Biography of Jihan Sadat

She was responsible for the Egyptian Civil Rights Law which resulted in more rights for women. A long time political activist, Jihan Sadat worked closely with her husband in his quest for peace. She is a teacher, a poetry scholar, and has worked for the eradication for world literacy. In Egypt, Madame Sadat initiated the idea for, and developed the SOS Children's Villages, designed to help orphans lead a normal family life. She has represented the Arab-African nations at The International Women's Conference in Mexico City. In addition, she has addressed the United nations and is indeed a "messenger of peace."

Jihan Sadat began her social activities several years before Mr. Sadat became President. She started a women's emancipation movement in her village of Talla, aimed at helping women become less dependent on their husbands, and more self-sufficient. The society, then the first of its kind in an Egyptian village, began with twenty-five sewing machines and now boasts over one thousand. Girls and women of all ages are trained and work in the center on various handicrafts, the products of which are marketed throughout the republic and the profits are used to raise the standards of living in the village.

A long time activist in social work, Jihan Sadat was among the first to reach the Suez front in 1967 to visit and comfort the wounded. This opened up a whole new field of action for her and since then she has worked intensely to help disabled war veterans and their families. Her major project in this area is the "Wafa Wa Amal" (Faith & Hope) Rehabilitation Center, which is the first of its kind in Egypt. W.W.A. is a fully integrated city for handicapped war veterans and civilians, complete with clinics, rehabilitation centers, vocational training departments and recreation areas.

Among the many organizations and charitable associations that Mrs. Sadat founded and/or headed are: The Egyptian Red Crescent Society; The Egyptian Blood Bank Society; The Egyptian Society for Cancer Patients; the Egyptian Society for Biomedical Engineering; The Scientific Association for Egyptian Women and The Higher Committee for Children.