Sharjah City Centre and the Sharjah City of Humanitarian Society are together helping special needs children learn the ‘tools of life’ with informative and educational shopping experience. Special needs children aged between 9 and 11 years of age from Al Wafaa School have been visiting Sharjah City Centre in small groups since late January and will continue to do so each week through February, 2011.
The initiative, set up by the Sharjah City of Humanitarian, is aimed at achieving a complete integration of people with special needs into the society at the social, educational, health and environmental levels, in addition to ensuring equal opportunities for them in all areas of life. One of these aspects is focused on independence and shopping or general mall conduct is integral to the way in which we live our life.
Shopping visits to Carrefour are at the centre of the shopping exercise for students each week. In groups, students learn time management, money management relating to costs of food items, navigation of supermarket isles, shopping etiquette and even how to check out and pay for groceries. Carrefour is kindly donating their time and significant financial aid to make possible the complete shopping experience.
Sharjah City Centre Mall Manager Anna Mansour said, “This very worthwhile initiative underscores the importance of the community’s role to facilitate integration. We are very proud that we are afforded this opportunity to play such a crucial part in the community integration of special needs kids. We hope their experience at Sharjah City Centre goes some way in helping to achieve their personal goals in life.”
As kids, no mall experience is complete without a visit to Magic Planet and lunch in the food court, specifically Chicking who are also onboard to donate their services to visiting students.
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