JEDDAH, 4 December 2006 — The Social Development Department of the Jeddah Municipality is opening a new office to help people with special needs, according to Jamal Abo Imara, general supervisor of the SDD and media at the municipality.
He said that this initiative came under the direction of Jeddah Mayor Adel Fakieh and was announced yesterday. This new department would help regulating and organizing issues related to people with special needs in terms of facilities and social help.
He said that the mayor also promised to create jobs for people with special needs in the municipality according to their abilities.
“So far the municipality has hired seven handicapped people,” he noted.
Imara was speaking to the press during an event held on the occasion of International Day for the Handicapped.
More than 50 children participated in a public art project involving painting various shapes with colored charcoal sticks over the ground behind Al-Mahmal Center in downtown Balad. The Civil Defense also participated by bringing a fire truck with a number of officials to give a presentation to the children about the job of a fireman.
Maha Juffali, manager of the local Help Center, which organized the event, said that they take care of more than 350 children with various physical handicaps. Now, she said they are establishing a section to help older people with special needs because they need to be looked after at various levels.
She said that they have managed to find jobs for 36 young men and women who received job training by the Help Center.
Reem Gazzaz, public relations manager of the Help Center, said that everyone was helpful to make this event come true. The municipality immediately gave their approval to use the area, which they had cleaned up for the occasion.
Children mingled with each other and with other people as well at the event, Gazzaz said, adding that they need such involvement to give them self-confidence and to show what they are capable of to the rest of the people.
Sana Al-Ghamdi, a 22-year-old Saudi painter who volunteered to help the children, expressed her happiness to participate in such a humanitarian event. “I’ve never felt this happy in my life,” she said.
