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Cairo – Times of Egypt
The ‘Handicap International’ mission in Egypt held an online conference on the ‘IDMAG’ project on Wednesday. IDMAG is a transliteration of the Arabic word which means integration. However, the concept covers two other elements; that is rehabilitation and empowerment of disabled people. The aim of the conference is to provide young people with special need with qualification for employment and empower them with confidence as a prerequisite for social inclusion. The project was launched in the less privileged urban areas of greater Cairo; Al-Warraq island and Imbaba district.
The project is the result of fruitful cooperation between ‘Handicap International’ and Nour Al-Sabah Association in Al-Warraq island with the support of the ‘Drosos’ Foundation.
The virtual conference featured an introduction of the project by Rahma Khaled, Egypt’s first television host with Down Syndrome, and an opening statement by the director of Handicap International’s Egypt mission Nahed al-Khalouf in the presence of Dr.Wessam el-beih the director of the ‘Drosos’ Foundation in Egypt.
Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr.Nevine el-Kabbag, spoke about the importance of the project for the integration of young people with disabilities, and helping them towards employment in both the public and private sectors.
Dr. Heba Hagrass, who participated in the virtual conference, spoke of the daily challenges which people with disabilities face when seeking employment.
The conference highlighted the project’s most prominent achievement, benefiting 1,336 young people with disabilities over the last 63 months. ‘IDMAG’ focuses on establishing the right of persons with disabilities to work and effectively helping them take employment opportunities, earn income and generate businesses.
The project provides “skill-building activities, technical and institutional capacities of business owners, social and economic service, equal job opportunities and inclusive services for young people with disabilities”, according to a statement by Handicap International.
IDMAG’s closing session featured interviews with beneficiaries from the project who spoke about the challenges they face and how they have overcome them.
