound, long-term impact of a well-structured Character Education program.
Building a Strong Character Education Program
A Character Education program cannot be limited to a single curriculum. At Hayah, we believe that it “takes a village to raise a child.” The success of our journey lies in finding the right partners—teachers, parents, and the wider community—who are committed to walking this path together.
As we continue to refine and grow our program, we are proud of the values it instills in our students. We remain dedicated to guiding them as they shape their futures with purpose, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
