This came during Her Highness’s visit on Monday morning, November 4, to the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) in the Al-Burashi area, where she was received by Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), and Her Excellency Mona Abdel Karim Al-Yafei, Director-General of the City. The visit was attended by the directors of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, in addition to the directors and officials of various departments and branches of the City.
Commenting on the visit, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi said: “My visit to the new headquarters has introduced me to an achievement that spans over forty years, continuing to grow and becoming a national landmark that serves individuals with disabilities from birth, shaping their abilities in an inspiring and creative environment that allows them to thrive in a society that understands them and helps them face the challenges ahead. The Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, with its outstanding management, today offers a model of humanitarian work directed at individuals with disabilities, adopting the highest standards and best international practices, ensuring a distinguished developmental experience for its students, a sustainable growth journey that removes psychological and mental obstacles, and builds self-confidence.”
Her Highness toured the city’s buildings and its various facilities, where she was briefed on the key educational, therapeutic, and developmental programs offered by the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services to students with disabilities and mental challenges. These programs have been studied and implemented to align with the best global practices in therapeutic education for children. She also reviewed products from the city’s Masarat Centre for Development and Empowerment, which include the brands "Takween," "Danat," "Khazaf," "Ateeq," "Fann Al-Darza," and "Zawliyah," expressing her great admiration for these products, which demonstrate the creativity and excellence of individuals with disabilities in various fields.
Her Highness also visited the classrooms of Al-Wafa School for Capacity Development, which was established in 1984, marking the beginning of the city’s work. The school is the first institution for intellectual disabilities in the UAE and has developed over the years by providing appropriate and high-quality services to individuals with disabilities, multiple disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders, according to the latest available methods and tools. Additionally, she visited the Sharjah Centre for Autism, which was the first specialised service for individuals with autism spectrum disorder introduced by the city into the UAE. The Sharjah Centre for Autism was founded in 2002 to become the first Emirati centre offering specialised educational and therapeutic services for students with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
Her Highness also toured the administration building and facilities designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities, facilitating their education and daily activities. During her visit, she interacted with the students enrolled at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and observed several lessons and interactive activities provided by the city.
For her part, Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), emphasised the importance of this visit, saying: “This important visit comes as part of the continuous and unwavering support of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi for people with disabilities, which is an integral part of the substantial support provided by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, in his capacity as the honourary president of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services. His Highness has always, with his enlightened thinking and wise guidance, put people first when making decisions. The design of the new headquarters of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services has therefore been tailored to meet the needs of children with disabilities and mental challenges, facilitating their integration into society through specific educational techniques. This, without a doubt, is a source of pride and honor for us as an organization managing a comprehensive city with noble community goals.”
Her Excellency praised the Ruler of Sharjah and his wife’s continuous efforts to elevate humanitarian services in the Emirate of Sharjah, both materially and morally, through sound guidance and visionary leadership. This vision has aligned with community efforts from individuals and institutions who have generously contributed donations and grants that have had a clear impact on the city’s progress. She added: “We are always working to expand the city’s services, opening more departments and branches while keeping up with the latest practices in service provision, all with a focus on improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families in all areas. The city’s leadership in working with people with disabilities revolves around embracing, advocating for, and empowering them. It was the first Emirati institution dedicated to serving them, established in 1979, and after 44 years, it continues to demonstrate its leadership by consistently giving and ensuring the sustainability, quality, and inclusiveness of its services.”
For her part, Her Excellency Mona Abdel Karim Al-Yafei, Director-General of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, stated: “Throughout its journey, the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services has worked to provide high-quality services that leave a tangible impact on the lives of its beneficiaries. The city has gained the trust of many parents, with 1,143 students with disabilities benefiting from the city’s services in the current academic year. The city employs 714 staff members, including 72 employees with disabilities. Our journey has been marked by outstanding success on all fronts. The city was awarded the prestigious international certification from the Carf International for six consecutive years. This is an international accreditation for institutions working in services for people with disabilities, rehabilitation, and health. The Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services is the first institution for people with disabilities in the UAE to receive this accreditation.”*
The city continues to strive for more global achievements and accreditations in line with international standards. In this regard, Al-Yafei added: “The city’s record of achievements and awards strengthens Sharjah’s position as an emirate friendly to people with disabilities. Locally, the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services won first place in the field of caring for people with disabilities as part of the Sharjah Award for Creative People with Disabilities. The city’s international accomplishments are diverse, with the latest being a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Belina for Inclusive Education in Madrid. This agreement aims to enhance the independence of people with intellectual disabilities through the adoption of a training programme based on Arab standards, using simplified reading through the Train2Validate project supported by the European Union. Additionally, the Al-Amal School for the Deaf, a part of the city, was selected by Microsoft as a model school for the eighth consecutive year due to its adoption of modern educational methods and its focus on using technology to enhance the educational process.”
The Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services is preparing to organise the Global Conference on Inclusive Education, which will take place in September 2025, in partnership with the International Inclusive Education Organization, with support from the Government of Sharjah.
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