CAIRO: In a bid to include people with disabilities in the community and workplace, the Binational Fulbright Commission held a career development seminar for its Community College Initiative alumni who returned from the US, including eight alumni with hearing impairments. As part of the Community College Initiative (CCI), the eight graduates underwent a rigorous program that started before they traveled to the US at the beginning of the academic year. After they were accepted in the program, the alumni passed five levels of English language training in only eight months before going to the US, where they were faced with “a new and completely different world to them, with challenges and adventures,” explained CCI Project Specialist Hana Fahmy. Since they spent one semester at Ohlone College in Fremont, California studying the American Sign Language (ASL), the university proposed a special program whereby the students learned Microsoft Office, presentation skills, marketing, establishing small businesses, computer programs in different fields and granted internships, after which they received a certificate for completion. Alongside student life, the CCI alumni described the experience of living abroad in a different culture and environment extremely enriching and beneficial. They also participated in a conference in Las Vegas, where they represented Egypt. “Furthermore, they also commuted independently throughout their stay, mainly taking frequent visits to the nearby San Francisco by themselves,” said Fahmy. The alumni also acquired leadership skills, and shared their experiences and culture with students in schools for the hearing impaired. “We need to include them with us, amend our environment, change the society, employees need to be ready to communicate [because] they are eager to teach their sign language,” said Fahmy. Fahmy cited fire alarms, that need to be visual rather than only audible, as one way Egypt's environment needs to change. Hoda Hussein and Marwa Salah from Alexandria, along with Shahernan Farahat form Mahalla, three of the hearing-impaired alumni, said they first learned about the program from a newspaper and decided to apply. “I was very happy when I found out that I got accepted,” said Farahat, “I was very excited to travel and study abroad, even though my family was afraid that I will go alone, I wasn't afraid whatsoever.” The three alumni students explained that life in the US is much easier for people with disabilities. “It was first challenging when we got to the US but after we learned the American Sign Language it got easier,” said Salah. “I want to apply what I learned here in Egypt, the way things are done at work, I've got many ideas and activities,” she added. After their return to Egypt with their certificates, along with a full portfolio that includes certificates, internships, transcripts, CVs and recommendation letters, “the biggest challenge [now] is to find them jobs,” Fahmy pointed out. Karam El-Ebiary is one out of the eight alumni who secured a job at a company in Alexandria, working in computer maintenance. “In the beginning it was challenging but then it became easier and I'm very happy with my job,” said El-Ebiary. “Communication with my coworkers is easy, my coworkers and managers are very kind and I'm finding no problem communicating whether in English or Arabic … I'm cooperating with everyone in the company,” he added. He also noted that at times, if there's a problem he uses writing to clarify. El-Ebiary's employer Catalin Braescu attests that “there is absolutely no difference between him and any other worker, [in fact] he is one of the hardest working people I ever saw [with an extremely] high morality,” he explained. Braescu explained that they hired El-Ebiary both out of social responsibility and because of his skills. As part of CCI, the alumni are continuing to undergo training on communication skills to be able to work in groups and communicate with others. In her presentation to company representatives, Fahmy explained that they have three goals; the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community and workplace, providing them with opportunities where they can develop the skills they acquired, and finally “having eight more success stories,” she said. The Fulbright Commission organized five career seminars for the program's graduates to help them find better job opportunities and enhance the link between the training they received and the needs for the job market in the various fields including agriculture, applied engineering, business administration and management, health professions, information technology, media and tourism and hospitality management.
