FIVE THOUSAND STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN (CHILDHOOD THON) ACTIVITY
On Thursday, November 14, 2019, five thousand students from 35 schools belonging to Sharjah Private Education Authority and Sharjah Education Council along with their fellow students from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) participated in the exciting event (Childhood Thon), which SCHS Early Intervention Center organized at The Flag Island to mark the beginning of Early Intervention Week. It is in conjunction with the Silver Jubilee of the official opening of SCHS Early Intervention Center in November 1994 by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Former Head of the Arab Program to Support United Nations Organizations.
With great excitement and enthusiasm, students participated under the supervision of 100 volunteers from SCHS, the University of Sharjah, the Roving Clan, and Emirates Knights for Volunteering, and Mothers of Council of Early Intervention Center in all sports and entertainment competitions. It included a simulation of disability in order to integrate and develop productive partnerships between SCHS and various community institutions in accordance with international best practices.
Mr. Mohamed Fawzy, Director of SCHS Early Intervention Center, has confirmed the leading role of SCHS in this area as it was the first institution to incorporate early intervention service in the region throughout the establishment of Early Intervention Center in 1992. The actual work begin in the center in 1993. SCHS officially opened the Centre in 1994.
Fawzy has pointed out the importance of raising awareness of the issues of persons with disabilities and their right to integration and education. He explained that the main purpose of organizing this event is to integrate children with disabilities, teach their non-disabled peers and the rest of society to accept differences and provide support when needed and treat the disabled with respect and appreciation.
He said, “The Early Intervention Center offers educational, preventive and therapeutic interventions at an early stage, so parents should realize the importance of early intervention.” He called on parents to follow up with SCHS on regular basis to achieve the best results.
The activities of Early Intervention Week –according to Mr. Mohamed- would continue until November 24, with a series of screenings in schools and kindergartens as well as many informative lectures. He explained that the Center has been organizing this screening program since 2006 in order to reach children in kindergartens, nurseries and schools to detect early developmental delays or disabilities to provide appropriate services and minimize the gap between developmental delay and age as much as possible.
Dr. Fatima Hijazi, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the Faculty of Health Sciences in the University of Sharjah, praised the well organization of the event and volunteers' care to make it successful. She believes it is a truly global event.
Volunteers and participants in (Childhood Thon) event were very happy to take part in sports and entertainment activities. They confirmed that children with disabilities deserve respect and appreciation. They called upon members of society to take active part in the integration process to reach the best results.