Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi participated in the fourth edition of “Differently-Abled” ceremony aimed at empowering people of determination at Al-Manara International Conference Centre (AMICC) in New Cairo on Wednesday.
The celebration, held under the slogan of “We have a place”, was attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Minister of Sports and Youth Ashraf Sobhi, and Minister of Social Solidarity Nevin el-Qabbaj.
President Sisi was received upon arrival at Al-Manara center by Minister of Defence and Military Production General Mohamed Zaki, Speaker of the House of Deputies Hanafi el-Gebali, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayyeb, along with a host of senior state officials.
Referring to the slogan of this year’s edition “We have a place, ”President Sisi People of determination are the “owners of the place” rather that only “having a place”.
The celebration began with recitation of verses of Holy Quran by differently abled youth Omar Ashraf.
Amid tremendous applause from participants, and in a humanitarian gesture, President Sisi chatted with one of people with special needs, who spontaneously moved towards the president to hug him and express gratitude for his continued support to them.
Directing his speech to people of determination, President Sisi said: “You are the owners of the place and I am not flattering about that… who knows the truth wishes to be with you.”
President Sisi, meanwhile, affirmed that with God’s help Egypt will overcome any difficulties that it might encounter.
President Sisi affirmed that the state is fully ready to play its role towards all citizens, especially those with special needs.
“Everything in the universe is destined and is directed by God Almighty, but that does not mean that the state and peoples have no role,” President Sisi went on to say.
The president also had the opportunity to meet again with Khadiga Shaban, a differently abled girl, who he brought her a chair to sit on during the last ‘Differently-Abled’ ceremony, saying: “I was lucky to do so”.
Shaban, a 19-year-old student at the Faculty of English Literature of the British University in Cairo, expressed her gratitude to President Sisi for fulfilling her dream of making debut on television and becoming famous.
Sisi made a heart sign with his hands to one of the people of determination after being introduced by renowned actor Ashraf Abdel Baky during the ceremony.
He added, “Parents and mothers think of their children, and nothing was created in vain. So, whoever created the universe is predestined and controlled above all of our imagination and controls his possession, but the state has a role to play.
President Sisi cited the words from the Holy Qura’an: “Do you think We created you in vain, and you will not be returned to Us.”
The president affirmed that the Armed Forces and the police paid a precious price to protect Egypt and its people from the hands of terrorism. He paid tribute to the souls of the army and police martyrs and greeted their families who endured a lot for the sake of Egypt.
In his response to an inquiry from one of people with special needs during the “Ask the President” session, President Sisi said more than 3,000 martyrs of the army and police have sacrificed themselves for Egypt to live in dignity, in addition to 13,000 injured.
He added, “God Almighty has protected Egypt in hard times, noting that our circumstances are more difficult due to overpopulation.
The president went on to say that, a civil war had been possible to occur during the period from 2011-2013, but Allah saved Egypt and this period passed in peace, and the next is better.
During the ceremony, President Sisi launched two initiatives to ensure integration of people of determination into society, one dubbed “accessibility and living independently” that aimed at addressing banks and other institutions as well as employment bodies to empower people of special needs.
The other initiative is the Egyptian edition of the “Best Buddies International” initiative that aims to create opportunities for people of determination.
At the end of the celebration, President Sisi responded to the request of a group of people of determination and special abilities to take a souvenir photo with them.
A documentary was shown on “Differently-Abled” over the years, presenting their achievements thanks to the continued support of President Sisi and all ministries and bodies of the State.
President Sisi commented on the documentary highlighting the care and great attention parents pay to their offspring.
The “Differently-Abled” ceremony is held annually to empower people of determination, who represent more than 10 per cent of the population.
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