Hope Qatar to host special dance contest for differently-abled children
HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs is organising a unique dance contest aimed at empowering differentlyabled children in Qatar over the next couple of weeks.
The competition titled ‘Summer Dance Contest 2020’ is the first edition of the programme as part of the events lined up to commemorate the 15th year of HOPE Qatar.
HOPE Qatar ounder and Managing Director Dr Rajeev Thomas said, “Empowering the children and youth with disabilities in Qatar to achieve their full potential is one of the key objectives of HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs. The restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 has put a damper on the normally high spirits of the differently-abled children who find it extremely challenging to be confined to their homes all the time and many of them miss their friends and teachers.
“This contest is one way to bring out their talents and to create in them a sense of glee and self-fulfilment. It’s not about winning or losing in the contest, but it’s all about participation.”
The contestants will be arranged in different categories for boys and girls in age groups of three to six, seven to 12, 13 to 18, and the senior category from age 19 and above.
The contest is open to children with intellectual as well as physical or multiple challenges.
The organisers have requested parents, relatives, teachers, schools and centres to encourage their children or students to actively participate in the contest and to help bring out the best in each child.
Geetha Elizabeth Shoji, coordinator at HOPE Qatar, said “What children with special needs lack is the right opportunity at the right time to help them achieve their full potential and to bring out the very best in them as a human being and as an individual. In devising this contest as part of HOPE Qatar’s 15th anniversary celebrations titled HOPE 15, the management has taken a step in opening up yet another opportunity for such children to break free from their limitations and to get expressive.”
Parents are being requested to e-mail a video less than one-minute long of the children dancing to any music to the email address HopeQatarCenter gmail.com.
All entries must include the full name of the child, their age, their sex and the contact mobile number of the parent. Without these information, the entries would not be considered. Also, videos longer than one minute in duration would be disqualified.
The names of winners will be announced by July 31 on Hope Qatar social media channels. Apart from prizes for winners in each category, there will also be certificates for all participants.