11 December 2024; Dubai, UAE: Al Noor Rehabilitation and Welfare Association for People of Determination turned 43 in spectacular style with the return of its much-loved Family Funfair – a vibrant celebration of community, and generosity. This event serves as an open invitation to encourage the community to adopt the concept of social inclusion for people of determination, support vital programs that improve their quality of life, and promote the culture of charitable work.
Held at Al Noor’s campus in Al Barsha 1, the day brimmed with joy, laughter, and purpose as Dubai’s community came together to raise funds for an incredible cause. The event highlighted Al Noor’s unwavering commitment to empowering over 200 students living with conditions such as Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Autism. The celebration was also a call to action, urging the community to embrace inclusion and support the life-changing programs Al Noor offers.
The festivities began with the highly anticipated Side by Side: Chalhoub Group-Al Noor Superhero Walk for Inclusion, where participants, in a scene right out of a real-life comic book adventure, donned their capes and costumes to walk or run 2 kilometers in celebration of determination and diversity. The sight of families, friends, and individuals of all abilities stepping up as superheroes was a powerful reminder of hope and the strength of community solidarity.
From 9 AM to 9 PM, the Al Noor campus transformed into a buzzing fairground with attractions for all ages. The Kids’ Village came alive with laughter from bouncy castles and games, while the Art & Craft corner and quiz stalls sparked creativity and excitement. Bargain hunters explored stalls offering discounts on books and treats, while foodies delighted in a vibrant food court, courtesy of Towers Rotana as the event’s Food Court Title Sponsor and The Hershey Company as the event’s Support Sponsor.
Sports enthusiasts joined the action at the CSR Tournaments. The energy was electrifying as teams showcased their skills in football, basketball, and padel, fostering camaraderie and friendly competition – all in the name of a greater cause.
Beyond the festivities, the funfair succeeded in what mattered most: rallying support for Al Noor’s mission. Every activity, every sponsorship, and every donation contributed to funding the education, care, and professional training of students at Al Noor. The overwhelming turnout and generosity underscored the power of collective action, as Dubai united to empower people of determination.
“The 43rd anniversary of Al Noor has been a shining example of how a community can come together to create meaningful change,” said Ranjini Ramnath, Director of the Al Noor Training Centre for People of Determination. “This day was a celebration not only of our students and their achievements, but also of the community’s role in enabling their journey. We are immensely grateful to our volunteers, sponsors, and attendees whose dedication and generosity brought our mission to life. Thanks to their contribution, we achieved a remarkable milestone and are now better equipped to continue our important work.”
Inspired to be a hero? Learn more about how you can support Al Noor, participate in upcoming events, or volunteer, by visiting Al Noor Socials Instagram @alnoorpod & Facebook @AlNoorCentre / call 043404844 /email alnoopod@alnoorpod.ae
ENDS
About Al Noor Rehabilitation and Welfare Association for People of Determination:
Al Noor Rehabilitation and Welfare Association for People of Determination is a public welfare association working towards the cause of People of Determination, under the auspices of Community Development Authority in Dubai. The training department under the parent association, is a non-profit organization established in 1981. Al Noor has been providing high quality of professional training to the Determined Ones community in Dubai for over 40 years. Starting with only 8 children the Centre has since expanded to facilitate and enrich the lives of up to 200 children and young people from 28 different nationalities who have various physical and cognitive challenges such as Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism. The new all-purpose facility from which Al Noor now operates opened its doors in April 2007 and was generously donated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai.
Al Noor follows a holistic programme addressing all domains of development through a Trans disciplinary assessment and intervention approach, all delivered at an ISO certified standard. In addition to teaching, the level of development is enhanced with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Applied Behavior therapy (ABA), Psychological services, Sports, Swimming and Music. Al Noor also prides itself on an exceptionally effective Work Placement unit that trains its students with a capability for open employment, integrating them into mainstream society post education.
The Centre runs a Parent and Child Training programme (PACT), an intensive, participative parental empowerment programme. Meant for parents of children with autism, this programme is implemented following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. It provides hands-on learning opportunities and is based on the belief that parents are in the best position to help their children to communicate and interact more successfully.
Al Noor also takes pride in a dedicated Assistive Technology team & Advanced Seating Clinic that assesses, identifies and applies appropriate technology to help them overcome their physical and cognitive challenges.
A particular star of the Al Noor’s achievements is the Centre’s very own Branded Outlet – Smiles ‘n’ Stuff –showcasing handcrafted products by Al Noor Students, which helps to raise awareness for the training Centre. The goal of Al Noor’s Vocational Training unit is to make children skilled and productive members of the community and training is offered in Wood Design Technology, Printing Technology, Fashion Technology and Bakery units.
Due to the holistic training/services that we provide, the total cost of training a child amounts to AED 90,000/year. Al Noor provides a 47% discount to every student irrespective of the background of the student, hence the full annual fee/student is set at AED 48,000/year, leaving a subsidy requirement of AED 42,000 annually/child. In addition to this, almost 30-40% of parents can’t afford the tuition fees. The subsidy we give to our students along with non-payment of fees is what creates the annual deficit for Al Noor, which we try & raise through sponsorships & other Al Noor Initiatives. Covering these subsidies is Al Noor’s ongoing annual challenge.
For more information on the Centre, please see this video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8G2Nbh6iz8 & for our USP- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNCfVufphwQ
