Clubwise - November 30, 2002

Every week, we bring you the latest on the UAE's clubs, associations and groups. We choose one each time and profile it, highlighting its purpose and activities. We also bring you bits of news from other such groups. So that you know what is happening when, where and why.

This week: Support of Parents at Al Noor (SPAN)

Parents of children in the Al Noor Centre for Special Needs have formed a group to support each other and the centre, with the aim of helping the centre that helps their children. Nazim Motiwalla sent a message across to parents of Al Noor children.

The message said: "To render our support to the centre, it is necessary that we, as parents, form a forum where we can share our ideas and build a healthy relationship with the school." A total response of roughly 16 parents kick-started the now year-old-group - Support of Parents at Al Noor (SPAN).

"SPAN is a part of Al Noor and the group consists of parents of children admitted in the Al Noor Centre for Special Needs. I have always believed that a little support makes a big difference. I have a nine-year-old daughter admitted in Al Noor. I realised that there was no interaction at all between the parents. We were not aware of each other's problems and did not know whether we could share our thoughts and help each other in means of therapies, diets and other related subjects," says Nazim.

Safia Bari, a core member of the group, considers SPAN a major blessing. "Ever since the group has been formed, we all get together, socialise and take our children out for picnics or walks in the park. These were small luxuries few parents could indulge in, as the situation with special needs children becomes either difficult or embarrassing at times. In one of our previous picnics, a mother was so overwhelmed that she had tears in her eyes. Her child was 17 years old and it had been that many years since she had stepped out of the house to go for a picnic.

"As parents, our goal is to help Al Noor by raising much-needed funds for the centre. There has always been a misconception that Al Noor is blessed with lots of surplus funds to run the institution. The truth is that almost 40 per cent of children attending the Centre are not in a position to pay their fees. We approach companies and individuals for sponsorship for these children.

"A major chunk of the fund is used towards the therapies and programmes for the children. Although the Centre has been given free land to build its premises, lack of funds is a major obstacle to bring this project from the drawing board to reality. Unless individuals with means and corporate houses come forward, this dream would not become reality."

If one were familiar with the logo of Al Noor, which is made of three stars, the SPAN logo would be really easy to imagine. Two bigger stars behind the three little stars. The significance? "It means that we as parents are there to take care, support and always stand by our children," explained Nazim. "What the society needs is awareness. Special needs children are not weird or unusual, they do not need sympathy or pity, just plain acceptance."

Apart from raising funds for the Centre, SPAN also organises talks, events, fun-fairs and social outings for the benefit of its members as well as their children.

On December 11, SPAN would be holding a blood donation drive. Second-time donors will receive a sum of Dh200 from the Dubai Health Department. The total proceeds will be passed on to
Al Noor, which would benefit the Centre in sponsoring some children.