Raising Voices for Inclusive Education

TFD chose to focus on the rights of children with disability in March 2005. Throughout 2005, with assistance from Dr. Alaa Sebeh, the network underwent a capacity building process in public policy advocacy while researching the situation of persons with disability and the relevant Egyptian laws and practices. In June 2006 network members selected inclusive education as their policy change objective. During 4th quarter 2006, TFD worked with a coalition of organizations including Save the Children UK, Islamic Relief, and SETI Center, a large training center for parents and teachers of children with intellectual disabilities. At this point TFD began participating in workshops held by a variety of coalition organizations. The changes to the law were defined through a participatory process assisted by lawyer Taher Abu Nasr.

Conferences and Participatory Planning Activities

• Islamic Relief Workshop coordinated by Dr. Abdel Hamid Kabesh, IR director. This was an all day workshop focused on rewriting the Egyptian Law of Rehabilitation. It was attended by representatives from a wide array of NGOs concerned with the situation of persons with disabilities. Dr. Nabil Sisostres represented TFD Network and introduced the network to participants.

• Quality Education Network meeting of major NGO’s concerned with improving quality of Egyptian education. Dr. Alaa introduced TFD Network to participants.

• Adel Badre of Women and Society Association represented Mrs. Seham Negm, regional coordinator of Education for All at an ANCEFA workshop entitled “Civil Society Campaign on Education for All.” ANCEFA is Africa Network Campaign on Education for All. Adel presented TFD’s advocacy campaign for inclusive education. The workshop facilitator singled out the TFD campaign as the single most significant ANCEFA effort underway.

• Dr. Alaa attended Regional SC UK meeting with senior Egyptian ministers including the Minister of Education and Moushira Khattab, chairperson of National Council of Childhood and Motherhood. Minister of Education was receptive to changes in Child Law; Moushira indicated NCCM was not interested in receiving additional changes. However when told that 25 NGOs supported the proposed amendments, she indicated she would accept them, provided they were submitted to NCCM within a few days.

• TFD Network Working Meeting with Dr. Alaa, TFD Lawyer Taher Abu Nasr, SC UK junior attorney Radwa, SETI Center Representative, and TFD representatives Mrs. Nancy Collins, Dr. Nabil Sisostres, and Mr. Adel Badre. Purpose of the meeting was to move forward with proposed amendments to 1996 Child Law for presentation at 7 December workshop in Alexandria.

• Inclusive Education Advocacy Committee with Dr. Alaa, Dr. Abdel Hamid Kabesh, Director of Islamic Relief; Mrs Hala Hak, from AUC Department ofSociology, Mrs. Nevine El Attar of NIDA Association, 2 other women, and TFD representatives Mrs. Nancy Collins, Dr. Nabil Sisostres, Lawyer Taher Abu Nasr and Adel Badre

In addition to the above, Mr. Taher Abu Nasr, Dr. Nabil Sisostres, and Adel Badre met on multiple occasions to work on the proposed amendments. After the meetings of 23 and 27 November, paper presenting the proposed amendments was reviewed and finalized by Dr. Kabesh and Mrs. Hala Hak. During the week preceding the Alexandria conference, Dr. Alaa Sebeh was at a workshop in Damascus, Syria, and thus unable to participate in final arrangements.

A series of media events were a strong conclusion to TFD’s 2006 advocacy campaign. Information about each event follows on page two.

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