H.H Shaikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimmi, director general of SCHS & vice president of Sharjah Family Supreme Council, appreciated the significant role of mass media in changing the negative attitude of individuals towards people with special needs. She asked mass media to avoid exaggeration when presenting the issues of the disabled. These issues should be handled with great subjectivity and realism. These ideas were discussed in the press conference, which Her Highness organized in her office at Sharjah Family Supreme Council on Sunday 24th, May, 2009. It is the same conference in which H.H Shaikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimmi honored the distinguished journalists, who participated in mental disability campaign, which was organized by the School for the Intellectually Disabled in November 2008.
H.H Shaikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimmi started the conference by thanking Mrs. Mona Abed Kareem, head of the School for the Intellectually Disabled, for her insightful thoughts about the campaign and the honoring ceremony. Then, she pointed out the significant role of mass media in serving the objectives of humanitarian institutions. "It is very important that mass media spots light on the noble work we do. Otherwise, it will remain locked inside the walls of our institutions".
She added that mass media should avoid exaggeration when presenting the issues of people with special needs. These issues should be handled with great subjectivity and realism in order to reflect a true image about people with special needs, which will lead to the support of individuals and institutions of the community alike.
H.H Shaikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimmi concluded the conference by thanking mass media for covering mental disability campaign and other activities. She mentioned Gulf News, the Small Policeman Magazine, and UAE News Agency. In addition, she highly appreciated the work of the director Reham Omran, who developed the TV show Mashil Al Amal 'Candles of Hope', which became very popular. She has also thanked Sharjah satellite channel for their cooperation with SCHS.
H.H Shaikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimmi announced in the press conference the soon opening of a daytime school for the nighttime students of the School for the Intellectually Disabled. The building, which is going to take more than 100 students in addition to 30 children on the waiting list, is currently under maintenance.
She expressed her appreciation and gratitude for Sharjah Government, Sharjah educational Zone, and Sharjah Islamic bank for their unlimited cooperation with SCHS in order to build this new school. She hoped that the school will be the first in many to take all the children on waiting lists.
The honored journalists were Dareen Shubare Gulf News, Souad Halian UAE News Agency, Reham Omran Sharjah satellite channel, and Thekra Kathim Small Policeman Magazine. In addition, the best article award was given to Dareen Shubare Gulf News, while the best letter to a disabled award was given to the director Reham Omran.
Mrs. Mona Abed Kareem, head of the School for the Intellectually Disabled, presented a demonstration on PowerPoint about some of the articles which have been written by Dareen Shubare and a selection of scenes from the TV show Mashil Al Amal 'Candles of Hope' in order to show the enormous efforts paid by the two women to reflect a true expressive image of people with special needs.
She pointed out the significant role of mass media in all aspects. It has a great role in educating the public about mental disability and changing its stereotypes. The director Reham Omran was so happy and proud of this honoring, which is going to motivate her to do more for people with special needs. She explores the talents and abilities of the disabled in which they can compete with ordinary people and in some cases do better with great joy. Therefore, she will keep up the good work in the best interest of people with special needs.
On the other hand, Mrs. Dareen Shubare Gulf News said that the main purposes of the articles she has been writing about the disabled and their families are to reflect the true image of their situation rather than making money. She considered this honoring a great motivation to her to keep working in order to reflect a true real image about the disabled