An electric vehicle for people with disabilities, designed by young Tunisian change maker Khadija Jallouli, was presented in the opening session of the activities of the 17th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP17), held June 11-13 under Tunisia’s chairmanship.
Designed specifically for people with reduced mobility to guarantee them freedom of movement, this car, named “HawKar” after the social start-up founded by Jallouli, had already won the 2021 Energy Globe Award, as well as the African Excellence Award for the most innovative Eco-Friencly Car Design.
Thanks to its driving assistance system, this intelligent, eco-friendly car, which runs solely on electric power and can be recharged at home, allows people with reduced mobility to adapt easily to various types of physical handicap. Named “Hawkar,” it enables people to travel long distances freely and independently, according to its founder.
“HawKar” is also the name of the Tunisian social start-up, founded by Jallouli, with the aim of making independence and freedom of mobility accessible to all, and sustaining people with reduced mobility.
From the podium of the General Assembly, Jallouli called for redoubling international efforts aimed at integrating people with disabilities and involving them in decisions related to finding solutions to the challenges they face, according to the UN Bulletin.
“The start-up’s team is working in collaboration with several players in Tunisia and abroad to identify solutions for people with disabilities so that they can integrate into society,” she pointed out, adding that “the goal is to help them live like any ordinary person, study, work and meet their needs without any help or assistance from anyone.”
Jallouli said she is participating in COSP17 to shed light on the challenges facing people in motion and how to find solutions to them to create a more inclusive world as well as to inspire participants to take action to find solutions and involve everyone.
