SCHS REVIEWS LAST YEAR'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND WELCOMES A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR
"Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is not just for Sharjah, not just for the United Arab Emirates, not just for the Gulf region, but rather a global Arab initiative that provides services in all fields to people with disabilities anywhere on this planet."
His Highness Sheik Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council, ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, and honorary president of SCHS, established this vision. In an event hosted by Al Qasimia University, Her Excellency Mrs. Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director General of SCHS, began the welcome meeting for SCHS's employees, "Welcome 2026-2027," with the start of the new academic year. This reflects SCHS's desire to strengthen internal communication and establish a culture of accomplishment, community, and collaborative institutional effort.
Mrs. Mona continued, "Her Excellency Sheika Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, President of SCHS, summarizes this philosophy by saying: "Joining SCHS is not just the beginning of a career, but rather belonging to a humanitarian mission that carries meaning and impact," a mission that turns each employee into a collaborator in an integrated system rather than merely a worker.
Mona Al Yafei: We Continue To Build Partnerships That Create A Sustainable Impact
Her Excellency Mrs. Mona affirmed that SCHS continues to work on developing its institutional and service system based on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the vision of Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, President of SCHS.
"We believe that the sustainability of humanitarian work is achieved by an integrated system that combines people, knowledge, quality, partnership, and innovation, rather than by individual efforts alone," stated Al-Yafai. As a result, we are eager to make sure that every accomplishment completed by SCHS serves as the foundation for a new one and that every advancement in our services has a noticeable effect on the lives of individuals with disabilities, their families, and their communities.
She added: “The addition of new employees to SCHS means the addition of new energies to a well-established humanitarian mission; and we look forward to every employee carrying this message with him in every task he performs, and realizing that his role, however small it may seem, is part of a larger system that creates real opportunities for empowerment, independence and participation.”
The indicators and outcomes from the previous phase attest to the fact that this connection is evolving into concrete action and that SCHS's vision of sustainability encompasses people, knowledge, service, partnership, and community impact in addition to resources and systems.
795 Employees... Human Capital That Makes The Difference
SCHS’s mission is based on a diverse human capital of 795 employees, including 65 employees with disabilities (8.18%), representing 28 nationalities, reflecting a multicultural and multi-experience work environment.
Attracting talent is only one aspect of human sustainability; SCHS has invested in its growth through 106 training programs that benefited 3,225 trainees, with a total of 549 training hours and the participation of 70 trainers. The programs' overall satisfaction rate reached 95%, and the training's impact on the workplace reached 83%.
SCHS also provided approximately 650 accredited training certificates free of charge in support of the professional licensing requirements for employees, while 131 university students from 12 universities benefited from field training opportunities.
More Than 3,300 Beneficiaries... Integrated Services To Create Impact
SCHS offers a wide range of educational, rehabilitation, therapeutic and social services, which have benefited 3,341 male and female students. The services varied between classrooms, family counseling, outpatient morning cases, therapeutic services, in addition to scholarships that benefited 14 students at the University of Sharjah.
The influence of SCHS goes beyond the years of study; between 1989 and 2026, 627 graduates received training in collaboration with public and private institutions, and 544 graduates were employed. Through a network of 148 partner institutions in training and employment, 104 graduates were employed and 176 graduates received training in just the years 2023–2026.
In a move reflecting SCHS’s direction towards empowering people with disabilities economically and professionally, the Masarat Center for Development and Empowerment launched a smart employment platform, while the “Takween” project witnessed 35 exhibitions at the state level, resulting in 3,181 purchase requests and 15,884 items sold with total sales amounting to 710 thousand AED.
"We Are Inclusion" Sharjah's Global Presence
The “We Are Inclusion” 2025 World Conference was one of the most prominent milestones in SCHS’s journey, as Sharjah hosted it for the first time in the Arab world since the founding of International Inclusion in 1963, under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah.
The conference witnessed exceptional participation from 74 countries, 1,027 participants and 152 speakers, through 59 sessions over three days, with the participation of self-advocates, families, experts and decision-makers.
The events also included a summit for self-advocates with 270 participants, and a summit for families with 90 participants, while four languages were used: Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
With 997 news stories and media interviews, 22 marketing campaigns, over 120 organizers and media professionals, ten accompanying pavilions, cultural and tourism programs, and assistance for the participants' psychological well-being, the event went beyond the conference halls into the media realm.
Local, Arab, And International Partnerships... The Impact Is Expanding
SCHS relies on a broad system of partnerships to sustain its impact, as the year 2025–2026 witnessed the signing of 18 memorandum of understanding, agreements and partnership contracts, in addition to 31 local, Arab and international cooperation and partnership visits.
SCHS also participated as a strategic partner in the 4th International Autism Conference in Abu Dhabi, presenting six scientific papers and two opening speeches, in addition to an integrated pavilion for its products, publications and artworks.
In the area of education, the partnership was formed to initiate the Emirate of Sharjah's inclusive education policy from early childhood to higher education in collaboration with six local institutions. From 2005 to 2026, 749 male and female students were integrated into regular schools in collaboration with educational institutions.
