Ismail and Khadieah Al Kindi enjoyed learning skills at the Fujairah Rehabilitation Centre. Now they want jobs. Reem Mohammed / The National
Ismail and Khadieah Al Kindi enjoyed learning skills at the Fujairah Rehabilitation Centre. Now they want jobs. Reem Mohammed / The National

Disabled people seek jobs to improve themselves and be productive in communities



FUJAIRAH // Ismail Al Kindi used to enjoy planting and tending to cucumbers, tomatoes and onions each day at the Fujairah Rehabilitation Centre.

But that was three years ago and Ismail, 31, has been unable to find work since the centre lowered the age limit to 18.

The Emirati would love to have a job and do something productive in his community, but he has been unable to find work, largely because he has Down syndrome.

His sister Khadieah, 40, has the same condition, and also used to work at the centre.

They need jobs in a safe environment that help them to develop but nothing is available.

“They need to be placed in a job that helps them improve and progress, around people who have the knowledge of how to deal with them,” said Amna Al Kindi, another sister.

“They used to be calm and happy, now they fight a lot and are always complaining. Their current situation has affected their abilities and skills that they have developed at the centre.”

Families caring for disabled people in Fujairah and the centre are calling for the Government to build a chocolate factory and a plant nursery where disabled people could work under the centre’s supervision.

“I wish that the Government would launch an initiative to establish a business project that would be under the supervision of the rehabilitation centre, and offer a suitable environment and jobs to people with a disability,” said Ayesha Khamis, whose daughter Shayma Al Naqbi has Down syndrome and left the centre in 2014.

“Shayma left the centre and was offered work in a cosmetics store but I didn’t approve it,” said Ms Khamis. “I didn’t feel that she would be safe as she would work with a number of people that might mistreat her.”

Amna said: “After they left the rehabilitation centre Ismail had a job opportunity at the municipality, but after a couple of months my father broke his leg and couldn’t drive him to work.

“So they terminated his contract and since that day he has stayed home.”

The centre held a chocolate-making class that was a hit with many of its visitors, including Khadieah.

“Mixing cocoa to create chocolate and put it on top of the biscuits,” Khadieah said with a sparkle in her eyes.

Ms Al Kindi said her siblings really miss the activities at the centre and the family is keen to find a place where their safety is assured and they can be productive and happy again.

That is why the centre is hoping to gain the approvals needed to begin at least one of the projects, to remove people with a disability from isolation, build up their personalities and get them learning skills while contributing to their community.

“Having a place where they can earn money and contribute to society is like a dream comes true – girls can work in a chocolate factory and they are good at it, while boys can plant vegetables and fruits in a farm or a plant nursery,” said the centre’s social worker, Jamila Al Mula.

She said 14 out of 34 physically or mentally challenged people had been recruited by government entities in the past four years, in roles involving data entry or as clerks.

“The numbers of those who were rejected are low and a lot of them stay at home. Some of the parents are afraid to let their son or daughter work in a place where they might not be treated right,” said Ms Al Mula.

rhaza@thenational.ae

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

WITHIN%20SAND
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Command%20Z
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Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km

Price: from Dh547,600

On sale: now 

Company%20Profile
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German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out  ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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UAE players with central contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding