In line with its support to people with special needs, the first half of 2016 witnessed the active contribution of Commercial International Bank-Egypt (CIB) in major events held by ADVANCE Society for Persons with Autism & Other Disabilities, including the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), the 12th Art Exhibition for Persons with Autism, the Autism Sports Gala and the Annual Scientific Conference for Autism Awareness. Through such special sponsorships, CIB-Egypt evidences its ongoing, leading role supporting marginalized sectors of citizens and creating awareness in the community.
Being one of the main sponsors of ADVANCE, CIB-Egypt has been contributing to the Non-Governmental Organization’s different events, aiming to develop the services provided to persons with intellectual disabilities and autism, and to support their inclusion in the community. The ADVANCE Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 by a group of parents of persons with autism and other developmental disabilities, as an attempt to develop their abilities.
During the first half of this year, the Bank sponsored the 12th Autism Awareness Campaign, under the slogan “Autism Acceptance: Happiness ... Health ... Enablement.” The campaign, launched in conjunction with the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) held worldwide every year in April, witnessed the participation of more than 75 organizations specialized in the provision of services to persons with intellectual disabilities and autism, from across the country.
Moreover, CIB-Egypt was the main sponsor of the “Autism & Disability from a Media Perspective” seminar, the 12th Creative Art Exhibition for Persons with Autism, and the Autism Sports Gala held at the Olympic Village grounds in Maadi with the participation of 350 athletes with intellectual disability and autism. Besides, CIB-Egypt sponsored the 13th Annual Scientific Conference under the slogan "Together for Autism" to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder and it also supported the annual concert organized for ADVANCE’s students with intellectual disabilities and autism to show their talents.
It is worth mentioning that CIB-Egypt is also supporting ADVANCE through the CIB Foundation. In March 2015, the foundation fulfilled its EGP 1.5 million commitment to the ADVANCE Society to complete finishing works in Building II of their new premises in New Cairo, where workshops, specialized therapies, trainings and administration work are conducted. The new fully functional premises allows the team of the ADVANCE Society to provide a wide range of services to a larger number of people with intellectual disabilities and autism.