The Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities, affiliated with the Qatar Social Work Foundation, started its summer program set to run until July 24 from Sunday to Wednesday at the Center’s locations in Lusail and Al Hilal.

The program is aimed at all members of the Center with intellectual disabilities and autism, aged between 3 and 21 years old, with a total of 147 participants enrolled.

The Executive Director of the Shafallah Center Maryam Saif Al Suwaidi stated that the summer program aims to raise community awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities, enhance their participation in extracurricular activities, and channel their energy into recreational and educational activities tailored to their abilities and needs.

Al Suwaidi explained that the program also promotes family partnerships by involving parents, in addition to activating community partnerships through collaboration with various governmental and private entities in delivering diverse activities that serve the Center’s goals and meet the needs of its members.

She added that such programs contribute to developing daily life skills for persons with disabilities, thereby enhancing their independence.

The program includes a wide range of activities such as sports (swimming, horseback riding, bowling), artistic activities (music, painting, crafts, cooking), cultural events (theater, reading), as well as vocational and environmental activities, and educational military-themed events.

Al Suwaidi highlighted that one of the key outcomes of this year’s summer program is strengthening families’ trust in the Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities and further integrating persons with disabilities into society.

The Executive Director of the Shafallah Center affirmed that the program reflects the Center’s philosophy and commitment to providing integrated and comprehensive services that support the physical and mental development of its members and further develop their capabilities.