“Raising Voices for Inclusive Education” - Campaign update

During the last several months, we have learned about some of the vagaries and ups and downs of advocacy work. In December 2006 our proposed modifications to the 1996 Egyptian Child Law clearly stating the right of children with disability to inclusive education were accepted by the Egyptian National Council of Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM). Our hope was that the amendments would be submitted to the Egyptian Parliament (the People’s Assembly) during Spring 2007.

Expressing feelings in posters and drawings

to be displayed at the media event

However NCCM delayed submission because of amendments to the Egyptian Constitution and because of the hue and cry of Egyptian citizenry outraged by a series of tragic murders of Egyptian street children. On 22 May we heard that the version of the proposed amendments finalized by NCCM and the Egyptian Ministry of Justice were submitted to the chairperson of the Education Committees of the People’s Assembly and the Shura Council. So it seems they will be considered when parliament reconvenes in the Fall.

TFD Network has used the time to organize a media event which will take place in Cairo on 7 June. The event targets members of parliament, especially members of the Education Committees, and media professionals. The objective of the event is to begin raising awareness of the Education Committee members about the situation of children with disability, successful models of inclusion implemented by Egyptian NGOs, and the benefits and cost effectiveness of inclusion. The process of contacting parliamentarians and media professionals is a new learning curve for many of us.

All of the TFD Network member organizations are contributing to the event in various ways: collecting experiences of children with disability with exclusion, designing and ordering T shirts for the children who will participate in the event, conducting workshops at which the children express their feelings in posters and drawings which will be displayed at the event, contacting key guests and speakers, and so on.

Building network capacity in use of media
In March, members of TFD Network organizations benefited from a two day capacity building workshop about dealing effectively with the media. On the first day participants were joined by Atef Kamel, well known Egyptian talk show host. During his segment of the workshop Mr. Kamel recommended that those being interviewed research the TV show and the style of the interviewer, prepare the desired message ahead of time, rehearse it, role play to achieve a confident non-aggressive attitude. Then to give participants a sense of TV interview, Mr. Kamel interviewed two individuals. The interviews were video taped and played back on a TV screen. It was a very effective session.

On Day Two, Journalist Sameh Fawzy spoke to the group about the limited attention given to civil society by Egyptian newspapers, steps to take to identify and contact media professionals interested in disability and education, how to attract the media, and how to write an article for newspaper publication. Working in small groups, participants had the opportunity to try their hand at writing an effective article.

Mother’s Day Celebration at Fairhaven School

Children at Fairhaven School, one of the TFD Network’s member organizations, put on a spectacular performance in celebration of Egyptian Mother’s Day, March 22. Skits addressed issues of concern to children with intellectual disability- for example the overly protective parent who doesn’t allow the child to take responsibility or participate in activities, and the sibling who wants his brother or sister to be kept hidden away out of the sight of friends. The children did a terrific job of making a special day for their mothers.

Website in Development
Work is in progress on an expanded TFD Network Arabic English website. Design of the website “shell” is complete. English-language documents have been loaded; we expect the Arabic-language documents will be loaded by end of June. We are currently selecting photographs to illustrate the text. Many thanks to Philippe Maurice, our website designer.

CF to USA for summer itineration
Nancy Collins, TFD Network companionship facilitator, will spend the summer speaking to members of Presbyterian Churches in the Presbyteries of Des Moines and Southern New England. Nancy is looking forward to meeting pastors and mission committees of partner churches in the Presbytery of Des Moines and conducting workshops about inclusive education at the summer gather of Presbyterian Women of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.

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