Training courses, unprecedented in Egypt, organised by the Egyptian Museum, in downtown Cairo, are successfully helping blind children to break their barrier of lack of vision, which used to deny them the opportunity to appreciate the great legacy of their ancestors. Children, aged between six and 16 years old, for the first time in the internationally renowned Egyptian Museum, are being offered the opportunity to have a better knowledge and appreciation of the wonders of the world's ancient civilisation and the influential achievements of their ancestors. A good part of the success achieved is attributed to the selection of instructors, who also suffer impaired vision, to help stimulate a smooth and interactive communication with the blind students. They enabled their charges to touch the exhibits and understand their physical qualities and unique values, the sculptors' skills and also the techniques employed in different dynasties. The idea for the School of Archaeological Awareness for the Blind established in the Egyptian Museum – the seat of the great wonders of Egypt's ancient history – was imported from museums in Western countries. The initiative's success, nonetheless, is attributable to the museum's implementation and was celebrated as officials from different agencies and authorities gathered in the Egyptian Museum to affectionately congratulate the young graduates and distribute certificates of merit and gifts to acknowledge their sharp insight and intellectual understanding. Tahani Zakaria Nouh is the curator responsible for organising tours for blind and physically impaired visitors in museums throughout Egypt. She said: “The first of its kind school in Egypt was opened in 2004 to offer blind children their legitimate opportunity to visit the Egyptian Museum and go home as happy as more fortunate children”. Tahani also told the press: “The blind child has the right to enjoy his or her time in the museum. Impaired eyesight should not frustrate their dreams by any means.” The curator enthusiastically launched an initiative in the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria by providing it with audio facilities, brochures and cards printed in Braille. The guests welcomed first by Tahani were blind students in the History Department in the Faculty of Arts in Alexandria University, followed by blind secondary schoolchildren and other blind children. She has praised her colleagues by saying that they explained the exhibits, their materials, shapes and techniques “simply and correctly”, as they had been instructed. Moreover, workshops have been opened in the museum; and the blind children are encouraged to copy real objects they come across and touch. Participants have proved to be talented artists. They also confirmed to their 'fortunate' instructors that fantasy and imagination acted as powerful lens by which they clearly see the outside world. Museum activities for the blind also include concerts by a group of young blind female musicians known as Al-Nour (light) group. As talented as sculptors are in their medium, the blind musicians have been invited by the Cairo Opera House to perform there for music lovers. One of Tahani's team members confirmed that these training courses had encouraged the blind children to come forward and tear down the dark veil separating them from the outside world. Sadeq Akrash, a social worker, explained that workshops and music concerts had enabled the blind children and teenagers to contribute positively and interactively with society.
