Egypt: Shams El Birr

Shams El Birr

Location: Cairo, Egypt
Director: Dr Morcos Boulos
Founded: 1989

How it all started
Shams El Birr, meaning 'Sun of Righteousness', began in a small flat with five blind girls. Within a few years there were almost 50 residents in ten flats, and the project is still growing. It moved to a purpose built centre in 2001, where there are now about 60 residents.

The main aims of the Centre are to educate both blind and disabled adults and children and, by helping them to integrate within the community, to prepare them to be independent in the future. The Centre provides all its services for free to everyone who attends. Many of the children arrive withdrawn and uncommunicative and often unable to play, but Dr Morcos and his staff make excellent progress with the young people.

Current activities

Education: All levels of education are given, from elementary through to university levels.

Blind children of school age go daily to a local special school for the blind, where they are educated with their peers. After school, they return to the Centre, where they do their homework and participate in other activities. Most of these children continue their education through to secondary school, and sometimes beyond.
Children over school age are educated at the Centre, following the national curriculum. At the end of the year, they go to the local special school where they sit the exams with the other pupils. These children come from villages and cities across Egypt, as there are no other such centres or schools where they can be educated.
Adult education and literacy takes place at the Centre, for both those who are blind and those who are disabled in other ways. These adults often missed out on an education because of their disability. Most people come daily to the Centre, from neighbouring communities. The Centre provides an adult education programme and vocational training courses, and those attending can choose which, and how many, courses to participate in. The vocational training courses include knitting, sewing, weaving, cane and bamboo work and shoe making. Once they have finished their vocational training courses, the Centre helps each student to find a job.

Special activities: The Centre does not just provide schooling for those who attend, but also teaches valuable life skills.

One of the most important programmes is the mobility training for the blind students. On this course, orientation skills are taught, as well as how to use a white cane.
Typewriting helps to develop finger movement and increases touch sensation. There are both Arabic and English computers and normal and Braille typewriters.
The self care programmes are essential for the students, who are often prevented from learning important daily skills during their childhood. Skills such as cooking, cleaning, sewing and ironing are taught. These skills are important for the students to learn so that they are prepared for their independence upon leaving the Centre. The main objectives of the programme are health care and hygiene.
One of the main subjects taught to the students of all ages and all abilities, is music.

Rehabilitation programmes: The Centre runs rehabilitation programmes both internally (with students and their families) and within the student's community. These programmes include psychological, emotional and vocational aspects.

The rehabilitation programmes consider work with each student's family essential, not just complimentary. There is a very negative attitude towards disabled people in Egypt and the Centre aims to help families overcome this, both within themselves and their communities.
The Centre also runs community based rehabilitation programmes. For rehabilitation to be successful, members of the community must recognise and accept those with disabilities, which may require a significant change in attitude.

In addition, Shams El Birr also holds Bible studies and meetings for the adults, and a Sunday school for the children. It prints books in Braille, and has a shop to sell the products made in the vocational training workshops.

Shams El Birr Location: Cairo, Egypt Director: Dr Morcos Boulos Founded: 1989 How it all started Shams El Birr, meaning 'Sun of Righteousness', began in a small flat with five blind girls. Within a few years there were almost 50 residents in ten flats, and the project is still growing. It moved to a purpose built centre in 2001, where there are now about 60 residents. The main aims of the Centre are to educate both blind and disabled adults and children and, by helping them to integrate within the community, to prepare them to be independent in the future. The Centre provides all its services for free to everyone who attends. Many of the children arrive withdrawn and uncommunicative and often unable to play, but Dr Morcos and his staff make excellent progress with the young people. Current activities Education: All levels of education are given, from elementary through to university levels. Blind children of school age go daily to a local special school for the blind, where they are educated with their peers. After school, they return to the Centre, where they do their homework and participate in other activities. Most of these children continue their education through to secondary school, and sometimes beyond. Children over school age are educated at the Centre, following the national curriculum. At the end of the year, they go to the local special school where they sit the exams with the other pupils. These children come from villages and cities across Egypt, as there are no other such centres or schools where they can be educated. Adult education and literacy takes place at the Centre, for both those who are blind and those who are disabled in other ways. These adults often missed out on an education because of their disability. Most people come daily to the Centre, from neighbouring communities. The Centre provides an adult education programme and vocational training courses, and those attending can choose which, and how many, courses to participate in. The vocational training courses include knitting, sewing, weaving, cane and bamboo work and shoe making. Once they have finished their vocational training courses, the Centre helps each student to find a job. Special activities: The Centre does not just provide schooling for those who attend, but also teaches valuable life skills. One of the most important programmes is the mobility training for the blind students. On this course, orientation skills are taught, as well as how to use a white cane. Typewriting helps to develop finger movement and increases touch sensation. There are both Arabic and English computers and normal and Braille typewriters. The self care programmes are essential for the students, who are often prevented from learning important daily skills during their childhood. Skills such as cooking, cleaning, sewing and ironing are taught. These skills are important for the students to learn so that they are prepared for their independence upon leaving the Centre. The main objectives of the programme are health care and hygiene. One of the main subjects taught to the students of all ages and all abilities, is music. Rehabilitation programmes: The Centre runs rehabilitation programmes both internally (with students and their families) and within the student's community. These programmes include psychological, emotional and vocational aspects. The rehabilitation programmes consider work with each student's family essential, not just complimentary. There is a very negative attitude towards disabled people in Egypt and the Centre aims to help families overcome this, both within themselves and their communities. The Centre also runs community based rehabilitation programmes. For rehabilitation to be successful, members of the community must recognise and accept those with disabilities, which may require a significant change in attitude. In addition, Shams El Birr also holds Bible studies and meetings for the adults, and a Sunday school for the children. It prints books in Braille, and has a shop to sell the products made in the vocational training workshops.