Dubai: Special needs pupils at Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre (RPTC) staged Pinocchio at a semi-annual school concert to entertain both their parents and members of the community.
The show for which they made their own sets and costumes, proved that their disabilities did not stop them from pursuing creative extra-curricular activities.According to the Director of Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, Mariam Othman, the goal of these concerts is to further integrate the pupils into society and develop their skills through creative arts.
"These activities allow the children to challenge their conditions and help to make them feel like regular kids.
"They have a lot of suppressed energy that they need to release. "This helps them to develop socially and mentally. It can also serve as a form of therapy," Mariam said.
Janette S. Graham, Head Teacher at RPTC, confirmed the importance of such activities.
Mission
"It's our mission to prepare our pupils for life. They should experience everything that other children do.What we must not forget is that there's a fun element to performing in a concert; dressing-up, having your make-up done and acting in front of your parents. The children love showing off their skills and talents."
This year the play was sponsored by 3M and Pinocchio was chosen.
It appealed to the children because of its sentimental value.
"Pinocchio is a story of a wooden puppet who wishes to be a real child.
"This is the same wish of many of the children of the centre who want to be [considered] real, normal children who can be integrated into society, instead of being pitied.
"The children amazed the audience with their performance. They have been rehearsing extensively since last September.
Extraordinary feat
"They also made the sets, which changed according to each scene, themselves. This is an extraordinary feat for the children of the centre," said Mohammad Younis, who directed the play.
The parents of the special needs children at RPTC expressed their admiration and pride for the performance as well as the centre's dedication to organising these concerts every two years.
"I was very proud to see my son and the other children perform so well on stage," Warda Thabit, mother of 12-year-old Ghamdan, who played the lead role, said.
"I felt a mixture of happiness and sadness, but over-all; happiness. My son's performance and rehearsal for the play allowed him to be more outspoken and brave. It even increased his confidence and self-esteem."
"Involving the children in such activities gives them a sense of importance and encourages them.
"They need attention and love, not just [from] their own parents or specific caretakers at school, but [from] the whole society.
"It helps them immensely [to be] part of something, while having fun at the same time," said Christina, mother of nine-year-old Leo, who performed in the play.
