JEDDAH: Helping people with intellectual disabilities is extremely important — and equally gratifying, Maha Al-Jafali, director and supervisor of the (Al-Oun) Help Center, said Sunday at a ceremony to celebrate the Center's 25th anniversary and boost public awareness. The ceremony, with the theme, “Who Says We Cannot?,” was held to increase public awareness about the rights of intellectually disabled people, the need to provide for their needs and those of their families and to honor founders, donors, and workers, organizers said. “There is nothing better than the happy feeling I get daily as a result of providing and helping those people,” Al-Juffali said. “It's my pleasure to work and support all the charitable works in this Center and may Allah reward all the people who work and support it.” From day one, the goal and focus has been to ensure that the Center provides comprehensive and effective care, said Suad Al-Husseini Al-Juffali, the wife of Ahmed Abdullah Al-Juffali, founder of the Center. “This Center was founded to provide educational, health, and other services for disabled people in the Kingdom along with providing good behavioral treatment for them,” she said. She dedicated the ceremony and achievements of the Help Center, which was founded and is operated based on international standards, to her husband's soul. The event included a comic drama performed by the Desert Knights Band, a non-profit group of artists with disabilities. A drawing exhibition showed the talents and creativity of children served by the Help Center. The Center would not exist without help from generous donors, organizers said. More than 22 years down the road, the Ahmad Al-Juffali Foundation continues to finance the Center, which has provided support to more than 5,000 families. During the ceremony, the family of Sarah Filimaban explained to the audience how they reacted when their daughter was born with an intellectual disability. They said the Center has provided an enormous amount of help by assisting with her education and health and helping her based on her special needs. To appreciate the vital role of her grandmother's support for the Center, Dania Ghandoor, the granddaughter of Suad Al-Juffali, dedicated the early-intervention program to her. Khaled Al-Juffali, the son of founder Ahmed Al-Juffali, expressed his appreciation for the great effort of all the Center's employees, who work around-the-clock to help the children. He also noted that his sister worked relentlessly to help those served by the Center. “It's time to thank my sister, Maha Al-Juffali, who spent all of her time supervising and helping the families and the children by providing different kinds of services and educational care,” Al-Juffali said. More info on the center is available at http://www.helpcenter.med.sa/index.php – Saudi GazetteThe schedule of events The Help Center is holding and participating in a number of events to boost awareness of its work to help people with disabilities. Inauguration and Honoring Ceremony (Nov. 28) The celebration of the Help Center's silver jubilee, which honors workers and donors, noted the continuous contributions by Suad Al- Al-Juffali. Honoring Ceremony – Early Intervention (Nov. 29) The ceremony celebrates childhood and the first steps of learning. Suad Al-Juffali will be honored. The experience of mothers teaching their mentally disabled children with ease will be narrated to stress early intervention. Honoring Ceremony – The land of my forefathers (Dec. 4) The ceremony will shed light on the importance of education and professional treatment for mentally disabled adults. Graduates of the Help Center will show their multifaceted talents and accomplishments. Health Awareness Week (Jan. 15 - 19) The Center will participate in the event that will enlighten people about malnutrition, obesity, psychological issues and depression and their psychological and physical impacts on the mentally disabled. Workshops and discussion circles will be held. Health Lectures Week (Feb. 19 - 23) As an extension of the activities in January, a number of lectures will be given on topics targeted in the Health Awareness Week. Sports Week (March 26 - 30) The week will highlight the sports and athletic capabilities of people with mental disabilities. Brothers and Sisters Month (April) April will focus on the siblings of children at the Center and strengthening family ties and awareness. Brothers and sisters will be invited to the Center every Wednesday to accompany their siblings. Wings Shows Week (May 21 - 25) Each children's class will be converted to one of the earth's continents. The children will show their artistic talents and knowledge about the continents. __
