Best Buddies Qatar’s ‘Happy Journey in 2016-2017’ ends with special class

Best Buddies Qatar (BBQ) recently held the closing class of its yoga and drama course titled “Happy Journey 2016-2017” for its members from the following schools: Al Khansa, Al Wafaa, Maymouna, Al Tamakoun, Ibn Al Haytham Islamic schools and Qatar Autism Center & Special Needs. The initiative was part of BBQ’s Primary Schools Program supported by the Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa.Best Buddies Qatar is a governmental non-profit organisation under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation for Social Work and aims to enhance life of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities through socialisation and one-to-one long lasting meaningful friendships.The course was held for Best Buddies Qatar male and female members aged 8-17 years old separately four times a week. Yoga and wellness experts of Six Senses Spa and the programme co-ordinator of Best Buddies Qatar helped enhance the movement skills, imagination, creativity, discipline, concentration, communication skills, behaviour and self-expression of the participants through yoga exercises, breathing therapies, drama method of feelings and self-expression though creating and portraying through movements of different fairy-tales.Tahania Sayeed al-Salbookh, sister of 9-year old member Mohammed from Al Wafaa School, commented: “My brother is a first year member at Best Buddies Qatar. He has hearing problem. Thanks to the yoga course, we are already see a great progress and help in improvement of his physical balance; he also become more confident, social and open with people. I see the change not only in my brother, also other members.”The event started with reading of the Holy Qur’an and singing of Qatar’s national anthem. Afterwards, Aya Ehala, Best Buddies Qatar Ambassador from Al Tamakoun School, expressed her gratitude of being BBQ’s member and witnessing friendships between its members. She acknowledged the opportunities that BBQ provides to its members to socialise through numerous and various activities and programmes.”Franciska Antunes, Area Spa Director of Six Senses Spa, said: “Six Senses Spa Doha is proud to be part of another annual celebration of the Best Buddies Qatar yoga programme.” Best Buddies Qatar started the programme with nine members in 2013. There were 75 participants this year. BBQ says the growth “shows the tremendous interest from parents and their children who enjoy many benefits yoga can bring into their lives. This experience also enriches experience of our yoga teachers who volunteer for the classes every week. This is why we believe in continuing supporting and co-operation with the organisation and would also like to say special thanks to our amazing teacher Soumya Vinesh, who has created a special programme for Best Buddies Qatar so its members with different intellectual and developmental disabilities can participate.”Best Buddies Qatar represented to all attendees at the closing ceremony a video of the positive development of the skills and behaviour of its members since the programme started in 2013. It was followed by a class during which the members demonstrated some of the series of exercises they did during the course. Best Buddies Qatar handed out certificates of appreciation to each member and congratulated them on completing the course.Mohammed al-Sayeed, the Manager of Rehabilitation and Inclusion Department at Best Buddies Qatar, handed appreciation awards to the Six Senses Spa management for their keen dedication to Best Buddies Qatar. Later, he distributed certificates to school teachers who support the attendance of Best Buddies Qatar members. Wael Maatouk, The General Manager of Sharq Village & Spa, said: “Our Community Footprint strategy worldwide is to contribute to local community to see the ways we can help to improve the communities’ needs. One of the main pillars of the strategy is the children’s well-being. Being a partner of Best Buddies Qatar in the programme, which helps not only in socialisation but also educates the community on how to treat people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We support several causes: environmental, fight against poverty and hunger and improvement children well-being. I think Best Buddies Qatar plays a very important role in the socialisation of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and is very well-known in Qatar and the Middle East as well. And it is our pleasure to support their programmes.”Laalei Abu Alfain, The Executive Director of Best Buddies Qatar, said, “We can see a positive impact of yoga classes on our members and we are looking forward to continue the course in future as well. We thank Francesca Antunes, Weal Maatouk and their teams [for helping us out with the project].”