Carpenters who are breaking down barriers
▶ At a Zayed Higher Organisation workshop, young men build cabinets – and confidence
People with special needs are working on careers in carpentry – and using their newfound skills to lift up others with disabilities.
Workshops operated by the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are hives of activity for 20 students keen for a sense of purpose.
They spend their days making everything from park benches to customised chessboards for the blind.
The workers are currently producing coffee cabinets and shelves to stock the Quran for the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, known as Awqaf.
The National visited the workshop as the government urges schools, communities and employers to become more inclusive and provide people with disabilities new skills and jobs.
Soon, the workshop will set about making 1,500 canes for imams.
“It is a sunnah [Islamic tradition] for the imam to hold a cane while preaching the Friday sermon,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a vocational trainer at the ZHO workshop in Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi.
“We are teaching our students how to do woodwork and to put the products together piece by piece.
“We start with small objects, and once they are better at it they move on to create bigger things, like furniture.
“Our plan is to make the students independent, so we teach them and guide them until they are able to do the work themselves and eventually work in the market or start their own carpentry business.
“Of course, we will continue to support them as much as we can.”
The workshop has also received orders for tissue boxes, engraved traditional boxes and chessboards for the blind.
“The board has holes in it so blind players can identify the sequence of the boxes,” said Mr Al Hamadi.
One of the young carpenters, Saleh Al Hatroush, 16, stood carefully fixing a screw on an almost-finished cabinet.
“I feel happy at the workshop,” Saleh said, “because I am working.”
He started learning carpentry a year ago, and used to train at the metal workshop.
“But I like it more here – I set up the shelves of a cabinet today,” he said.
“My favourite work is sanding the wood.”
Even the safety mask could not conceal 32-year-old Ammar Al Mansouri’s smile as he shaved a piece of wood.
“I am so happy. I can do this for 30 minutes – I just keep going,” he said.
At a table in the centre of the workshop, a group of boys split tasks: one used the drill, the other shaved the wood while another applied the metal pieces that will hold the wood.
“They mostly suffer from Down syndrome,” Mr Al Hamadi said.
“Their abilities vary so we give each a task based on his level.
“Some can handle electric devices and some cannot.
“The main age group is 15 to 25. After 25, we expect the student to graduate from here and start working independently.”
Saif Al Junaibi, 24, said as much as he loves his job there, he is longing “to find work outside”.
“I have been here for one year. I feel happy when I work here and I love to drill every day,” he said. “And I want to go somewhere else and have a job.”
The role of the workshop is not limited to practical productions.
It has a creative side as well, and an eye-catching chair sits at a corner next to the door.
“This was produced here and exhibited at Abu Dhabi Art,” said Tharwat Ali, another trainer at ZHO.
Decorative garden benches and tables also produced by ZHO’s team sit under a cherry blossom tree by the cafe outside the main reception, offering more evidence of talent starting to bloom.
The cafe itself is also fully staffed by young men with special needs
“In the UAE today, anyone who has the desire to work can work,” said Abdullah Al Shehhi, vocational trainer at ZHO.
“The country has provided job opportunities for all categories.”