Helm Foundation Inks Strategic MoUs with ”Qaderoun B Ekhtelaf” Fund and AlexBank to Champion Inclusive Employment at Khatwa 2026
Egypt Helm Foundation, a pioneering organization dedicated to the empowerment and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the "Qaderoun B Ekhtelaf" Fund. The signing took place during the 6th edition of the "Khatwa 2026" summit, Egypt’s largest inclusive employment platform, organized by Helm with the participation of over 2,500 job seekers with disabilities and more than 40 leading local and multinational companies.
This strategic partnership aims to launch a new phase of collaboration to build an integrated national pathway for inclusive rehabilitation and employment across all governorates. Key objectives include expanding training and skill development programs, reinforcing university and technical education support centers for students with disabilities, promoting assistive technologies, and encouraging institutions to adopt inclusive workplace practices. Additionally, the MoU supports entrepreneurship, sports, and cultural activities to broaden economic and social participation for PwDs, ultimately building a more sustainable and equitable model for inclusion in Egypt.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, alongside several key national entities, including the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Labor, and Youth and Sports. This high-level presence underscores the critical importance of synergy between state institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
Looking ahead, the collaboration will focus on building a dynamic knowledge base regarding the employment of PwDs through data collection, impact measurement, and progress monitoring to support evidence-based solutions. Concurrently, Helm is expanding its "Inclusive Connect" network, which brings together corporate partners from various sectors to exchange best practices and foster diverse work environments.
Strategic Partnership with AlexBank On the sidelines of the Khatwa 2026 summit, Helm also signed a one-year strategic MoU with AlexBank, appointing the bank as the summit's official Development Partner. This partnership is structured around two main pillars:
Summit Support: Enhancing Khatwa’s activities by reaching out to and qualifying PwD job seekers, while training companies to adopt comprehensive hiring practices that attract diverse talent.
Corporate Capacity Building: Training AlexBank's internal teams to better support employees with disabilities, thereby reinforcing a culture of inclusion. This includes a targeted effort to increase the hiring of PwDs in front-line, customer-facing roles rather than limiting them to back-office positions.
Leadership Perspectives Ramez Maher, Co-founder and Managing Director of Helm, stated: "Inclusive employment is not achieved merely by offering a job opportunity; it requires real preparation of individuals, equipping work environments, and building corporate capacity to accommodate diversity. Through this partnership, we are helping companies transition from good intentions to clear, actionable institutional practices."
Amna El-Saie, Co-founder and CEO of Helm, reaffirmed the foundation's core belief: "Accessibility is not an added luxury; it is a fundamental right for full societal participation. Throughout our journey, Helm has supported over 15,000 Persons with Disabilities. This partnership is a vital step toward embedding inclusion from education to the labor market, ensuring that PwDs are active partners in development rather than mere beneficiaries."
