Dubai: Around 35 children at a Dubai centre for special needs require sponsorships to cover their costs.
Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs is trying to raise funds for parents unable to pay the already subsidised fees.
The subsidy covers every child and amounts to more than 40 per cent of the cost of training. However, some parents are not able to pay because of financial problems. Also, the non-profit centre cannot cover both the tuition fees and subsidy for everyone.
“The huge deficit caused by this subsidy can only be covered by sponsorships from corporates and individuals,” the centre said on Monday.
Around 300 children and young people from various nationalities — who have physical and cognitive challenges such as Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism — attend Al Noor.
To assist parents, it has organised the Al Noor Child Sponsorship Programme, which is part of its fundraising activity.
Isphana Al Khatib, the centre’s director, said: “This is an opportunity for corporates and community to partner with us and directly impact a child’s life by providing him or her with the opportunity for a better future.”
She added: “Close to 40 children are on this programme, receiving quality professional training and close to 35 more children are awaiting support in terms of fee sponsorship.”
Individuals and corporates can sponsor one or more students under the programme. There are three categories of sponsorship under the programme: Comprehensive Sponsorship, which covers the academic year’s tuition fees and subsidy; Tuition Fees Sponsorship, which covers only tuition fees (more than 40 per cent subsidised); and the Subsidy Sponsorship, which covers only the subsidy offered to each child.
More information on the programme is available on 04 3404844 or by email at seema@alnoorspneeds.ae.
Al Noor’s other fundraising activities include its own branded retail outlet, Smiles ‘n’ Stuff, which helps raise awareness and funds for the training centre.
“It is the only one of its kind in the GCC where all the products are handcrafted by children and young people with special needs enrolled at Al Noor,” the centre said.
