CDA and Ferrari Owners Club UAE organise open day for children with disabilities
Dubai, 22 February, 2010: The Community Development Authority in Dubai (CDA) in association with the Ferrari Owners Club UAE (FOC) organised an open day for children with disabilities on board Ferrari cars at the Dubai Autodrome track – Motor City. The initiative is part of CDA’s vital role in driving social care practices in Dubai and the authority’s commitment to strengthen the culture of integrating all cross-sections of the society.
A group of children from the UAE Down Syndrome Association, Dubai Autism Center and Al Noor Training Centre, took part in the event riding on Ferrari cars steered by high professional drivers. The children also took photographs in the cars and with members of the club.
The CDA delegation included His Excellency Mr Khaled Al Kamda, Director General of CDA; Sheikh Maktoum Bin Butti Al Maktoum, CEO – Social Care; Dr Eman Gaad, Director of Disability Services; and Amna Al Obaidli, Director of Social Care.
Dr Sonia Al Hashimi, chairperson of the UAE Down Syndrome Association, and representatives of Dubai Autism Center and Al Noor Training Centre attended the event. Some 30 members of the Ferrari Owners Club UAE accompanied by their families and children also attended.
“Lending a hand to people with disabilities is a social duty for members in the community. CDA is committed to organize activities for them and help integrate them with the rest of the society to achieve one of our main goals - social cohesion,” said Mr Al Kamda.
“We are pleased to cooperate with the Community Development Authority to organize a joint activity for the society, which we are all part of. This initiative is the start of future joint projects with CDA,” said Fred Kamperman, President of FOC UAE.
Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, member of the club said: “The objective behind the open day is to spread awareness among members on how to deal with children with disabilities and to integrate them within the society naturally.”
At the end of the day, CDA distributed souvenirs to the children and the drivers. His Excellency Mr Al Kamda and Sheikh Maktoum Bin Butti Al Maktoum handed over trophies to the club as a token of appreciation and loyalty.