ENVIRONMENT-LOVING differently-abled children and their families explored Bahrain’s rich ecosystem during an interactive event staged at the Farmers Market at Budaiya Botanical Garden.
Yesterday’s workshop, organised in collaboration with Shahzaib’s Club House, a support group for families with disabled children, Learn to Grow a permaculture educational programme, and unregistered charity group OneHeart Bahrain, aimed to provide youngsters with a fun and inclusive experience centred on nature, stewardship and sustainability.
Learn to Grow founder Reem Yateem told the GDN that a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits were purchased from the market and distributed to dozens of young attendees to encourage them to ‘eat the colours of the rainbow’.
“After the children try their new piece of produce they are able to mark it on a poster which encourages them to try the new food,” she said. “Children were also able to participate in a scavenger hunt where they were tasked to find a fruit or vegetable hidden in the area.
“It encourages them to interact with other children and learn about the importance of gardening, exploring and interacting with healthy food choices.”
She added that the activities also aim to encourage youngsters to enhance their motor skills and physical activity through various nature-based activities.
Shahzaib’s Club House founder Amena Shahrukh believes that it is important to organise such events to help promote an inclusive society.
“There aren’t many activities where all types of children can interact and learn a new skill such as gardening,” she said. “These workshops also help parents connect with other parents, allowing them to share experiences and advice. These gatherings are open to all, so everyone learns that we have more in common than differences.”
Ruqia Zulfiqar, 50, who attended the event with her son Ahsan, 27, who has Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), told the GDN that she was delighted to participate.
“As a family with a special needs child, we are thrilled to see inclusive events being organised, as they help our children interact with others and learn new things,” said Ms Zulfiqar, who has lived in Bahrain for around 14 years. “The more they engage with other children, it exposes them to different opinions and experiences. It’s also great to have these types of events in the market with nice weather and a safe, outdoor environment.”
Anne Dossani, 44, who also attended the event with her four-year-old daughter, Zahra, said the events also provide a welcome opportunity to meet people, particularly for newcomers to Bahrain.
“We just recently moved here from Canada, and were pleased to see such an inclusive event being promoted,” she said, adding that she wanted her daughter to meet people who were different from her.
“It’s important to expose our children to new situations, so that they can learn and become more understanding members of society. It’s also a learning opportunity for them because they can learn new skills, while being outside in nature, which is also beneficial to their mental health.”
Shahzaib’s Club House is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing a supporting environment for children with special needs. They do this by organising fun and creative programmes that teach youngsters new skills and work towards a more inclusive society.
n The 12th edition of the Farmers Market is being held until February 22 at Budaiya Botanical Garden, bringing together a host of Bahraini farmers, brands and artisans.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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