Believing in its social responsibility towards the different sectors of the society, Imperial Palace Hotel Amman held on 1st May 2008 in cooperation with Aman Centre for Special Education a social activity for people with special needs. The activity named "Beyond Boundaries" is an opportunity for people with special needs to get engaged in every day's life activities, express themselves and their hopes as their peers, and contribute to the society in their own way.
The participants in this activity belong to two different age groups: 12 adults over 18 years old and 12 children under 18 years old, who divided on two different activities according to their age group.
Beyond Boundaries is a message from people with special needs to the society, demonstrating their ability to be active and productive members of their community. It is an activity to challenge the widespread norm about disability, breaking all boundaries which prevent people with special needs from being engaged in all-walks of life.
The adults engaged in a practical day at the hotel where they will shadow a member of staff of the hotel in a normal working day. They got introduced to the hospitality sector and what type of operations are taking place in a hotel. At the end of the training a team from the hotel's management evaluated the performance of the participants and offer a job opportunity to the best performer.
The under 18 years old group, on the other hand, participated in a drawing day with a number of Jordanian artists. The children encouraged to draw paints, create artistic pieces of art at the hotel, and express themselves in a creative way. The paints then displayed in Mohtaraf Rimal, a cultural and artistic forum, for charity purpose.
"We believe in the positive role people with special needs can play in the society; they have the ability to contribute if they get the opportunity to do so, and we, at Imperial Palace Hotel, are giving them this opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities." Said Farah Abu Matter, Imperial Palace Hotel GM.
Imperial Palace Hotel has committed itself to fulfill its duty with regard to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). "This is one of a series of activities that we aim to conduct in a week dedicated to people with special needs" Abu Matter added.
On the other hand, Miss Reem Abu Sido of Aman Centre for Special Education highlighted the social significance of this event as a changing force to the stereotype about disability and disabled people.
"People with special needs are considered marginalized groups in society and looked at from an outsider point of view, yet it is the time now to change this perception by trying to understand them and unlocking their potential. Beyond Boundaries is a successful attempt to change this perception in a collaborative manner" Abu Sido added.
Imperial Palace Hotel held, later on the day, a lunch for all participants with heads of different departments from the hotel.
Mohtaraf Rimal, is an individual effort of the Jordanian artist, Abdel Aziz Abu Ghazaleh, to presents arts in an innovative way.
Editors Note:
Imperial Palace Hotel is one of Amman's most famous and prestigious four-star hotels. The hotel was established in 2000 and consists of 6 stories which contain 80 rooms divided equally between single and double bedrooms as well as 5 luxurious suites. Imperial Palace Hotel has events and meeting halls equipped with the latest technologies, in addition to a health club, sauna, Jacuzzi, facial treatment facilities, body massage and a gym. Imperial Palace Hotel is ideally located in one of West Amman's most prestigious areas, the fourth circle. It is 30 minutes away from Queen Alia International Airport, and 10 minutes from Amman's City Centre. The hotel has 103 highly qualified employees in hotel management and hospitality with 100% local Jordanian workforce.
