Individual Initiatives to Support Disabled

Caring about children with special needs in any country is a very important issue that necessitates collective efforts by the family, the society and the government.

 In Syria, particularly during the past two decades, greater attention has been accorded to the issue of helping children with special needs overcome their disability and be effective in their society. Beside the support provided by the government and social parties to this category of the Syrian society, individual initiatives by good doers are made to give a helping hand to those people particularly under the extraordinary circumstances caused by the tragic events in the country.

Lattakia has recently hosted a private one-day charity event attended by more than 400 children with special needs and their parents.

 “We aim to emphasize the importance of humanitarian communication and collaboration among the various components of the Syrian society under the crisis plaguing our country,” Mrs. Suhair al-Samman, the event organizer, told the Syria Times.

“We are holding this charity event to affirm our commitment to help this category of people, who if provided necessary support, will prove indomitable will and unmatched skill and accuracy at work,” she said.

Disabled children from 10 charities and civil society associations, caring about kids with cerebral palsy, paralysis in addition to the blind, the handicapped and the orphans, were invited to join the event which is annually held to mark Syria’s celebrations of International Women Day and March 8 Revolution the achievements of which are still being enjoyed by the Syrians despite all the pain and distress Syria has been  experiencing over the past three years of the global war waged against the country.

  “We also aim to honor women and pay special attention to those who have got disabled children or those caring about them,” al-Samman added.

The event included various artistic shows, cultural competitions and concerts. Outstanding students were also honored. “We hope that children had really enjoyed doing what they wish to do on this special day,” she said.

“Our biggest task is how to help those people overcome their disability as they have unwavering determination to defy their hard circumstances and decide their future by themselves”, al-Samman affirmed.

“Working to alleviate those people’s suffering, provide them the possible employment opportunities and offer them assistance should not be restricted to a certain day, it must be done throughout the year,” al-Samman said, urging other people to assume their social responsibility and make more initiatives which deepen solidarity with disabled people.

Amal Farhat