MORE THAN 5,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CHILDHOOD THON 5
With the participation of more than 5000 male and female students from schools in Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain, along with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) fellow students with disabilities, SCHS’s Early Intervention Center organized on Thursday, January 11, 2024, the fifth session of the distinguished activity “Childhood Thon”. The activity witnessed many sports competitions and events that included disability simulation. It aimed at achieving inclusion and raising awareness, and developing fruitful partnerships between SCHS and various community institutions in accordance with international best practices.
Her Excellency Ms. Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director General of SCHS, stressed the importance of “Childhood Thon” in integrating people with disabilities, educating society about their rights and issues, accepting differences, providing support when needed, and dealing with them with respect and appreciation.
She praised the great response from schools and their students to Childhood Thon, the influential participation of the guest of honor, the Egyptian tennis player Anwar Al-Kamouni, and the participation of several players from the Sharjah First Football Team and the Sharjah Sports Council. This participation contributed to urging more students to attend and join the Childhood Thon with its distinctive competitions and sporting and awareness-raising events.
While honoring with Mr. Mohamed Fawzi, Director of the Early Intervention Center for sponsors, partners and supporters, Her Excellency SCHS Manager expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to the main sponsor of “Childhood Thon 5”, which is “White Point” Company. They also honored sponsors, Sharjah Police General Command, Flag Island, Sharjah Education Academy, Sharjah Sports Council, and media partner Sharjah Radio and Television Authority. Special thanks went to supporters, Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bank of Sharjah, and to partners, Jubail Souq, Zulal Water, Healthy Farm, Golden Loaf Foundation, Al-Sorour Bakeries, Firas Sweets, Baker’s House, and Al-Kalha Restaurant.
She also thanked SCHS employees and the Early Intervention Center for being present at the event, supervising the smallest details related to the organization, and ensuring the success of Childhood Thon 5, wishing them continued success and progress.
Egyptian tennis player Anwar Al-Kamouni, guest of honor at Childhood Thon 5, expressed was so proud of his participation alongside SCHS’s students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. He appreciated the great role that SCHS plays in integrating and educating people with disabilities and educating the community about their rights.
Al-Kamouni praised the elaborate organization and the keenness of the volunteers to ensure that the Childhood Thon event, including segments and competitions simulating disability, ran smoothly. He stressed that it is a global event par excellence, especially since it carries profound messages about the importance of integrating people with disabilities and educating them in line with the latest and best practices.
For his part, Mr. Muhammad Fawzi confirmed that the participation of more than 5,000 students without disabilities, along with their peers from SCHS’s students, in the fifth session of the Childhood Thon is the best evidence of the success of the activity in previous years and the clear impact of its educational and sports content.
He said, “People with disabilities deserve respect and appreciation. Everyone according to his/her position and responsibility must participate in the process of their integration, education, and access to all their rights. The Center was keen in this session of Thon’s childhood, as it was keen in all previous sessions, to provide school students and teachers with accurate information about successful ways to accept differences and provide the required assistance to people with disabilities when they need it.
Fawzi extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to the sponsors of Childhood Thon 5, the supporters, and partners, and to all those who contributed to the organization and success of this event, with the hope of meeting at Childhood Thon 6, God willing.