A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT IN THERAPEUTIC THEATER (PSYCHODRAMA)
On Monday, December 5, 2023, Her Excellency Ms. Mona Abdel Yafei, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), and His Excellency Mr. Ismail Abdullah, Secretary General of the Arab Theater Authority, signed a partnership contract to organize a specialized training program for therapeutic theater (psychodrama). The Lebanese theater artist Ajram Ojram, who specializes in therapeutic theatre, a member of the pivotal team for school theater of the Arab Theater Authority is supervising the program. Those working with people with disabilities would benefit from this program, which would provide them with theatrical skills and techniques that would enrich the educational and therapeutic process.
Therefore, Her Excellency Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei stressed the importance of the partnership between SCHS and the Arab Theater Authority as a true translation of the integration between Sharjah’s various institutions.
According to their respective roles, "SCHS is keen on constructive and effective cooperation with various Sharjah institutions in a step that enhances these institutions' societal role." This therapeutic theater (psychodrama) specialized training program is being organized in collaboration with the Arab Theater Authority as a first step toward future projects and ambitions. This helps to improve the accessibility and involvement of individuals with impairments in theater.
The SCHS Director General emphasized that the program's value is derived from its specialized training content, which is overseen by the Arab Theater Authority, as well as its practical, applied component, which trainees will implement with students who utilize SCHS's services.
She explained that SCHS was the first to employ art to serve people with disabilities by establishing the Emirates Group for Special Art in Sharjah in 1995. It was the first to introduce music education in color for people with mental disabilities in 2009, and later it established the Artistic Creativity Group for People with Disabilities, independently and complementary to the Group. Emirates Private Art Center in 2010, and all these efforts culminated in 2017 through the establishment of the Art Center for All “Falaj” as a continuation of its previous and successful steps in this field.
She added, “People with disabilities can create in all fields. SCHS has believed since its founding in this ability and has worked to include, advocate, empower, educate, and integrate them in accordance with the best international practices. She noted that SCHS’s vision of art is not limited to its creative value only, but also includes its psychological therapeutic aspect and its role. In spreading feelings of hope and joy, in addition to focusing on the global perspective.
The program is scheduled to begin at the beginning of the next academic year 2024-2025, and will continue in three training stages, each stage including theoretical and practical aspects.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Ismail Abdullah, Secretary General of the Arab Theater Authority, said that the Arab Theater Authority, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the Union, Ruler of Sharjah, Supreme President of the Arab Theater Authority, is working to strengthen cooperation with institutions that contribute to Self-development among members of society. The Authority believes that the efforts made by SCHS in this field are worthy of all praise and appreciation. Therefore, the Authority is pleased to open this cooperation and open the horizons for its development so that together we form a model of creative application of the role of theater in the lives of these groups. The mission of our communities, and the Authority, which is proud to have developed the complete curriculum for theater in the Emirati School, hopes, in cooperation with SCHS, to develop a curriculum and guide for theater with people with disabilities.