"Zayed for people of determination" Celebrates the graduation of 140 parents and caregivers
ABU DHABI, 14th February, 2017 (WAM) – The Zayed Authority for People of Determination celebrated the graduation of 140 parents and caregivers in the first batch of the Professional Empowerment Diploma and the “Sharifa Yateem Peer Support” Programme, at the Ahmed Mangoush Theater at the Authority’s headquarters, in the presence of a number of leaders, specialists, and families of graduates, in a step that reflects its commitment to empowering the family and enhancing its role as a key partner in the community support system.
The ceremony witnessed the graduation of 110 male and female graduates from the Professional Empowerment Diploma designated for parents of people of determination, in addition to 30 male and female graduates from the “Sharifa Yateem Peer Support” programme.
This graduation is the culmination of an intensive training course that lasted three months and aimed to provide caregivers and parents with practical knowledge and skills, enhance their role in supporting their children of determination, and transform them from service recipients into active partners in the process of rehabilitation and community integration, in line with the state’s directions in enhancing the quality of life and family cohesion.
The Professional Empowerment Diploma contributed to achieving a tangible impact on the cognitive, psychological and social levels of participants by focusing on basic axes that included understanding the concept of disability and its classifications, stages of growth and developmental needs, strategies for behavior modification, and building a supportive and motivating family environment, in addition to enhancing psychological flexibility and alleviating the emotional pressures that families may face, which reflects positively on family stability and child development.
The “Sharifa Yateem Peer Support Program” came to enhance the concept of community support based on experience and expertise, by preparing a group of qualified caregivers to provide psychological and cognitive support to their peers, and contribute to spreading awareness and building sustainable community support networks that contribute to strengthening family cohesion.
His Excellency Abdullah Abdul Ali Al-Humaidan, Director General of the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, stressed that the graduation of the first batch of these programs is an important milestone in the Authority’s journey towards consolidating the concept of partnership with the family, pointing out that empowering people of determination begins with empowering the family and caregivers.
He said that this diploma embodies our strategic direction to transform the guardian from a recipient of the service into an active partner in the rehabilitation and integration process, which directly reflects on the quality of life of people of determination and contributes to building a supportive and sustainable community system.
He added that these programs are consistent with the state’s priorities in enhancing the quality of life and community empowerment, preparing community cadres capable of transferring knowledge and experience to other families, and spreading a culture of acceptance and support within society.
For her part, Dr. Alia Ahmed Al Shehhi, senior social worker at the Authority, who presented the Professional Empowerment Diploma Project, said that the diploma was designed according to a comprehensive vision that takes into account the needs of the family, and enhances their awareness and ability to deal positively with the various challenges related to disability.
She added that the “Sharifa Yateem Peer Support Program” constitutes a practical model for experience-based support, by preparing caregivers capable of providing psychological and cognitive guidance and building effective community support networks.
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