A special Iftar at a centre where you can 'sense' love

"Sometimes, the people with the biggest smiles are the ones struggling the most." This sums up my Iftar experience with the happy children of Senses Residential and Day Care Centre for Special Needs.
Walking into the center at 6:30pm, Musa Alsadoun, a volunteer from the Rotary Club of Jumeirah, welcomes us as empty tables and chairs make their way into the main hall.
The Senses Care Home project, founded by Emirati Nadia Khalil Al Sayegh, is home to over 127 students from 3-21 years old and about two students over 30 years old with a variety of disabilities. While half of the students reside at the center, the other half use it only for day care.
"Many of these kids are orphans, and that's why we are providing them with a permanent shelter," said Alsadoun, revealing that the center is a non-profit entity that largely depends on donations and support from companies.
The center, located in the quiet area of Umm Suqeim 3 behind Burj Al Arab, started off as a villa that provides 24x7 care for two children, until HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the U.A.E. and ruler of Dubai, ordered for its expansion to a new complex.
"This is the hydrotherapy room where we train children with movement difficulties in water. It's their best time of the day to swim," joked Alsadoun as we toured the center. He's been a volunteer for the center for the past eight years. He noted that about 110 nurses and teachers look after disabilities that range from mild autism, Down syndrome to severe cerebral palsy that keeps some of the children on wheelchairs.
Although there is a treatment fee, Alsadoun noted that most parents do not pay due to their difficult financial situation. Computers and much of the furniture and medical equipment are donated by companies, helping in implementing the specialised programmes that combine speech, music and occupational therapy, vocational therapy, art, life skills, sports and physiotherapy.
"We are lucky to have nurses and specialists who are passionate about what they do. Sometimes there isn't enough funds to give them salaries, but everything here is done out of love," said Alsadoun.
After touring the two-storey villa, Alsadoun pointed out the student accommodation in a separate extension next door. The center has opened a new accommodation for boys that already took in 25 and will take 25 more after Ramadan. Outside, a jogging track and playground offered time for play.
"This is their home, so we needed to provide them with everything they need."
Iftar time is joy time
It is almost 7pm and the main hall is already filled up with students, volunteers and teachers waiting for the call to Maghreb prayers that will allow them to approach the food lined up in buffet style varying from soups, sambousas, nuggets, Shish Tawouk, beef, mashed potatoes and desserts.
Ziad, known to be the most social student in the center, runs and hugs Alsadoun before turning and shaking our hands. "Nice to meet you!" he said in excitement. His friend Jamal shares his fascination with iPhones that are capable of uploading pictures directly to the internet.
Over food, Ziad and Jamal, both been diagnosed with mental retardation, argued about their favorite food. "I like salad," Zaid said, while Jamal replied, "No I prefer rice and chicken." Two autistic students in their twenties passively watched and ate quietly.
Sneaking in some ma'amoul (biscuits with dates), Ziad said, "if only those dates were chocolates, my life would have been happier." Jamal, almost done with his Biryani plate, said "I love different types of Biryani, especially chicken nugget biryani, but it's lovely you can have fish and beef biryani."
A while later, Dr. Lina Owies, Executive Manager of the center widely referred to as "Mama Lina," approaches the children and says, "It isn't a competition, eat slowly."
Owies, specialist in special education, joined the center as a volunteer in 2005 before being fulltime in 2006. Working in the center over 16 hours a day, she has her own room where she stays in the facility with the children.
"This place means everything to me. There are many orphans and students whose families are suffering from cancer or terminal illness that makes it difficult for them to take care of their children. We are their family, they have nowhere else to go" said Owies, revealing that despite her young looks, she's a mother of three and grandmother to three grandchildren.
"The children did this! I appear young because I'm always singing and dancing with their happy and positive spirits." Owies noted that her own granddaughter thinks the center is her home. "She asks her parents 'why does grandma live with many people'," laughed Owies.
She stressed that early intervention is the most important factor to make progress. "They deserve love, support and perfect rehabilitation because this sets their life later. I'm a believer that the more we give, the more gifts god gives us of health and good life."
Leaving the center, the thought that rings in my head is that life and love isn't about what you gain, it's about what you give. Happiness isn't about having it all, but making the best out of what you have.
- sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

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