About 250 students from Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs celebrated their year-end event with a big party on Thursday.
Al Yassat Ballroom of Al Murooj Rotana Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road was a hive of games, music and dancing as the hotel threw a party to the children with their parents and the centre's staff members -- with interactive activities and a special buffet.
"Our children at the centre look forward to this event each year," said Isphana Al Khatib, the centre's director.
Opened in 1981, Al Noor Centre runs under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
With their new facilities in Al Barsha, Dubai, the centre was able to expand its services to help more specials needs children from their infancy to adulthood – with a goal to integrate its students into society.
The centre has developed its training programme to help special children become more independent. It has introduced a work-placement programme for some of its students.
Because it relies on charity for funding, however, the centre is currently unable to accommodate about 100 children with special needs on the waiting list, according to Al Khatib.
"Our centre is well equipped, thanks to donations from our many benefactors. We have a capacity is for about 300 students. We have room for about 50 more. We'd like to take more, but we still face challenges in raising the running cost of the centre," said Al Khatib.
It costs about Dh41,000 per year to keep a child at the centre, although Al Noor Centre only charges between Dh7,500 to Dh15,000 per child, depending on the year the child was admitted.
The centre currently has 164 staff, including teachers, therapists, administrators and drivers.
Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is the centre's honorary patron.
Hussein Hachem, Al Murooj Rotana Dubai's general manager, said: "Community service is essential part of any business. The support of local community is one of vital success factors, and in hospitality industry we rely on it a lot.
"We are delighted to collaborate with Al Noor Centre and to help them in their important mission of enriching the lives of children with special needs.
