JEDDAH – A children's entertainment festival entitled “Scribbles,” launched by the Disabled Children's Association at the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Center here, proved a hit with children with special needs and all other children as well. The festival which drew more than 2,000 boys and girls over the course of the past six days has finally come to an end. Its aim was to encourage interaction and communication between children with disabilities and other children in the society. Through fun and games, singing songs, and lively activities, children with disabilities were given the opportunity to play with regular children and just have a good time. The abled children were taught to befriend children with special needs and treat them with respect, and be with them just as they would be with their own friends. The festival was divided into two shifts: mornings for school field trips and evenings for families and the general public. Children's favorite characters, including Lu Lu Caty, the Smurfs, and Spongebob were there to greet them, take pictures with them, and play with them. The children's fashion show at the festival garnered much attention and appreciation. They also participated in a competition where they had to make the longest sandwich. “The festival hosted several schools to educate school children, and all the activities were both fun and educational. The goal was to raise awareness of the need to include disabled children in the society and not to discriminate against them or marginalize them. “With the cooperation of the two organizing companies and the Disabled Children's Association, “Scribbles” was a big success,” said Afaf Al-Harazi, the president of the organizing committee for the festival. “One of the main goals of the event was to boost the self-esteem of children with special needs, encourage the regular kids to be more accepting and cooperative, and to bring happiness into their lives,” said Salwa Al-Muhammadi, assistant to the president of the Disabled Children's Association in Jeddah. – SG
