English 
Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, witnessed today the launch of the "Tamkeen" initiative in the universities of the Northern Region Alliance, to raise awareness of the rights and duties of students with disabilities, and provide them with equal opportunities, at the headquarters of the Faculty of Engineering. The event was attended by Dr. Ali Abdelmohsen, Acting Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs, Dr. Karim Hammam, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education for Student Activities, Dr. Sherine Yehya, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education for Students with Special Needs, Dr. Yomna Amer, Head of Development at the Global Hope Donors Campaign, Dr. Alaa Gamea, Executive Director of the Taha Hussein Centre for Serving Students with Disabilities, and a large number of deans and vice deans of faculties, faculty members and students.
The initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the global "Hope Givers" campaign, aims to provide a number of services to students with disabilities within the framework of integrating them into society and increasing their student participation base in various activities, as well as cooperating in preparing and qualifying cadres from them to become qualified, trained and able to participate in the community building process. Activities also include organizing competitions, meetings and joint events for these students in partnership with the rest of their colleagues, establishing awareness, educational and training projects and programs, and organizing seminars and workshops to introduce the rights and duties of people with disabilities, in addition to participating in conducting research, studies and conferences related to the issues of young people with disabilities.
In his speech, Dr. Konsowa expressed his pride in hosting this celebration at Alexandria University, stressing his full and unlimited support for our children with disabilities at the universities of the Northern Region Alliance, based on a firm belief in their right to appropriate training and rehabilitation services, and providing them with equal opportunities that enable them to participate effectively alongside the rest of the community, through their participation in integrated activities alongside their colleagues and enhancing cooperation and the spirit of joint work among all students. The university president referred to the efforts made by Alexandria University to support the rights of people with disabilities and provide the capabilities to facilitate their lives within the university. He also pointed to the university’s adoption of a purposeful strategy to internationalize education through joint and dual degrees with advanced-ranking international universities, in addition to supporting the knowledge economy and enhancing cooperation between academia and industry through the Alexandria University Technology Park, pointing to Alexandria University’s initiative to embrace emerging research and creative ideas for students and researchers of Alexandria University and finance them through the Technology Park, and allocating a special track to finance applicable projects and ideas for students and researchers with disabilities at the Northern Region Alliance universities.
Dr. Ali Abdelmohsen praised the support of the Alexandria University President for all student activities and events, pointing out that the issue of supporting people with disabilities is at the top of the university's priorities, expressing his pleasure with the distinguished level of the various artistic performances performed by students with special needs and their inspiring success stories.
Dr. Karim Hammam expressed his thanks and appreciation for all the efforts made to make this initiative a success to implement the Ministry of Higher Education's strategy to empower all members of the academic community, extending his greetings to Alexandria University and all universities of the Northern Region Alliance for their effective participation in providing support to people with disabilities.
Dr. Sherine eahya stressed that the goal of the initiative is to create a more inclusive environment and awareness of the duties and rights of students with disabilities, in light of the new republic's orientations led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the necessity of integrating them into all aspects of life.
Dr. Yomna Maher pointed out that the Hope Givers campaign focuses on the fields of health and education, seeing inspiring models, and spreading awareness of the importance of preparing the conditions for people with special needs to live their lives normally.
During the meeting, several documentary films were screened about Alexandria University and empowering students with disabilities, and the Hope Givers campaign that was launched in Geneva in 2021, which aims to provide support and inspiration to those fighting serious diseases, people with special needs, orphaned children, and others by launching initiatives and partnerships with governmental and non-governmental institutions that contribute to providing hope and assistance to them, in addition to inspiring success stories of students with disabilities. Wonderful musical performances were also presented in which integrated special needs students and people with disabilities participated, which received great interaction from the audience.