A Delegation from Lebanese Takreem Foundation Visits SCHS
Within the framework of exchanging experiences and developing cooperation with various local, Arab, and international bodies and institutions to provide the best services to people with disabilities in accordance with best practices, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) hosted a delegation from the Social Service Foundation for Child Safety in Lebanon “Takreem Foundation” , from 18 to 21 September 2023. The delegation included both Dr. Anita Al-Hajj, Director of the Educational Curriculum Department at the Takreem Foundation and Ms. Ghada Kamid, Educational Coordinator. The delegation was received by Her Excellency Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director General of SCHS, and several of SCHS officials.
The visit aimed at reviewing the services and programs that SCHS provides to people with disabilities in general and to people with severe disabilities in particular. In addition, the two institutions shared experiences and coordinated mutual training programs, to work on researches that serves people with disabilities.
The Director General of SCHS provided the guest delegation with an explanation of the services, programs, and activities that SCHS provides to people with disabilities, in line with the government’s directions and policies towards this group, which depend on the principle of inclusion, advocacy, empowerment, and integration into society.
She pointed out that SCHS, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the Union, and Ruler of Sharjah, always seeks to build partnerships with local, Arab and international institutions, civil society institutions, the private sector and universities. He aims at continuing to provide services and developing them in line with the latest practices.
In three days visit, the delegation stopped at SCHSs’ Early Intervention Center, Al Amal School and Kindergarten for the Deaf, Al Wafa School for Capacity Development, Sharjah Autism Center, and the Center for Severe Disabilities. The delegation also learned about SCHS’s branch in Khorfakkan, Assistive Technology Center, and Masaraat Center for Development and Empowerment.
Dr. Anita Al-Hajj, Director of the Educational Curricula Department at the Takreem Foundation, confirmed that SCHS is an organization of excellence in human services. It is a three-dimensional excellence. The first dimension is linked to the Foundation’s mission, as it has great care and concern for people with disabilities, their families, and siblings, which ensures the quality of their lives. The second dimension is related to professionalism. You can see its high professionalism and constant striving for development and improvement, which ensures the quality of educational, rehabilitative, and social performance. The third dimension is related to the concept of the family, as you feel that you are in a large family gathered around one goal and a common message, its members support and complement each other. “Even us, we arrived as visitors and left as family members”, added Dr. Al-Hajj.
The guest delegation began their visit with a tour of the Early Intervention Center, in which Mr. Mohamed Fawzi, Director of the Center, introduced them to the center’s specializations. The delegation attended some classroom activities for the students and visited the Visual Impairment Unit, the Sharjah City Hearing Center, and the Center for Physical and Occupational Therapy. The visit program at the Center for Severe Disabilities included an overview of the services, programs, and activities provided to students with disabilities such as (Adapted Physical Education Activities, Home Economics Activities, and Music Therapy Sessions).
The tour included a visit to several departments and classrooms at Al Amal School for the Deaf, in the presence of Ms. Afaf Al Haridi, the School Director. Members of the delegation learned about the accredited academic education the school provides to deaf and hard of hearing students using the best teaching and pedagogical methods and the latest technologies.
During the visit to the main headquarters of SCHS in the Yarmouk area, members of the delegation learned about the centers and schools affiliated with SCHS and the services and activities provided therein. The delegation was also briefed on the total number of beneficiaries in SCHS, and the productive projects made by the hands of people with disabilities.