AL AMAL SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF CELEBRATES THE 51ST ARAB DEAF WEEK WITH QUALITY PROGRAMS
The 51st Arab Deaf Week, which takes place every year from April 20 to 27, is being celebrated by Al Amal School for the Deaf, which is affiliated with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS). It is a well-known human rights and media event that aims to raise community awareness of the rights of deaf people, promote sign language, and assist their integration into various fields of life, particularly the labor market, thereby solidifying their role as active and productive members of society.
This year’s celebration comes under the theme “Career pathways for deaf individuals — from rights to duties, toward a better life,” a theme that carries profound implications reflecting the shift from the stage of demanding basic rights to the stage of real empowerment of deaf people, by providing them with professional opportunities and enabling them to perform their functional and societal duties efficiently and competently.
From the Concept of Qualification to the Concept of Operation and Production
According to Mrs. Afaf Al-Haridi, Director of Al-Amal School for the Deaf, this theme represents a forward-thinking approach to shifting from the idea of rehabilitation to the idea of employment and production, which helps deaf people become more financially and socially independent and provides them with a more stable and respectable life.
She said, “The Arab Deaf Week represents an important annual milestone for renewing the commitment of educational and community institutions to the rights of deaf people, and working to provide inclusive educational and professional environments that allow them opportunities for success and full participation in development.”
At Al Amal School for the Deaf, we believe that investing in the abilities of students with hearing impairment is an investment in the future of the entire community.
She added that the school was keen this year to prepare a package of quality programs and events that combine awareness, education and community interaction, in line with the message of the occasion and translate its goals into practical initiatives. She stressed that this year’s celebration will witness the organization of a number of specialized activities in cooperation with strategic partners, foremost among them the Sharjah Museums, where an open day will be organized that includes scientific workshops, cultural competitions and introductory workshops on the basics of sign language, which will contribute to enhancing communication between students and the community.
Various Activities
For her part, Mrs. Hanan Zaki, the School’s Deputy Director, explained that the activities also include a training workshop for Sharjah museums staff entitled: How to manage psychological stress and strengthen psychological immunity, presented by Dr. Amani Shaaban, a Psychological Specialist at Al Amal School and Kindergarten for the Deaf, as part of the interest in mental health and raising the quality of work environments.
She noted the organization of a mental arithmetic competition in cooperation with the Smart Brain Center for Mental Arithmetic, with an invitation to a number of schools to participate, in addition to holding a science fair for student projects in the fields of science and technology, with the participation of schools from the Emirate of Sharjah, in the Sharjah Museums Hall.
She added, “These events reflect the abilities and excellence of students with hearing impairment in various academic and scientific fields, and highlight the importance of providing platforms that allow them to showcase their talents and creativity.”
73 Students with Hearing Impairment Benefit from the School's Services This Year
Al Amal School for the Deaf will provide its educational services in the 2025-2026 academic year to 73 male and female students in various educational stages, from kindergarten to the twelfth grade, within a specialized educational environment that adopts the best global practices.
The school’s journey dates back to 1979, when Al Amal School for the Deaf was opened, while Al Amal Kindergarten for the Deaf was opened in 1983. It is an educational institution licensed by the Sharjah Private Education Authority, and it applies the Ministry of Education’s curricula in all educational stages.
The school seeks to provide a modern educational environment that uses advanced technologies to enhance future and 21st-century skills among students with hearing impairment, by activating smart educational platforms such as LMS and Alef, and utilizing artificial intelligence applications in education such as Gemini AI and ChatGPT.
The school also offers a comprehensive package of therapeutic and support services, including Speech and Language Sessions, Music Therapy, Physical Therapy, Hearing Aid Follow-Up, Assessment and Consultation Services, in addition to Psychological Support and Health Services, and Sports, Artistic And Recreational Activities.
In terms of achievements, Al Amal School for the Deaf is the first school for people with hearing impairment to implement the Ministry’s curriculum since 1981 until today. It has contributed to graduating deaf and hard-of-hearing students and enrolling them in higher education. It was also the first school for people with hearing disabilities in the country to receive Microsoft accreditation as a showcase school for eight consecutive years.
Outstanding Achievements
In 2016, the school joined the UNESCO Schools Network and has won numerous prestigious educational awards, including the Khalifa Educational Award, the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence, the Sharjah Sustainability Award, the Haya Award for Special Education, the Aoun Award for Community Service, and the Bett Asia Award. Its students have also achieved remarkable success in local and international competitions such as UCMAS in Cambodia, the Arab Reading Challenge, and national and Arab mental arithmetic competitions. The Al Amal School for the Deaf's celebration of Arab Deaf Week reflects its unwavering commitment to its humanitarian and educational mission, its continued efforts to empower students with hearing impairment, enhance their presence in society, and build a more inclusive and equitable future for all.