DUBAI // Special needs students are being taught art and sculpture in the first workshop of its kind in the region.
One of their first projects was the production of Christmas cards that the workshop organisers would then sell to corporate groups, visitors and locals.
Wemmy de Maaker, the director of Mawaheb [Talent] from Beautiful People, said of the workshop that began last month: "Through art we want to build life skills. This is a stepping stone for young adults once they leave special schools to help them integrate with the community."
The Beautiful People franchise was founded in the Netherlands, Ms de Maaker's homeland, three years ago and its Dubai studio is based in a villa in the central Bastakiya district.
Inside, students were busy painting images of red flowers, green fir trees etched against white snow and a crimson sky for the greeting cards. Seven young adults from Sharjah and Dubai, who have disabilities such as Down's syndrome, visit several times a week to learn techniques from instructors including local artists.
The studio is under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. She and the Dubai Culture and Art Authority provided the villa for the studio, which immediately won support from the local art community.
Hetal Pewani, the owner of Dubai's JamJar gallery, who often invites children with disabilities for art sessions, said: "Painting is a great outlet for people with special needs. They express themselves and you can discover talent. A plan to sell their art in a public place is wonderful."
The artists, who are aged between 19 and 27, are the children of expatriates from India, Pakistan, Britain and Iraq.
Umer Shuja, 22, from Pakistan, jabbing at a self-portrait to which he had playfully added a beard to his clean-shaven face, said: "I put my mind in here. I like to draw, I like to paint. I like crayons and I like red, blue, green, purple."
The riot of colours was on display on large paintings that brightened the studio walls. One frame re-created tall city buildings in shades of blue and red. Another powerful work was dominated by an open eye with the other eye shut tight amid swirls of maroon and purple.
The paintings and colourful mosaic boxes are on sale at the studio at prices that range from Dh50 to Dh2,000. The organisation also plans to feature a series of paintings in calendars, diaries and T-shirts.
Ms de Maaker has outlined proposals that allow corporate offices and individuals to rent paintings for six months and then exchange them for another canvas.
"We can develop corporate gifts for companies from the art," she said. "Companies can also approach us for paintings on a special theme."
The doors of the studio are left open so passers-by can pop in for a visit. The workshop, next to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Culture and Understanding, in Al Bastakiya, is open five days a week from 8.30am until 4pm. The organisation plans to open a small coffee corner to encourage interaction with potential buyers.
"We want to make them [students] more independent so we treat them as adults," Ms de Maaker said. "We tell them we want to hear their voice."
That motivation was demonstrated when Sarah Charman, a student, held up a drawing of butterflies and asked whether it needed more colour. Asked for her thoughts, Ms Charman, 25, nodded vigorously and decided to add a lot more pink.
"I like it here, I am excited here," Ms Charman said. "I like to draw angels, fairies."
Students head out for a walk every afternoon with volunteers down winding lanes to expose them to new experiences that could be the theme of future art.
Salman Shaikh, 22, a student from India, said: "I have a good memory,. My teacher helps me. I work hard, very hard."
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Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
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Friday December 28
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
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Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
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Generational responses to the pandemic
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Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
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34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
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31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
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*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
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All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
Winner: Superior, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
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8.15pm
Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm
Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
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Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Sandeep Jadhav
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Monaco v Porto
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Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
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Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
World Mental Health Day
EPL's youngest
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15 years, 181 days old - Max Dowman (Arsenal)
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Matthew Weiner,
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MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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