ADQ and the Zayed Authority for People of Determination (ZAPoD) have renewed their strategic partnership to support the ADQ Bridges of Hope programme. The joint initiative, which was launched in 2022, is carried out in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for People of Determination in Egypt and empowering them through rehabilitation, communication, and comprehensive family and community support.
The renewal of the partnership reflects the parties' commitment to building on the exceptional results achieved by the programme over the past four years. The programme aims to renovate and develop 128 speech and rehabilitation centres across 27 governorates in Egypt by the end of 2025, with the goal of increasing the number of beneficiaries to 20,000. To date, 100 centres have been renovated across 11 operational phases, and the programme has delivered more than 600,000 specialised speech and rehabilitation sessions.
The centres span various regions in Egypt, with a particular focus on remote villages. They provide integrated services to support and empower People of Determination, along with awareness programmes for their families and guardians to offer essential guidance and support. A team of social workers and speech therapists also conducts workshops to identify learning difficulties and challenges faced by families, equipping them with the specialised skills needed to address these issues. In addition, the programme implements psychosocial support initiatives.
ZAPoD also supports the transfer of knowledge and expertise to Egyptian professionals, in coordination with the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports and under the supervision of relevant authorities, to further strengthen support for families of People of Determination.
His Excellency Abdulla Abdulali Al Humaidan, Secretary General of Zayed Authority for People of Determination , said: “The ADQ Bridges of Hope programme embodies the exemplary partnership between the UAE and the Arab Republic of Egypt and reflects our shared vision to build a more inclusive and equitable future for People of Determination. We are proud to be part of this noble humanitarian effort, which has empowered thousands of beneficiaries and provided a specialised, integrated infrastructure to support them and their families. As part of the programme, we have trained and qualified more than 700 specialists and therapists in Egyptian speech centres, and we have also launched counseling programmes for families to enable them to play an active role in care, which has strengthened the overall impact of the programme. This initiative is a strong example of the UAE’s Year of Community pledge, particularly in empowering families, delivering services to underserved areas, and fostering effective community partnerships.”
Anas Jawdat Albarguthi, Group Chief Operating Officer at ADQ, said: “We commend the Zayed Authority for People of Determination for its outstanding role in delivering quality services that empower individuals and support families. In the Year of Community, the renewal of the ADQ Bridges of Hope initiative with ZAPoD reflects our shared belief that inclusion and opportunity strengthen the fabric of society. We are confident that this partnership, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, will continue to advance this important initiative, which has achieved remarkable progress since its launch in 2022. Empowering people is at the core of ADQ’s mission and reflects our commitment to building stronger communities and contributing to lasting progress in the UAE and beyond. We are proud to begin a new phase of collaboration, encompassing enhanced capability building, specialised training, rehabilitation, and the necessary infrastructure to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for People of Determination and their families.”
In addition to rehabilitating speech centres, the programme runs periodic medical and awareness caravans across various governorates in Egypt. These caravans provide free medical and therapeutic services, psychological support, and counseling to underserved communities, including the elderly, children, and People of Determination.
Each caravan includes specialists in family counseling, special education, and medical fields such as paediatrics, dentistry, ophthalmology, surgery, ENT, internal medicine, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, orthopedics, and nutrition. They also include a pharmacy and a medical testing lab. So far, 15 caravans have served more than 30,000 beneficiaries.
ZAPoD also trains therapists at speech centres through workshops focused on behavioural intervention, speech development, and autism support, helping children improve early-life skills and social integration.
