BEIRUT: A journalism program for visually impaired persons was launched for the first time in the country Wednesday, during an opening ceremony attended by Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour and Italian Ambassador Guiseppe Morabito.

The 150,000 euro initiative, funded by the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Italian Cooperation with the contribution of Cadmos Foundation, aims to “encourage visually impaired persons to get enrolled in journalism,” a press release issued by the Italian Embassy said.

The five-week course comprises two intensive training courses on journalism concepts, methods, and newspaper editing, and classes will be instructed by “well-known journalists and editors.”

Speaking during the ceremony, Abu Faour said the “integration program” was based on “the right of the blind to work, and on their will to get the opportunity to announce that they’re capable and have the potential” for it, the National News Agency reported.

“It’s our duty to guarantee they have this opportunity,” Abu Faour added, before praising An-Nahar newspaper for elaborating the first Braille newspaper in the country.

For his part, Morabito said that “the freedom of the press and the full integration of disabled people in society are very important for Italy,” and described the Italian contribution to the project as a “seed fund” to encourage the Social Affairs Ministry and its partners to further expand the initiative in the future.

“By involving additional associates from the private sector, we are sure that marginalized groups are socially included, and their rights to access to decent labor are equally guaranteed,” he continued.