Sharjah Crown Prince attends an honoring ceremony
On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attended the honoring ceremony of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) sponsors and partners for the academic year 2022-2023. The ceremony took place at Al-Barajil Hall of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The United Arab Emirates' national anthem was sung in sign language to open the celebration. Following that, the audience watched an educational movie about the founding and goals of SCHS. In addition to the centers it includes and the rehabilitation procedures it uses to help SCHS members achieve social empowerment and desired integration, the movie also showed the specialized centers it has for students with disabilities, various educational and therapeutic services, and the integrated care it provides to them.
The SCHS's success, according to Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, director of SCHS, is a result of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi's intelligent leadership and guidance. He serves as the SCHSl's honorary president. Additionally, under the wise direction of its president, Sheikha Jameela bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, who is dedicated to including, promoting, and empowering people with disabilities, the principles of social responsibility have been strengthened and are being sustained.
Al Yafei expressed her gratitude and admiration for His Highness the Crown Prince of Sharjah during her address for his support and presence at the ceremony recognizing SCHS sponsors and supporters. She said that from the school's founding in 1979, the notion and value of social responsibility and sustainability have been an integral component of the school's purposeful mission. The institute promoted social responsibility among both people and societal institutions. In its programs and services that help people with disabilities, their families, and society, it was a significant foundation of stability and development.
The school’s director revealed the data for the students to whom SCHS delivered its services during the current academic year, totaling 2019 students. A total of 715 professionals and staff make up SCHS, 67 of whom are people with disabilities. They make up 9.37% of the entire workforce. It highlights how 600 of SCHS's kids with disabilities were able to attend classes with their siblings who did not have difficulties. 12 of the 83 high school graduates from Al-Amal School for the Deaf received their university degrees between the years of 2006 and 2023. 610 students received evaluation services from the therapy facility at SCHS this school year, and 249 students received therapy sessions.
SCHS's strategic plan for the next ten years, which reflects its future ambition in the field of spreading knowledge and exchanging experiences about disability, as well as the goals of knowledge management, which includes providing information and lessons learned from various experiences, was discussed by Mona Abdel-Karim Al-Yafei. She spoke about the great trust and community support that SCHS receives. She concentrated on preparing studies and awareness materials using contemporary knowledge items.
The Director of SCHS indicated that the organization is about to move to its new buildings in the Budaiya suburb with a larger capacity. The new premises would meet the increasing demand for the services it provides to its students with disabilities. She explained that SCHS new buildings provide an attractive educational environment that achieves the principles of universal design, and targets students, their families and workers in the field. In addition to volunteers and researchers, which creates an inclusive and facilitated environment according to the highest international standards.
Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei expressed her gratitude and appreciation to all of the SCHS's partners, sponsors, and supporters, as well as to the parents of the students, for their successful collaboration with the school, which had the greatest influence on the growth of the services offered to its affiliates.
His Highness, the Crown Prince of Sharjah, honored the individuals, institutions, sponsors, volunteers, strategic partners of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, and media professionals from government agencies and the private sector.
His Highness was also graciously given a keepsake at the conclusion of the ceremony, a painting by Musab Abdul Rahim, a member of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services' "Falaj" Art for All Center.
The honoring ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince of Sharjah, Sheikh Muhammad bin Saud Al Qasimi, Head of the Central Finance Department; Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports & Customs and Free Zones Authority. Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Digital Office; as well as a number of other heads and directors; generals and directors of institutions and departments within the Sharjah government were present as well.