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Ataa Charitable Investment Fund for Supporting Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusion Association for Persons with Disabilities expand their projects to achieve educational equity for students with disabilities.

Reaffirming the continued success of the joint cooperation between Ataa Charitable Investment Fund for Supporting Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusion Association for Persons with Disabilities and Community Development in Assiut, Ms. Amira El-Refaie, Executive Director of Ataa Fund, and Dr. Sally Abadir, Executive Director of the Inclusion Association, signed two new projects.
These projects aim to develop Al-Noor School for the Blind in Minya Governorate and expand inclusive education for students with intellectual, visual, autism spectrum, attention deficit and hyperactivity, and learning disabilities within inclusive schools.

The technological development of Al-Noor School for the Blind in Minya aims to provide high-quality, advanced educational and technological tools that keep pace with current developments, build teachers’ capacities, and train students on their use.
This expansion builds on the successful experience of the technological development project at Al-Noor School for the Blind in Assiut Governorate, which is being adopted as a leading, replicable model for implementation at Al-Noor School in Minya.

The Assiut experience received strong recognition from the Ministry of Education and Assiut Governorate leadership, where the primary stage of the school was equipped through the provision of 66 Perkins Braillers, training 66 primary-level students in Braille, and building the capacities of 18 teachers in Braille instruction.
In addition, a fully equipped technology laboratory was established for the preparatory and secondary stages, and 60 students at the preparatory and secondary levels were trained on the use of assistive technology, alongside capacity building for 6 teachers.

The project achieved outstanding results, with 84% of primary-stage students demonstrating improvements in Braille reading and writing skills with improvement rates exceeding 80%.
At the preparatory and secondary levels, 72% of students showed improvement in computer skills and assistive technology use with improvement rates exceeding 80%.

Furthermore, awareness-raising and educational workshops were conducted for 70 teachers, 115 students, and 120 families to support effective engagement with students with visual disabilities and strengthen their inclusion.
This has positioned the school as a leading and replicable model for Al-Noor Schools for the Blind nationwide.

Ms. Amira El-Refaie, Executive Director of Ataa Fund, emphasized that expanding inclusive education projects for students with intellectual, visual, autism spectrum, attention deficit and hyperactivity, and learning disabilities represents a continuation of the fruitful partnership between both entities and the tangible impact achieved for students with disabilities.
This expansion builds on the outcomes of the “Welcoming and Advanced Schools” projects implemented in Phases One and Two in Cairo and Assiut Governorates, which supported and strengthened inclusive education opportunities for students with disabilities.

During the previous phases, inclusive education was activated for students with visual and intellectual disabilities in 63 schools across Cairo and Assiut, in support of the educational equity pillar.
A total of 310 students with disabilities benefited from resource rooms, while assistive tools—such as white canes, magnifiers, and other assistive devices—were provided to 29 targeted students.
In addition, 42 students with visual disabilities were trained on the use of assistive technologies, including laptops and electronic Braille displays.

The upcoming phase will provide services to 387 students with disabilities over a two-year period across 71 public schools at the primary, preparatory, and secondary levels.

It is worth noting that Ataa is the first charitable investment fund established in Egypt, with a dedicated focus on supporting persons with disabilities.
One of the most significant advantages of the charitable investment fund model is ensuring sustainable funding, as expenditures are made from investment returns rather than the principal capital.
There is also a clear separation between funding allocation and the implementation of charitable and social projects, in addition to the management of the Fund’s investment portfolio by a specialized company licensed by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA)—all of which enhances oversight and strengthens the Fund’s performance.

Investment in good causes through purchasing certificates of the Ataa Charitable Investment Fund for Supporting Persons with Disabilities is available to individuals, companies, and other legal entities through branches of several Egyptian commercial banks, in addition to Nasser Social Bank.