100 Abu Dhabi orphans to receive support from Emirates Red Crescent

ABU DHABI // Emirates Red Crescent is set to provide dental care, learning disability treatment and household items for 100 orphans.

The charity organisation hoped to provide for the orphans in the capital by giving them free dental care through Davinci Dental Clinic, access to art workshops and a full programme by the Taleem Centre for children with learning disabilities.

Salem Al Ameri, acting deputy secretary-general of local affairs at the ERC, said the initiative also hoped to recruit more volunteers who wished to help and have a hand in the development of society.

“This is the first step, and with the help of charitable people we will be able to move to the next step and reach more people. We chose 100 beneficiaries initially to ensure we provide a high quality service to them,” he said.

The ERC has specialists who look into each case individually to categorise their needs. A committee also visited the homes of orphans to see what is needed in terms of household items.

A major donor, Ghanim Al Remaithi, praised the ERC’s efforts and initiatives. “This is our duty, they are our family, brothers, and children and I look forward to helping a bigger number of children,” he said.

Shereen Al Nowais, founder of the Taleem Centre, said many children had learning disabilities but their parents did not recognise it, and orphans who have learning difficulties would have an even harder time dealing with them because of the lack of guidance.

“We want to deal with and treat child problems from the behavioural, mental, emotional and societal aspect. This category needs to be in the spotlight, and I thank the ERC for adopting such initiatives and projects that are sustainable,” she said.

A volunteer from Davinci Dental Clinic in the capital, Dr Racha Ghazal, said he would provide free dental treatment to the orphans as a way of giving back to the country he was born in.

“The [clinic’s] participation in the treatment for the orphans will begin with the check-up and diagnoses first and then the required treatment plan, where the clinic will provide holistic services and study all cases to be able to follow up on them,” he said.

The ERC sponsors more than 100,000 orphans in the country and internationally, and a total of 91 families.

More than 30 external partners also work with the ERC to care for the orphans.

aalkhoori@thenational.ae