Damascus-SANA
More than 70 children with disabilities participated in decorating and lighting the Christmas tree, as part of an event organized by the Ministry of Tourism and the Governorate of Damascus today, on the occasion of Christmas and New Year, at Al Dunes Restaurant in Al Shabab city in Damascus.
The event, which was also held on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, included art and sports, entertainment competitions, juggling games, and the distribution of gifts to participating children sponsored by Suluk Association for Development.
In a statement to the representative of SANA between the Director of Damascus Tourism, Eng. Zuhair Erzurumli, the aim of the event is to bring joy and happiness to children with disabilities, integrate them into society and help develop their intellectual abilities through interactive activities.
For her part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Suluk Walaa Hassan explained that the association cares for people with intellectual disabilities, speech difficulties, autism spectrum, and people with Down syndrome from 3 to 25 years old, through the early intervention and vocational rehabilitation centers, stressing the importance of interactive activities to achieve effective integration of people with disabilities in society.
Through the smile on their faces and in simple words, a number of children were able to express their happiness by participating. Ghaith Ibrahim, 9, and Aisha Al-Sas, 12, said that they felt great joy when they decorated the Christmas tree and carried their wishes for the New Year.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on the 3rd of December after it was first approved by the United Nations in 1992 with the aim of supporting this category, integrating it into society and raising awareness of its issues.
Sakina Muhammad and Gemma Ibrahim