Accreditation And Quality: Global Standards For A Humanitarian System
SCHS has strengthened its institutional position by obtaining a number of accreditation, most notably the renewal of CARF International accreditation for the third consecutive time for the period 2026–2029, along with ISO 9001:2015 for the quality management system, and ISO 37000 for corporate governance for the second year.
Additionally, SCHS has been accredited as a licensed body to award professional and technical certificates in accordance with the National Qualifications Center's standards, having established an office for academic accreditation within its organizational structure. The British Pearson Foundation has previously granted SCHS international accreditation for teaching its accredited programs.
This system emphasizes that quality is not a final result, but rather a daily practice linked to governance, continuous development, and service improvement.
EDucation And Training: From Service To Independence
The numbers in SCHS centers and their branches differ, indicating the range of services offered and the extent of their influence.
Over 4,200 people have benefited from the Early Intervention Center since its founding, including 253 students. During the current phase, 8,285 specialized sessions have been conducted.
At the Sharjah Autism Center, 136 students benefited from the services, 6,005 therapy sessions were conducted, and 17 students graduated within transitional pathways.
As for Al Wafaa School for Capacity Development, it served 320 students and witnessed specialized programs in self-advocacy, from which 134 self-advocates benefited through 39 training sessions.
At Al Amal School and Kindergarten for the Deaf, the number of beneficiaries reached 72 students in various educational stages, and the number of high school graduates reached 118 graduates within 15 batches from 2006 until 2026, while 200 educational resources were translated into sign language to support the educational process.
142 students benefited from the Masarat Center for Development and Empowerment, including 24 recipients of the Independent Living program and 73 BTEC program graduates. Additionally, 17 graduates with hearing impairments were hired by Americana Company.
Therapy And Assistive Technologies: Innovation In The Service Of Independence
The Physical and Occupational Therapy Center provided 9,630 therapy sessions benefiting 303 people, in addition to 427 beneficiaries of assessment and reassessment services, and 1,200 beneficiaries of classroom screening services.
As for the Assistive Technologies Center, it provided assessment services to 223 beneficiaries, trained 139 beneficiaries, in addition to involving 63 students in the robotics and artificial intelligence competition, and providing 11 robot devices to the centers and branches.
In addition, 26 pupils benefited from assistive technology, and programs were put in place to mimic shopping and plane travel. The "Ergonomics" effort was also used to modify the workplace for workers with disabilities.
At Sharjah Hearing Center, the number of beneficiaries reached 447, with more than 930 hearing services provided and a satisfaction rate of 89% achieved.
Art And Scientific Research: New Paths To Empowerment
In SCHS, art has evolved from a service-related activity to a tool for empowerment and self-expression. There are 66 members of the Art for All Center, including 10 musicians, 18 actors and actresses, 14 mime artists, and 24 visual artists.
The center witnessed eight art exhibitions and events, during which 166 paintings and 88 small paintings were displayed, in addition to three theatrical performances, including "My Brother's Play" with the participation of 42 participants.
Six research projects were completed in collaboration with universities, ten research projects were completed through the research team, three of which have been published, and five more are in the final stages of publication. In the research field, the research team comprises sixteen members from various disciplines, and more than eighty research projects and studies have been followed up and supported.
Zakat And Social Responsibility: When Giving Becomes An Opportunity
Social support is one of the most important pillars of human sustainability in SCHS; support for 478 male and female students from eligible cases was reviewed and approved according to the Islamic law of Zakat funds, with a total of 11,508,300 AED.
The Social Service Department also recorded 1,001 new cases on the lists, and dealt with hundreds of family requests and inquiries, in addition to 954 support calls and programs for guidance, awareness and financial support.
These figures reveal a concept that goes beyond providing assistance to protecting the continuity of education and training and enhancing the ability of families to cope with challenges.
Employee At The Heart Of Sustainability
SCHS organized psychological well-being programs, such as a Harmony Day celebration with 300 employees and a psychological well-being trip for 17 employees, in addition to agreements, benefits, and discounts with various entities. In addition to serving the beneficiaries, SCHS clearly paid attention to the well-being of its employees and appreciated their contributions.
Additionally, 437 employees were honored in recognition of their contributions during the year, and 207 employees were given gift vouchers in cooperation with hotel establishments and partner entities.
These initiatives confirm that the employee is not outside the equation of impact, but rather is one of the most important conditions for its sustainability.
Interactive Paragraphs
In addition to an interactive icebreaker segment based on a mobile phone game with results displayed live on the screen, which improves participation and communication among attendees, the welcoming meeting featured a number of interactive segments that reflected an atmosphere of belonging and team spirit. These included a welcoming video that documented the first moments of employees on their first day of work, including spontaneous meetings and conversations with them. During the meeting, managers and staff also took the SCHS pledge, which represents a dedication to the school's mission and principles, a sense of belonging to its humanitarian system, and a responsibility to help create a lasting influence.