When I was a child growing up in Egypt, I used to stand in front of a whiteboard in my room, pretending to be an inspiring teacher - a dreamer sharing knowledge, kindness, and hope. Life had different plans; I became a software engineer. But that dream of sharing something never truly left me.

Years later, Cisco's Time2Give initiative - a benefit that offers employees 80 hours a year of paid time to give back to causes they care about - made my dream of teaching possible in a way that is not bound by borders or continents.

As an expat living in Kraków, Poland, I'm often asked how I navigate cultural differences and whether I find it difficult to connect with people. My answer tends to surprise people: I've never truly felt there were major differences.

That might sound na?ve or strange at first - but it genuinely reflects how I see the world. I don't say this to ignore the reality of cultural nuance. Rather, I've always viewed humanity as whole. Whether in Egypt - where I grew up - or in Poland, where I've built a new chapter of my life, I've found a shared passion for music and love for beauty, heard similar struggles, and stories that echo that we all face the same moral dilemmas even if the stories are told in different languages.

This specific worldview has shaped not just my ability to adapt, but also my desire to give - to contribute meaningfully, and to live with curiosity and compassion. This is what Time2Give means to me: connecting without hesitation and embracing the belief that humanity should always come first.

In November 2024, I flew to Cairo, Egypt, after receiving confirmation from my manager that I could use my Time2Give days there. The very next morning, I woke up early to meet the bus from a local nonprofit focused on education and social aid. We set off from New Cairo toward El-Duweiqa, a community in the hills of Muqattam.

El-Duweiqa is a deeply underserved neighborhood that tragically came into the public eye after a devastating rockslide in September 2008. The disaster displaced thousands of families, many of whom were later relocated to housing projects - but poverty, neglect, and lack of opportunity continued to shape daily life there for some of them, especially for children.

I spent the day with a community where things we often take for granted - like consistent access to education - were seen as privileges. My role was simple yet powerful: to offer love, attention, and share technical knowledge. The children had very little, yet carried boundless joy, curiosity, and hunger for learning. Their discipline in class and their sharp minds made it obvious - they were ready for more, if only given the chance.

We shared smiles, played games, and simply connected. I also spoke with the nonprofit staff about their ongoing tech challenges and how we could improve safety and connectivity in their learning spaces.

When I returned to Poland, my second home for the past three years, something unexpected happened. Maciej Kordas, an amazing leader in software engineering, heard some of my stories at Cisco Live - Cisco's global tech conference - and invited me to participate in an open day for a local high school in which his daughter attends. It wasn't a charity event, but a knowledge-sharing session with teenagers - showing them what a career in IT could look like. The students visited our Cisco Kraków office, as part of a regular initiative by Connected Poland.

While I spoke about technology, I also shared something more personal: the importance of diverse perspectives in tech, and how young girls can carve their own paths in a field that's still predominantly male.

I've spoken at Cisco Live and other major events but standing in front of teens was something else entirely. Teenagers don't sugarcoat anything. If you're boring - they'll let you know. If you're inspiring - you'll see it light up their faces. They taught me something profound: that authenticity matters more than expertise, and that to connect with them, you must be more real than the digital noise they live in.

In both El-Duweiqa and Kraków, I was reminded of the little girl I once was - standing in front of a whiteboard, dreaming of someday giving back. Time2Give didn't just fulfill that childhood dream - it humbled me. Every time I show up to teach, I leave having learned something deeper: about humanity, honesty, respect, the courage to speak up about serious issues, and the clarity that comes from seeing your place in a much bigger world.

It's a liberating feeling - to give without expecting, to connect across borders and generations.

If you're searching for purpose, I urge you to look for these opportunities. That's why I love working at Cisco. With Time2Give, we're encouraged to make an impact - given 80 paid hours a year, on top of vacation time, to support our communities, share our talents, and pursue our purpose. These opportunities let us change the world, but they also change us.

See how Cisco supports our employees' purposes through our Purpose.

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