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Arab World Social Innovators Program

Nureddin Amro, Palestine

Building an inclusive future for the visually handicapped through integrated education

Nureddin is pioneering a new approach to education for the visually impaired in Palestine, who are denied equal education opportunities because the government is unable to provide services to those with special needs. Visually handicapped himself, Nureddin is building a more inclusive future for the blind through integrated education, where children are taught side-by-side in a learning environment that fosters understanding and equality.

Nurredin’s long-term objective is the complete integration of the blind into the community on the basis of equality. Since opening its doors in 2007, the Siraj al-Quds School for integrated education has served 120 children in Jerusalem and has offered formal education to those aged four through six, accepting students demonstrating the most financial need. The Siraj al-Quds School is affiliated with the Nur al-Ain Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the only institute in East Jerusalem that offers education and development services to the visually-impaired community.

Nureddin hires both sighted and visually-impaired teachers and trains them to use adaptive techniques and innovative technology to assist in the learning process. Siraj al-Quds uses modern assistive tools, adaptive technology, and an appropriate educational environment and curriculum to provide the visually impaired with the skills to integrate into their community. Nureddin’s integrated-education model has been so successful that he is unable to meet the demand for enrollment and is currently seeking to expand his school to a facility large enough to accommodate three hundred students. Through his work, Nureddin is using education as a platform to provide equal opportunity for the visually handicapped in order to create a more equitable and participatory role for those with special needs in Palestinian society.

He has become a prominent figure in the Palestinian community for his continuous efforts to change the social perspective of his people towards the visually handicapped. Nureddin has joined and participated in many national conferences and workshops and established a network of international relationships, which aim to promote his ultimate goal of improving and developing the lives of the marginalized blind people. He aspires to become a member of the national councils and government ministries in Palestine to promote his integrated educational model and see it replicated throughout Palestine.

Nureddin has been selected by the British Council in Jerusalem from a pool of 241 applicants as a social leader working for positive change and social development for people with special needs.

To contact Nureddin:

www.nuralain.org
nuramro@gmail.com
al-Asfahani Street 13
al-Qalouti Building
P.O. Box 5518
Palestine
Tel & Fax: +972-2-6287584