UAE | Health
Children's charity given shot in arm
Bank gives cheque but more help is needed
- By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 November 13, 2009
- Image Credit: Karen Dias, Xpress
- Children from the Rashid Paediatric Centre participate in activities yesterday to celebrate the UAE National Day.
Dubai: Times are hard for a charity organisation as the "big cheques" have stopped coming in, which in turn has affected children's activities, Gulf News has learned.
Mariam Othman, director of the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre said the number of sponsors has dropped and companies are no longer holding events and donating part of the proceeds to the centre.
"They are saying, ‘Not this year,'" she said.
The director said the centre does not have a fixed income and that fees partially pay the cost of running the centre for special-needs children. She explained that while the UAE has a number of centres, there is still a long waiting list of children.
Another issue is the lack of specialists and bringing them from abroad costs money.
"We need some support from the government," she said.
The centre was decked up in the UAE local colours and there was a festive mood as National Day celebrations were brought forward on Thursday.
The event was sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank and CEO Shayne Nelson said all credit goes to the staff and children in putting on a fabulous show. Presenting a cheque, he said the bank pledges its support so that the centre can continue its efforts to help children with special needs.
Celebrating traditions
The children participated in a fashion show, sung songs and danced to national music. The visitors were shown the handiwork of the children who had made jewellery, greeting cards and decorative woodwork items. Sweets were prepared in the traditional way by henna-painted women.
Mariam said the National Day celebration is a happy occasion for the children.
She said occasions such as these "demonstrate the bank's good intentions" and that its support helps develop the centre's services and helps improve the quality of the children's lives.
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