“Abtaal .. Abtaal” (Heroes .. Heroes) is the title of a new book issued by the National Centre for Children’s Culture. It tackles, in a simple approach accessible to children and with beautifully attractive illustrations, the importance of merging persons with disabilities in the community.
Written by Tharwat Fathy and illustrated by cartoonist Hany Danial, the book introduces a number of successful figures from among Egyptian persons with disabilities. Of those are Safaa’ Taha Abdel-Latif who won several gold medals and appreciation certificates for her achievements in the field of civil society associations; and Sherifa Massoud, a bright, witty, elegant young woman who is herself blind and has a PhD in Psychology. She was managing editor of Watani Braille for ten years (2004-2014), and has for years worked in the field of human development of persons with disabilities. She now does so through EDU Foundation, a foundation she has established for just that purpose.
Another role model is the young journalist Ahmed Riyad Abu-Hmeila who is a blind. He graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Media, and now works with the Cairo independent daily al-Masry al-Youm. Other prominent persons with disabilities introduced in the book include Paralympic champions.
Dr Fathy, the author, is a professor of journalism and head of the educational media department at Cairo University, whereas cartoonist Mr Danial is director of animated films at the specialised channels of Egyptian TV.
Watani International
16 April 2019
