SouqExtra! calls for recognition of the contribution of special needs students

SouqExtra!, the national chain of community supercenters, hosted a week-long bazaar of student-made handicrafts at its Al Bateen centre in Al Ain in collaboration with the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs. 

The bazaar which ran from May 15^th – 21^st (except Friday, May 18^th), featured various student-made items, including jewellery, wax works, hand-sewn creations and mugs. The charity bazaar aimed to raise awareness on the creative capabilities of special needs students and further enhance community support for the organization’s activities and initiatives. 

The charity event was incredibly well received by the community with over ten thousand individuals visiting the bazaar over the course of the seven-day event. This positive response translated into good sales and the total sales value was matched dirham for dirham by SouqExtra! as part of its efforts to support the activities of the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs. The donation was presented to the organisation as part of a special celebratory cake-cutting ceremony held on May 21^st following the conclusion of the event. 

The bazaar builds on SouqExtra!’s 2012 calendar of CSR activities, aimed at strengthening community ties in the areas in which they operate. In addition to hosting the bazaar on its premises, SouqExtra! embarked on a community awareness campaign through the distribution of flyers and posters among residents and shoppers. 

“It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to host this charity event and offer special needs students a platform to showcase their creative capabilities and ability to make a unique contribution to the community,” said Justin Wilshaw, CEO of SouqExtra! “We believe it’s equally important to not just educate society but also encourage students to actively participate and interact with the community whenever the opportunity arises and we believe this initiative definitely served to boost to the students’ confidence in their own abilities.” 

“As a high-traffic location, hosting the bazaar at SouqExtra! Al Bateen outlet at Al Ain helped raise the profile of the incredible work done by the students of the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs and encouraged the community members to reserve a special place in their hearts for the students.” 

“Such events are of high importance to us, as they shed light on the capabilities and skills of our students, as well as supporting them to become productive members of the society, and providing them with decent income, thus we collaborate with prestigious organizations to hold similar events and activities continuously” said Mohammed Khamis Al Hadadi, Director of Al Ain Center for Care & Rehabilitation, “we are happy to see positive interaction between the society and our students during the bazaar.” 

Al Hadadi mentioned that SouqExtra! attracts many customers in major neighbourhoods, “we will take our collaboration with SouqExtra! to the next level, and organize similar events in other areas in where SouqExtra! branches are located.” He added.