CAIRO: Prominent educationist Magda Moussa lost her battle with lung cancer on Saturday, Feb. 14, leaving behind a legacy of achievements. President of the Special Olympics in Egypt, Moussa paved the way for Egypt's underground sports event and brought it to the light in less than two decades. Moussa is survived by her husband Ismail Othman, Special Olympics chairman in Egypt and two children. In the 1970s, she was the first school principal in Egypt to integrate special classes for students with cognitive disabilities with other classes at Al Horreya Language Schools. Moussa founded another school in 1985, called Misr Language Schools, along with a Special Olympics program that continued to provide opportunities for children with special needs. "Magda's leadership has forever positively changed the lives of more than 30,000 Special Olympics athletes in Egypt, Ayman Abdel Wahab, Moussa's nephew and managing director for the Special Olympics in the Middle East and North Africa, said in an open letter from Special Olympics Egypt. She joined the Special Olympics movement in 1994 as a national director and was elected as president of the program in 1998. During her tenure as national director and president of the program, she worked determinedly to transform the program into one of the leading programs in the region. Special Olympics Egypt and the lives of Egyptians with mental disabilities would not be what it is today without Magda Moussa . dedicated to social and educational justice, compassionate advocate for those who are vulnerable. We cannot replace her, but we can dedicate ourselves to her memory, Abdel Wahab said in his letter. In addition to her record of achievements, Moussa was a founding member of the Middle East North Africa Regional Advisory Council where she served as Secretary General from 1997 to 2001. She was a legendary force for countless ideas and movements in Egypt and around the region. Everyone who called upon her found the same combination of insight and kindness. She was a treasure not only to her family but also to the MENA region and particularly Special Olympics Egypt, Abdel Wahab added. Moussa was 66.
