Al Noor is in ‘dire straits’, says chairman

dubai — The 38-year-old Al Noor Training Centre for People with Disabilities is in dire straits, the centre’s chairman, Khalid Al Haylan, announced on Thursday.

“Our fees are set at 40 per cent subsidy for all students, and this is the annual challenge we face year on year. The current market conditions have compounded our challenge and we need Dh3.5 million or we will be forced to close the school in July,” he said.

Since 1981, the centre has been enriching the lives of hundreds of children and young adults with various physical and cognitive challenges.

Al Haylan said that because of the fee structure — and as the institute has subsidised the fee per student from Dh80,000 to Dh40,000 — the centre has to deal with a deficit every year.

“Usually, we manage to cover the deficit but this year, it has been difficult due to tough economic situation globally. Also, about 25 families have relocated back to their home countries due to their financial constraints, and we have a considerable drop in the number of students at the centre.

“Many companies who were earlier helping us with the sponsorships also stopped doing so, due to their financial issues. This is why we are stuck in a difficult situation, where we are in desperate need of Dh3.5 million by the end of this July. If we are unable to arrange these funds, then God knows how we will manage to run this centre.”

Speaking about how the centre has planned to create a sustainable income in the future, Al Haylan said: “We have started to build a residential building in Al Warqa’a, where we plan to build 34 apartments and rent them out to residents. This could create around Dh2 million annually. Constructing building requires around Dh19 million and until now, Emaar has supported us with Dh5 million and has started the work.”

Besides the apartment plan, Al Noor’s management is also thinking about building a “commercial complex”, he said.

“We have also thought about setting up shops — such as flower shop, mobile shop, cafe or baking shop — within the institute’s premises. These are places where Al Noor students can work in after completing their course. This way, we can generate another Dh2.5 million from this commercial complex.”

Urging individuals and companies to support the centre, Al Haylan said: “My request is for you to extend to us the much-needed help at present, so that the determined ones in our care may continue to avail of the services they deserve.”

dh3.5m

Amount the centre needs by end of July