40 physically-challenged children honoured

Forty physically-challenged and 32 able-bodied children were honoured yesterday at the closing ceremony of the Handicapped and Their Friends' summer activities, organised by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

Latifa Hassan, chairperson of the centre, said this year's camp included participation from five mentally handicapped children in the different summer activities.

An exhibition displayed products made by the physically-challenged children. The items included paintings, handicrafts and pictures taken during the summer activities, which ran between July 1 and August 14.

"The exhibition reflects the abilities of the physically-challenged children, and the diversity of the summer activities we designed for them," she noted.

The summer activities included handicraft workshops, computer applications, story narration, painting and entertainment games, apart from swimming sessions and field trips.

Ghada Ahmed, deputy chairperson, added: "This year's summer activities succeeded in its objectives. It brought the handicapped and able-bodied children together. We also noticed the able-bodied children were keen to help their disabled friends.

"This will enable us instil cooperation values for a better future society. It will also enable the disabled children build enough confidence to interact with society."

She added enabling the children to spend their spare time gainfully during summer is another objective the centre aims at.

Gifts and certificates were presented to the children and the 'ideal mothers' who attended the ceremony.