Residents urged for one last push in Donate a Brick campaign

Residents are being asked to donate Dh5 each to help complete a fundraising drive to build a state-of-the-art special needs centre in Abu Dhabi.

An artist's impression of what the new centre in Al Bahia, on the outskirts of the city, will look like when it opens in September. Courtesy of Special Care Centre

ABU DHABI // Donors are being urged to continue to give towards the building of a special needs school although construction is almost complete.

In 2008, the Special Care Centre launched the Donate a Brick campaign under the initiative of Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed bin Zayed to raise funds to construct a Dh60 million state-of-the art campus.

The idea was for residents to donate Dh5, the cost of a brick, with the aim of collecting five ‘million bricks. It goal was supported by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who pledged to match dirham-for-dirham all of the funds raised.

The support from the community meant that the school was able to start construction of the 22,000 square metre facility in Al Bahia in 2010.

The first stage of the school – which will include a computer lab, a health and fitness unit, a physiotherapy clinic, speech and language therapy and family support services – is due to open in September.

However, spiralling costs mean that the team needs more funds for the second phase of the project, which will include an auditorium, gymnasium, hydrotherapy pool and library. They are now urging residents to keep digging deep and help finish the project.

The team is almost three quarters of the way to its financial target, but needs a final show of support from the community.

Nisha Thomas, headmistress of the centre, said: “The first phase of the campus involves building the classrooms, while the remaining essential facilities will be constructed when the funds come in.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation and our children are mostly from the low and mid-income group. Our fees are very low, so that’s why we depend on the community’s support and volunteers.”

Since 2008, the centre’s staff has been busy raising funds by selling student artwork at community bazaars and gathering sponsorship, but money is still needed, said Ms Thomas.

The new Special Care Centre will be a cluster of eight buildings available for hire after school hours for community use. This will help generate funds to keep the centre self sustainable.

The centre will predominantly cater for children with Down syndrome, but will also help those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and learning difficulties.

The centre is currently operating out of a residential villa. The current centre is too small and lacks the equipment and teachers to meet the demand that has grown since it opened about two decades ago.

While it has 63 students enrolled, it has more than 140 on its waiting list for a place.

They eventually hope to provide education for 420 students with mild to severe disabilities.

Tushna Mehta, development manager at the centre, said there was a shortage of places for special needs pupils in Abu Dhabi.

“The need is there and we are not able to fulfil that,” said Ms Mehta.

“There is a gap in demand and supply.”

For more information on how to donate visit www.specialcarecentre.ae or call 02 643 9583.