DUBAI// Residents of a centre providing housing for orphans are celebrating its first anniversary by thanking its founder, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
The twenty-four children of the Family Village, a compound of 16 villas with a capacity to host 130, wrote a letter of appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed to express their gratitude and appreciation for the leader’s continuous support and care.
The Dh150 million centre, which has housed children since February of last year, was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed last June.
Run by the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, the centre provides the children with accommodation, education, health and psychological care.
Surrogate mothers, aunts, and fathers working at the centre said they were happy to be part of a meaningful and successful project.
“Nothing is more fulfilling than taking care of orphaned children deprived of love and care from their parents,” said Awater Saleh, a surrogate aunt.
Mona Eid, a surrogate mother, said the centre’s atmosphere provides a healthy parental system which provides the children with the stability they need.
Providing the centre’s teenagers with a father figure was also key said surrogate father Jassim Jaber.
“They need the father figure in their lives as the father role is essential for building their characters.”
Two of the housed children, said they were grateful to reside in the centre.
“It is an amazing place that enables us to grow up healthy and secure much like our peers outside these premises,” said Rashed.
Tarfah said the village gave him hope.
“I am confident that all of us will go on to do great things in our lives,” he said.
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