For the first time since the historic signing of the peace treaty between Israel and the UAE Access Israel, an Israeli NGO will host Manzil, an organization from the UAE – both organizations joining hands to share knowledge and experience to better the lives of people with disabilities and the elderly, the largest minority in the world focusing on challenges we are all facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two organizations met at the beginning of the year at the Zero Project Conference in Vienna. The Zero Project and its annual conference bring accessibility leaders and organizations from all over the world together to learn from one another and share best practices. The Zero Project conference is held at the United Nations building in Vienna, and creates an opportunity for people who their home countries don’t maintain good relationships, to meet, discuss and learn from one another and thus advance accessibility and inclusion. It embodies the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for global partnership, equality, accessibility and inclusion for all.
Manzil was awarded as one of the Best Innovative practice for 2020 for their project PRIDE (People Receiving Independence and Dignity through Empowerment) Manzil also was selected as one of the 10 best practices globally to be mentored by Ashoka Foundation to replicate PRIDE.
Michal Rimon the CEO of Access Israel and also an Ambassador of Zero Project was one of the mentors who sat with the awardees and was especially impressed by Dr. Ayesha Saeed Husaini from Manzil and her team. At the beginning of the year the organizations could just dream of joining hands and work together to promote this issue influencing people with disabilities in both countries. The peace agreement between Israel and the UAE that has been signed just a few weeks ago opened the doors to work together on important topics such as accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. Once it was signed Access Israel reached out and invited Manzil to speak at their upcoming Webinar – making it the first open event, at last in the civil society where two organization are already joining hands and cooperating to better accessibility and inclusion in both countries.
Since the beginning of the pandemic Access Israel global Eco- System is hosting international webinars on various topics concerning COVID-19 and people with disabilities.
At these webinars hundreds of participants from over 70 countries participate to learn from one another how to overcome the challenges that COVID-19 creates for people with disabilities.
Access Israel global Eco- System is hosting its 5th international webinar on the 20th of October which will focus on “Employment of people with disabilities – Challenges, solutions, technologies and best practices”.
At this webinar Dr. Ayesha Saeed Husaini, the Founder Director of Manzil, an organization promoting accessibility in the UAE, will be presenting and speak about their employment program of people with disabilities.
It is exciting for both Access Israel and Manzil to cooperate together on such an important topic and lead the path to a strong bond between Israel and the UAE.
Access Israel and Manzil are excited to lead the way on the path on partnership in accessibility in the Middle East and fulfill the UN’s SDG and work together to create a world that leaves no one behind.
“Manzil has won several national and international awards since 2004 for its employment program; PRIDE . We dream big and strive towards achieving them, but being able to present on the Access Israel platform was beyond even our dreams!
At this webinar, we look forward to a valuable exchange of professional best practices and collaboration with some of the best organizations in the world.“
The Zero Project is very happy that this groundbreaking cross-border contact was established at #ZeroCon20 at the UN in Vienna earlier this year, which will hopefully lead to improvements for persons with disabilities on all sides. It also shows the strength of the community of people with disabilities and its potential to create new connections and solutions. Join the Webinar on Remote Employment of People With Disabilities here!
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel recognized the special potential and importance of this collaboration, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to promote and foster relations between Israel and UAE at all fields, and actively partnered with the two organization in creating, leading and promoting this webinar (including the simultaneous translation thereof to various languages. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Mrs. Meirav Eilon Shahar shall deliver opening remarks.
