ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, has visited the Innovation Center of the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, where he was updated on the initiatives and services its provides to ensure the care and rehabilitation of People of Determination.
His Excellency was welcomed by the Secretary-General of the organisation, His Excellency Abdullah Abdul Ali Hamidan, along with several members of its senior leadership.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan praised the comprehensive services offered by the organisation to empower and integrate People of Determination into society, and expressed his happiness at visiting the Innovation Center and witnessing students in vocational rehabilitation workshops producing a range of high-quality products.
Hamidan welcomed the visit and provided a brief overview of the organisation and the services it offers for People of Determination, along with the number of beneficiaries of these services under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination.
Hamidan emphasised the unwavering support provided by the UAE leadership for People of Determination, pointing out the organisation’s efforts, in line with the directives of the leadership, to offer the highest and latest standards of care and rehabilitation, and to attract the best global technologies and expertise.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan was briefed on the strategic projects of the Zayed Higher Organization, its plans and programmes, and the services it provides to People of Determination throughout Abu Dhabi.
His Excellency was also given an overview of the workshops and vocational rehabilitation initiatives run the organisation, highlighting the contributions of its talented participants.
The Bee Café is one such initiative, the first project of its kind in the UAE.
The café is operated by People of Determination, while the Exhibition Hall, which His Excellency also visited, is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa.
Launched in collaboration with Topland, the exhibition specialises in showcasing innovative solutions to assist People of Determination, allowing individuals and entities to experience these solutions as if they were being used in real-life environments.
Among these solutions is the non-invasive hearing device HEARNU, which uses bone conduction technology to assist individuals with hearing impairments.
Another notable feature is an initiative that allows individuals not on the spectrum to experience the sensory challenges faced by those with autism spectrum disorder.
Advanced technology provides participants with an immersive experience through which they can gain deeper understanding of the daily challenges faced by individuals with autism, thereby increasing community empathy and awareness.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan was also briefed about the Blooming Bee Flower Arrangement workshop, which employs students who are People of Determination, and provides training to meet market needs in this field.
His Excellency also visited the specialised chocolate-making workshop operated by People of Determination under the brand The Bee, as well as the first integrated workshop for prosthetics and orthotics in the country, established in collaboration with the German company OTP PowerVent.
This workshop serves the UAE and GCC markets and supports the employment of People of Determination by training them in the manufacturing of prosthetics and orthotics using the latest technologies.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan visited the cheese factory that employs five young women who are People of Determination.
The factory supports the Made in the UAE initiative, supplying daily production requirements for various dairy products and storing goat’s milk for later production, facilitating production processes using advanced programming.
The visit also included sewing workshops for boys and girls, which are pioneering projects that provide job opportunities for People of Determination with intellectual challenges.
The workshops aim to develop rehabilitation pathways that align with labour market requirements.
His Excellency also witnessed a presentation of printing services managed by a team of People of Determination, including notebooks, shirts, mugs, and more.
At the end of the visit, His Excellency Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan inspected the 3D printing workshop. Established in partnership with HP, it is the first of its kind globally to be managed by People of Determination and produce medical supports for limbs through 3D printing technology.