Under the patronage of Egypt’s First Lady, Entissar El-Sisi, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), led by Dr. Iman Karim, launched the third phase of its national initiative “My Family, My Strength” in a conference held at the New Sohag City Conference Hall. The launch was held in cooperation with Maj. Gen. Dr. Abdel Fattah Sirag, Governor of Sohag.
The event brought together senior representatives from across government and civil society, including ministry delegates from Social Solidarity, Education, Youth and Sports, Labor, Endowments, and Al-Azhar, as well as health insurance representatives and local disability affairs coordinators. The conference activities, translated into sign language, included a comprehensive presentation of the initiative’s results across its first two phases, with a strong focus on the unwavering support provided by Mrs. Entissar El-Sisi.
Expanding National Program
The initiative, launched in January 2023 and running through 2030, has so far reached more than 5,000 families across 16 governorates through a combination of awareness sessions, psychosocial support, family counseling, inclusive education training, and community empowerment workshops.
In her address, Dr. Iman Karim emphasized that Mrs. El-Sisi’s ongoing patronage serves as a source of inspiration, motivation, and institutional momentum behind the initiative’s expansion. She reiterated that under President El-Sisi’s leadership, people with disabilities have experienced greater social justice and tangible investment in their capabilities, adding that their rights have become a national priority within Egypt’s “New Republic” framework.
Dr. Karim also noted the initiative’s emphasis on the role of the family as the “first line of support” for people with disabilities, asserting that a fully inclusive society begins with informed, capable families. She highlighted the importance of promoting “peer allyship”—a concept that fosters supportive friendships between individuals with and without disabilities—as a powerful tool for societal integration.
Employment, Empowerment, and On-the-Ground Support
In addition to awareness and support efforts, the conference featured practical empowerment measures. These included:
- Distribution of 20 employment contracts to persons with disabilities,
- Provision of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, to beneficiaries,
- An exhibition showcasing local products crafted by persons with disabilities in Sohag, promoting economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
- Recognition of academic excellence, with honors awarded to two visually impaired students from Sohag who ranked second and third nationally in the 2025 high school exams.
The conference also offered a platform for direct interaction with families, enabling them to submit questions, concerns, and complaints—many of which were addressed on-site through coordination between the NCPD, the governorate, and relevant government agencies.
Sohag Governor: “Toward a Fully Inclusive Society”
Governor Abdel Fattah Sirag praised the national initiative for embodying Egypt’s human-centered political vision, and celebrated the opportunity for Sohag to host the launch of this new phase. He reaffirmed the governorate’s dedication to full societal inclusion and announced the second phase of Sohag’s local initiative “Toward an Inclusive Society”, following a successful pilot last year.
The governor pledged full support for persons with disabilities, including continued provision of assistive devices, public accessibility upgrades, and expanded integration into all aspects of civic life. “Sohag will remain a model governorate in supporting empowerment and inclusion,” he stated.
