22 June 2004: Dubai, U.A.E: As part of its Cause of the Month programme, Mashreqbank has provided special equipment to the Dubai Centre for Special Needs (DCSN) to help the school achieve its goals of integrating children with special educational needs into the community.
 
Including classroom and occupational therapy equipment, in addition to an extensive range of specialist gymnasium equipment for the school’s new multi-purpose hall. These help children develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, as well as encouraging cooperation and communication through interactive games.
 
“Equipment for special needs children is very expensive as it is all imported, so we are very grateful to Mashreqbank for making this donation,” said Dr. Mahshid Salehi, director of DCSN for the past 13 years and a trained child and family psychologist.
 
Dr. Salehi explained that the centre, formerly called the Aseef School, is dependent upon charitable donations in order to continue its work. “It costs the school an average of Dh45,000 per year for every student. We currently have 123 students here, but there is still another 50 on our waiting list,” she said.
 
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashrebank, said “Dubai Centre for Special Needs focuses on enabling children to develop the skills to play an active role in mainstream society. Seven of their former pupils are now employed with local companies and living productive lives in the community, and we are delighted to help in this endeavour.
 
“Special needs schools have their own special need, which is to be supported by the communities they serve. In other countries they may be supported by taxpayers’ money, but here we do not have taxes, so it is our responsibility to help them directly,” said Al Ghurair.
 
DCSN moved into its spacious new premises, built on land donated by HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in 1995. It is the fist purpose-built school of its kind in the UAE and practices to the highest international standards.
 
The school employs Individual Education Plans (IEPs) tailored to the needs of each individual student and works closely with the parents to ensure the training is reinforced at home.
 
It also has close ties with Universities, colleges and conventional schools in the Emirates to encourage understanding and normalisation within the community, all of which makes it a first choice for families with special needs children.
 
As students develop they progress onto pre-vocational training to enhance life skills, such as self-care, communication and social skills, as well as work skills like productivity, time-keeping, reliability and attention to detail. These are further developed learning vocational skills such as carpentry, catering and handicrafts, as well as on-the-job training through outplacements.
 
However there is a never ending need for funds to help the school achieve its noble goals. To make it easier for the public to contribute, the Dubai Charity Centre has been established in Karama, staffed by volunteers. Here ordinary people can donate and/or buy used books, clothes and household appliances, with all the proceeds going to the DCSN.
 
The donation from Mashreqbank is part of its Cause of the Month programme, launched last Ramadan to sponsor prominent UAE charities in all seven emirates. Each charity receives a sizeable gift from the bank in the form of the equipment they most need to achieve their goals.
 
Former recipients have included the Red Crescent Society, The Future Centre, Sharjah Centre for Humanitarian Services, Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre.
 
-Ends-
 
For further information please contact:
Maha Yassine                                                                         Jack Pearce
Corporate Communications Manager, Mashreqbank               Matrix Public Relations
Tel: Dubai 7066287                                                                Tel: Dubai 3430888
Email: mahay@mashreqbank.com                                            Email: jack@matrixdubai.com
 

© Press Release 2004