IMAN SAMIR ALI

Egypt – In an inspiring humanitarian journey where patience intertwined with strength, Zeinab Badr, a young woman from Assiut Governorate, succeeded in transforming visual impairment and repeated loss into a source of hope and giving.

From an early age, Zeinab Badr suffered from a rare hereditary disease that gradually caused her to lose her eyesight. She also lost her parents and two of her siblings under harsh circumstances. Despite these challenges, she managed to overcome her hardships and turn her personal experience into a success story, becoming an inspiring role model in the field of computer training for people with visual impairments.

Her journey with disability began at the age of six, when her family discovered her medical condition and sought consultations from several doctors in Assiut and Cairo. Medical diagnoses unanimously confirmed that she was suffering from a rare hereditary disease known as Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Despite the difficult beginnings, Zeinab Badr did not surrender to these challenges. With strong family support, she continued her educational path, completing primary, preparatory, and secondary education, before obtaining a Technical Agricultural Diploma, specializing as a laboratory assistant. Speaking about this stage, she said:

“I aspired to continue my studies at the Agricultural Extension Institute, but the institute only accepted sighted students, and with the deterioration of my health condition, it became impossible for me to enroll.”

She then joined a specialized educational center for the blind in Assiut Governorate, where she began developing her skills, particularly in computer training. She enrolled in several training courses, most notably Call Center and customer service courses, and at the same time began offering computer training courses for the blind.

Zeinab explains that she has been working in the field of computer training for the visually impaired for five to six years. She has trained a large number of trainees from within Assiut Governorate and beyond, from various Egyptian governorates, and even from other Arab countries. She notes that all her training sessions are currently delivered online, with plans to offer in-person (offline) training in the near future.

Regarding mobility and movement, Zeinab Badr confirms that she receives great support from her family and friends, especially her close friend Asmaa Essam, who has accompanied and supported her since childhood, in addition to her sisters. This support has provided her with a strong sense of safety and reassurance.

Despite her busy work schedule, her dream of education never faded. She enrolled in Al-Nour School for the Blind, where she completed the first and second secondary grades with excellence and ranked among the top students. She is currently in her final year of secondary school and hopes to achieve top results again this year.

On the humanitarian level, Zeinab endured extremely difficult circumstances, losing two of her siblings as well as her parents. The tragedy began with the death of her eldest brother due to COVID-19. A year and four months later, her father passed away, followed by the death of another brother due to kidney disease. Shortly thereafter, her mother also passed away, marking a year since her death. Zeinab affirms that despite the harshness of these ordeals, they did not break her, thanks to the support she received from her remaining siblings, friends, neighbors, and everyone who surrounded her with compassion and solidarity.

As part of promoting her mental and physical well-being, Zeinab turned to sports, driven by her love for karate. She joined Assiut Sports Club, earned the orange belt, and aspires to reach the black belt.

One of the most significant milestones in her life was a directive issued by the Governor of Assiut to appoint her in recognition of her inspiring struggle. She has officially begun her job at Al-Nour School for the Blind and will start her duties with the beginning of the new academic year. She works with children at the primary and preparatory levels, focusing on teaching them basic computer skills, Braille reading, and essential technological skills, with the aim of empowering them and building their self-confidence.

Zeinab Badr concludes by saying:

“I dream of being a reason to help anyone—whether blind, a person with disabilities of any kind, or even a sighted person—learn how to use computers and technology more effectively. I want to remove the barrier of fear and hesitation toward using digital tools and contribute to empowering people cognitively and professionally.”