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Under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun ​​for Community Service and Environmental Development and Acting Dean of the Faculty, received Her Excellency Ambassador Luz Elena Martinez Kassab, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia in Cairo, during the cultural event organized by the Spanish Language Department in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in Cairo, under the supervision of Prof. Reem El Kabarity, Director of the Ain Shams University Alumni Association.

Prof. Yumna Safwat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development and Acting Dean of the Faculty, affirmed the Faculty's pride in strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between Ain Shams University and Colombian universities.

She explained that the Faculty of Al-Alsun ​​boasts a distinguished academic system encompassing multiple language departments, state-of-the-art language labs, and training and research programs that support the integration of technology in education.

She also indicated the Faculty's readiness to explore opportunities for student and faculty exchange and to enhance joint activities that contribute to strengthening cultural ties between the Egyptian and Colombian peoples.

The event began with a speech by Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam, Head of the Spanish Language Department, who emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation between Ain Shams University and the Republic of Colombia, praising the Embassy's role in strengthening academic and cultural ties with the Faculty of Al-Alsun.

Prof. Rehab Abdel Salam addressed the universal value of Gabriel García Márquez's literature, noting that his works transcended the borders of Latin America to become part of the world's cultural heritage. She also highlighted the similarities between Arabic and Colombian literature in their treatment of human experiences, emotions, traditions, and the profound connection to society and the environment.

Her Excellency Ambassador Luz Elena Martínez Kasab delivered the keynote lecture, taking the audience on a literary journey through Márquez's world. She explained the aesthetic and humanistic features of his texts, the ethical and social values ​​they embody, and his creative use of imagination and its integration into everyday reality, which laid the foundation for the school of magical realism in world literature.

The ambassador emphasized that the ethical dimension of Márquez's literature is rooted in multiple cultural systems, including values ​​deeply embedded in Egyptian culture since Pharaonic times, such as respect for others, environmental conservation, and the promotion of social solidarity—values ​​that form a crucial foundation for cultural understanding between peoples.

At the conclusion of the seminar, Her Excellency visited the Dean's office, where she was received by Prof. Yumna Safwat, who provided her with a brief overview of the Faculty of Al-Alsun's academic and technological capabilities and the available opportunities for international collaboration.

The ambassador expressed her appreciation for these efforts, affirming her desire to explore ways to enhance cooperation between Colombian universities and the Faculty of Al-Alsun ​​in various academic and cultural fields.

The event concluded with a large turnout of students and faculty staff, reflecting the faculty's commitment to fostering cultural exchange and openness to global academic experiences.