The Shafallah Centre for People with Disabilities, under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, which belongs to the Ministry of Social Development and Family, announced the start of its summer program at the Shafallah Centre in both Lusail and Al-Hilal branches, which will continue during the period between June 30th, 2024 to July 25th, 2024, Sundays to Thursdays, between 8:00 AM till noon. The summer program targets all Shafallah Centre affiliates between 3 to 19 years old with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder, and the number of participants reached 158.

Mrs. Maryam Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Shafallah Centre for People with Disabilities, stated that the establishment of the summer program aims to raise community awareness of the rights of people with disabilities and their right to participate in summer activities and invest their energies and abilities through various activities that allow them to gain numerous skills, the continuity of providing services to affiliates during the summer period, strengthening family partnership through their participation in the summer program, and activating the role of community partnerships by involving many entities, ministries and institutions in the state in implementing various activities that meet the needs of affiliates.

Mrs. Maryam Al Suwaidi confirmed that diversity and skill updating were considered when designing activities acquired by the centre’s affiliates. She pointed out that the participants were classified according to the number of participants into groups divided into 8 to 10 groups according to age group and type of disability. She noted that the centre coordinated and communicated with several entities regarding the activities.

The Executive Director of Shafallah Centre confirmed that the summer activity is not just a program but a platform for growth and empowerment. It contributes to activating the role of summer activities to provide the participants with experience and skills during the summer period and seek to employ the capabilities of the affiliates and their potential through the implementation of targeted activities to occupy their free time. 

Mrs. Maryam Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Shafallah Centre for People with Disabilities, extended her sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed to supporting the Shafallah Centre’s summer program.