RIYADH: A group of disabled young men and women gathered at a mall in Riyadh recently for their weekly meeting. Unlike similar groups of volunteers, this crowd wanted to call itself simply “The Youth Group.”
But there was something different about the atmosphere. Perhaps it was the casual, family-like atmosphere with girls and boys exchanging jokes and talking about their lives. This is possibly what makes this group unique.
“They do not have huge plans to make themselves famous or bring themselves into the media spotlight. However, they have something that other groups might not have: They are true to themselves and to others,” said Abdullah Al-Owairdi, a volunteer affiliated with the group.
“It’s not an official body but rather a group of girls and boys who are trying to make a difference in each other’s lives. They just come to share and enjoy and, of course, to benefit,” he added.
Girls in wheelchairs have the chance to express their feelings, desires and future plans, and most importantly, they effectively participate in the groups’ activities.
“What makes our group different, I believe, is the family atmosphere and the fact that we do not separate between men and women in terms of disabilities,” Al-Owairdi said.
Abdullah Al-Sayed, who is wheelchair-bound and one of the group’s older participants, said this group is all about sharing.
“We share our experiences,” Al-Sayed said. “Let’s take accidents as one cause of disabilities. They are increasing. The life of a person tragically changes once he or she meets with an accident, so we must think of ways to help them. We do not want to leave them to depression and emotional distress.”
Rubaian Al-Rubaian, another older participant in a wheelchair, believes that the importance of such meetings and groupings is in the family sharing. “What’s the harm in bringing families to learn and enjoy these moments together?” Al-Rubaian asked. “We need to help youth with disabilities. We know from our experiences that a wheelchair is not the end.”
The Youth Group not only has youngsters in wheelchairs but also has hearing-impaired individuals.
Ranging in age from 20 to 50, they meet every week to share and to help one another with the slogan: “We are brothers and sisters, all here for each other and no one is a stranger.”
