Jerusalem: New center and app to support visually impaired

The Bait Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif agency, the executive arm of the Committee of Jerusalem chaired by King Mohammed VI, has signed two agreements aimed at enhancing the lives of visually impaired individuals in Jerusalem. These agreements, made in partnership with the Society for the Visually Impaired in Jerusalem, will establish a vocational training and rehabilitation center and develop an audio library application.

The first agreement, spanning 24 months, focuses on empowering between 35 and 45 visually impaired young people in the Jerusalem Governorate, with at least 50% being female. The project aims to foster their social and economic integration by providing specialized training programs, practical experience, and support for launching small businesses. Awareness campaigns and community activities will also be conducted to highlight their capabilities.

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The agency views individuals with disabilities as active partners in society, possessing willpower and giving that surpasses many, and they represent a part of the steadfastness of the Holy City and the defense of its identity.

The second agreement supports the development of the "JALB" application, a digital audio platform designed to offer visually impaired individuals in Jerusalem and Palestine access to educational, cultural, and academic content, as well as psychological and social support lectures. The platform will also enable beneficiaries to directly contribute to producing and recording audio materials.

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Our approach is based on diligent work to serve you, and a little that is continuous is better than a lot that is interrupted, which is the basis of our continuous commitment to the city of Jerusalem and its people.

This initiative seeks to produce and document approximately 400 diverse audio materials. It also aims to build strong partnerships with universities, cultural centers, and vocational training institutions, and to develop a resource center for digital transformation to ensure the sustainability and free accessibility of this service. The agency views individuals with disabilities as active partners in society, embodying the resilience and spirit of Jerusalem.

Mohammed Salem Al-Sharqawi, the acting director of the Bait Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif agency, emphasized the agency's commitment to supporting Jerusalemite institutions and serving the city and its people under the directives of King Mohammed VI. Khloud Al-Dajani, president of the Society for the Visually Impaired, praised the ongoing Moroccan-Palestinian partnership, highlighting that the vocational center will equip visually impaired individuals with the skills and confidence to integrate into the workforce, moving from isolation to employment with certified qualifications.

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The vocational rehabilitation center will help empower visually impaired individuals psychologically, physically, and socially, integrating them into society and moving them from the isolation of homes to the labor market through specialized training that culminates in certificates accredited by the Ministry of Labor, guaranteeing them jobs and a monthly income that preserves their dignity.

Al-Dajani also noted that the "JALB" app functions as a spoken digital library, converting books into audio format to address the scarcity of Arabic content. The society plans to enhance the app with artificial intelligence tools to further assist the blind community. Both parties expressed pride in the partnership, which focuses on impactful projects.

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It is a spoken digital library that turns books into audio materials, filling the gap in Arabic content.