CAIRO: In celebration of International Disability Day, the British Council in Egypt is organizing a series of events to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities.
The celebrations will start on today with “A Celebration of Different Abilities at the British Council s Agouza premises, which will be attended by celebrities and goodwill ambassadors. The open day will include an exhibition of services for people with disabilities provided by different organizations in Egypt.
Open forum discussions will also be held, featuring inspiring stories and talks on issues of disability and social inclusion. A photography exhibition and films on the issue of disability will take place.
The second event is a seminar, entitled “Disability – Becoming Visible, on Dec. 1 by UK keynote speaker Simon Minty, an expert in disability and diversity consultancy and training. The seminar will address equal opportunities and diversity in the areas of employment and the delivery of services, the barriers that people with disabilities face and how to make their inclusion in daily lives, a reality. It will also address the role of media and news coverage of disability issues.
The celebration will culminate on Dec. 3 with the premiere of “Come Listen to This, a unique theater performance, at El Sawy Culture Wheel in Zamalek, in collaboration with the Right to Live Association. The performance is directed by Nada Sabet, a young director and playwright who attended a theater worshop organized by the British Council in Egypt with the Right to Live Association and the UK-based AMICI Dance Theater Company, a unique company integrating able-bodied and disabled artists and performers.
The performance is the result of a self-expressive workshop conducted by Sabet with a group of Egyptian performers.
The British Council’s celebration is in partnership with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the Right to Live Association and El Sawy Culture Wheel. This comes under the British Council’s social inclusion initiative for people with disabilities.