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Breaking away from summer break for a special cause

Dubai - Al Noor Training Centre organises fund-raising activities during summer vacation.

When every possible educational institute or training centre for special needs students is closed for a summer break, Al Noor Training Centre located in Al Barsha, Dubai, is busy in fund-raising activities and initiatives to make a difference in the lives of special needs students.
'Rent-a-Facility' is one of the ongoing initiatives which offers variety of spaces with upgraded amenities at competitive rates for private, corporate and sports events. These activities play a vital role as a sustainable fund-raising arm of the non-profit, self-financing centre.
Isphana Al Khatib, director of Al Noor Training Centre, said facility rental has created a sustainable source of funding for the centre. "Though it does not cover the entire budget deficit, it helps in making us less dependent on community funding," she said.
The centre has an array of spaces that can accommodate groups of 15 to 1,000 people, including a multi-purpose hall for big events and Al Fazer conference hall for mid-sized events. Also, classrooms and multifunction rooms can be utilised for small workshops, meetings and birthday parties. An outdoor covered court, quadrangle, play area and swimming pools are available on rent for recreational and sports activities.
Satyen Babla, chief choreographer at DANS, a privately run dance studio, had used the school's multi-purpose hall and auditorium many times and thinks the Al Noor team is highly professional and supportive.
Cause with creativity
Inspired calendars through "assistive technology" are an upcoming fund-raising initiative. The centre is inviting corporate groups to sponsor desk and wall calendar collection painted by the students for 2017. The calendar project is an initiative running for more than two decades and offers corporate groups various sponsorship opportunities - from exclusive calendar sponsorship to being a calendar partner or a month page sponsor. The price of the calendar is Dh15 each.
The initiative will not only give more exposure to the painting created by the special needs students but will also motivate the use of "assistive technology" amongst them.
Smiles n' Stuff
A small shop within the centre showcases handicrafts and baked goodies made by the special needs children. There are four vocational units in the centre, which are fashion technology, printing technology, wood-design technology and bakery.
Chantal Saado, an ex-student of Al Noor is currently running the Smile n' Stuff shop at the centre. "I was in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce for six months and then the school called me back to run the shop. I am here for five years and work as a sales trainee. We sell products designed by the students at the centre. We also host coffee mornings here."
ankita@khaleejtimes.com