Dubai: Members of the community can get involved in a volunteer interaction programme to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs.
Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities has invited individual volunteers and volunteers from corporates who are committed to give some of their time to support the Centre through training the children and caring for them, to join the programme.
Training the children, the Centre said, will help the youngsters realise their potential and integrate them into the wider community.
The Centre requires support in the areas of classroom assistance, administration, community events and projects. Volunteers get first-hand experience on handling children with special needs and it is one way of reaching out to the community.
Individuals who are at least 16 years of age and above and legal residents of the UAE can register as volunteers and can decide the amount of time and days they can dedicate to volunteering at the Centre.
Victoria Yakiah, one of the volunteers, said volunteering was a great opportunity for her to get to know herself and it brought so many benefits and blessings to her life.
“I am happier with myself and the people around me because I now really appreciate life. Above all, the kids in Al Noor, especially those in primary school fill me with emotions that words can’t describe,” she said.
Ibis Styles Hotels Dubai was one of the companies whose employees volunteered under the programme. The hotel also provided internship to one of the children from the centre who was assigned to the food and beverage production wing of the hotel.
The Centre has allocated two corporate days every month. Individual volunteers as well as volunteers from corporate houses can participate in groups of 15 to 25, they said.
The corporate days are held to spread awareness about the Centre and also involves participation and interaction with children along with volunteering opportunity.
The Centre will evaluate the skills and interest of the volunteers and will assign them to areas that would need their support the most. Since corporate days are planned and structured, advance booking is necessary.
