ROTA Staff Participate in Toy Drive for Disabled Children
Doha, QATAR, 20th June, 2007. The staff of Reach Out To Asia participates in the "Save the Toy's Drive", a donation drive organized by The Junior Baby Care Center in Doha, benefiting special needs children at Doha's Educational/Rehabilitation Center.
In support of the drive, ROTA staff donated both new and used toys and delivered them on Monday to the Junior Baby Care Nursery which will be distributed to children at the Rehabilitation Education Center when they return from the summer break.
The Education Center - Rehabilitation Center is divided into two separate institutions, working together as a branch of Qatar Society for Rehabilitation and Special Needs. The Educational Center is a school for boys and girls with mental and physical handicaps, ranging from very young children up to age twelve. At this level, girls and boys separate; girls shift to the Rehabilitation Center which accepts ladies of all ages over twelve. Boys attend a similar center for males.
The centers are free of charge, and accept students with all different types of handicaps. Because there are no school fees, the centers rely greatly on other contributions. Due to the variety of physical and mental disabilities among students, one-on-one attention with them is extremely valuable.
Mrs. Alexie Muzame, a volunteer at The Junior Baby Care Center, as well as the Rehabilitation Center, comments "the objective of the 'Save the Toys Drive' is to help furnish the existing Education Center and the girls' Rehabilitation Center which has recently moved to a new location. We hope that the toys will not only entertain the children, but stimulate them physically and mentally, engaging their hands, feet, bodies, and senses, and most importantly, their minds."
Mrs. Muzame continued to explain, "the building itself also needs attention and anticipate that through future volunteer activities we will be able to create a comfortable environment for the students, which is essential in assisting with their learning. We are delighted that organizations like ROTA have decided to contribute to our cause through the toy drive and we hope that we are able to look at different ways of working with them in the future."
Mr. David Burton, ROTA's Volunteer Program Manager, commented, "It's great to see the ROTA staff members contributing to other worthy causes here in Doha. ROTA itself will be looking at the possibility of a long term commitment to these centers through its volunteer program and its community day's which are both elements of the ROTAQ program; a program within ROTA designed to focus on charitable activities here in Qatar."
Ms. Omnia Nour, Director of ROTA, adds, "It is the first opportunity, where ROTA staff members make a personal donation to a noble cause. We are all grateful that we were given this chance and plan to be more active in not only donating funds but also our time and experience to reach out to many more with our community here in Qatar. Our commitment as ROTA staff members to such activities will allow us to improve our performance. We truly believe that we have to start with ourselves if we where to ask for the generous support of others. The smile, laughter and happiness that each one can bring to the children is invaluable and yet so simple to achieve"
