Rashid Center launches Sensory Garden
DUBAI: A new facility, Sensory Garden, has been inaugurated at Rashid Center for People of Determination to provide safe space to engage with nature and develop their cognitive and motor skills by stimulating their senses. The facility named The Sensory Garden, sponsored by EWINGS, is part of Rashid Centre’s specialised interactive rehabilitation programmes for students.
It is targeted at autistic students, students diagnosed with hyperactivity, and students who have cerebral palsy as it is crucial to their treatment.
When introduced early on, the type of sensory stimulation that the garden provides can improve and relieve symptoms in youngsters who have these conditions.
“Supporting people of determination in our community is an integral pillar of our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. Through such collaborations we aim to drive positive change in our community and beyond,” said Farid Samji, CEO of EWINGS.
Students of determination from over 200 different nationalities and various age groups, who atend Rashid Center, can access and make use of the garden freely. “The sensory garden will enable us to elevate the level of services that we provide to our students. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure the best-in-class education for each and every student at the centre,” said Maryam Othman, General Manager of Rashid Center.
The garden was built as part of the contribution agreement signed by EWINGS, on behalf of the weekly live “Mahzooz” draw, with the Rashid Centre for People of Determination in April 2021. “The sensory garden is also an avenue for students to interact with their surroundings and with natural elements like sand, soil, plants, stones, water, etc. This interaction is vital to betering their motor skills, cognitive abilities, and overall physical health,” explained Ghada Hammami, Head of Occupational Therapy Department at Rashid Center.
Talking to the Gulf Today, Samji said that “Today it was our first step to establish Sensory Room in the Rashid Center for the Determination One and we vow to continue our support on regular basis.”
“The educational and rehabilitation services we witnessed at the Center led by Maryam Othman, Director General of the centre are amazing and the students of determination were really learning and enjoying,” he added.
Samji also said that the firm has already engaged in different CSR activities to support a number of special needs’ centres as well as welfare organisations in the country and beyond as part of its CSR activities.