The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat has organized a series of free guided tours in sign language and a range of educational and artistic workshops for visitors of all ages, including adults, youth, children, and people with disabilities.
This initiative comes in line with the directives of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sharif Fathy, to pay attention to people with disabilities, integrate them into society, and enhance the role of the ministry and its affiliated bodies in raising public awareness about tourism and archaeology, enriching their knowledge about the importance of tourism and their country’s heritage and civilization, and building a generation that is aware of their country’s values, history, and sense of belonging.
Tayeb Abbas, CEO of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, affirmed the museum’s keenness to organize these guided tours and activities to activate its community role and spread cultural and archaeological awareness among all segments of society, introducing them to the ancient Egyptian history and civilization.
He noted that the inclusion of people with disabilities in these events stems from the museum’s belief in their important role and their possessed capabilities, and its keenness to integrate them with all members of society and enjoy their right to know the history and civilization of their country.
Firoz Fikry, Deputy Head of the Museum for Administration and Operation, indicated that the museum is celebrating this day in conjunction with Egypt and the world’s celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which falls on December 3rd of each year, to raise awareness about disability issues in order to guarantee their rights and raise community awareness.
The museum has also been keen to provide all the necessary preparations by providing all the needs of people with disabilities, such as wheelchairs and special places for them, and facilitating their entry into the museum, to ensure a comprehensive and enjoyable visiting experience for them.
She added that the museum has also conducted an interactive experience for visitors using augmented reality technology on the Instagram application for a select group of the most prominent artifacts on display, using the Instagram filter recently launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with Meta to enhance the visitor experience at the museum.
Nashwa Jaber, Deputy Head of the Museum for Archaeological Affairs, explained that the guided tours organized included introducing visitors to the museum’s unique collection, which tells the story of Egyptian civilization throughout the ages, in addition to a tour of the museum’s open area overlooking Ain Al-Qairah Lake.
Moreover, the tours featured a series of artistic and educational workshops and storytelling at the museum’s public library, where they learned about ancient Egyptian stories and children’s stories.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization received the accessibility certificate for people with disabilities from the Sharjah International Disability Council in 2022, which is awarded to institutions that have environmental accessibility and allow people with disabilities to visit and participate in the museum’s activities and events.
