With the participation of 1000 youth volunteers, the Ministry of Social Solidarity launched the “Best Friend” initiative in 24 governorates, to integrate people with disabilities into society, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Alliance for Civil Development Action, where meetings will be held with families and citizens in various governorates of the republic to raise awareness of the need to integrate people with disabilities.
The initiative witnessed collective movements of “Life Makers” volunteer teams to raise awareness of the initiative and its goals in the targeted centers and villages, through holding carnivals and door-to-door campaigns, in addition to distributing brochures, papers and stickers of the “Best Friend” initiative. In Egypt, to explain the idea and invite healthy and disabled people to participate in it.
Young volunteers pasted 50,000 stickers for the campaign, and visited many sports clubs and youth and family gatherings to raise awareness of the campaign and explain the forms and types of disabilities, in addition to forming friendships with people with disabilities and healthy people alike.
The initiative aims to reach 10 million citizens in 24 governorates and raise awareness of how to deal with people with disabilities, and raise awareness of the importance of effectively integrating people with disabilities into society and achieving equality between them and everyone else. This integration has five main axes: individual friendship, leadership and self-development, jobs and professional opportunities, independent living, and digital integration.
The initiative works to clarify misconceptions and change the prevailing negative stereotype about people with disabilities, and is based on raising awareness about disability issues and highlighting the capabilities and achievements that can It is achieved by persons with disabilities if they are given appropriate opportunities. It also encourages societies to adopt comprehensive and accessible practices that enable persons with disabilities to participate in social, cultural and economic life, and works to promote the concept of equality and non-discrimination in all areas of life.
