Special needs children participate in art exhibition to raise $40,000 for a therapy sensory.

While speaking at the art exhibition organized by Open Friends care centre for children with special needs, the learning centre executive director Doreen Arinaitwe said that for the lasttwo years the center has been in existence , they have managed to offer speech, physical, occupational and among other types of therapy to children with learning disabilities at the centre.

The art exhibition that was organized under the theme ‘’Rise and Shine’’ featured art pieces by children with special needs , the exhibition took place in Ntinda with parents participating in auctioning of their children’s work to raise some money.

According to Doreen, even the normal children need the type of therapy services they offer but they decided to prioritize children living with disabilities .

Doreen speaking during the art exhibition 
‘’Every year we do an Art exhibition and the funds are directed to something, and this year proceedings are going towards setting up a sensory room and gym that will help students get therapy through a fun way’’ Doreen added.

The sensory room and gym that is expected to be set up at the premises, will have accessories like warm bath pool, vibrating toys, tactile sensory balls, deep freezer, hand and foot print maker and many others.

The 17 children currently at the center and others that will join in future will use this gym to be stimulated to function normally hence helping them in overcoming mental, developmental and emotional challenges.

While looking through the exhibited work before the auctioning, parents where over whelmed by the work of their children that included ceramic decorations, Acrylics on canvas, oil pastel and print making and these where thankful for the tutors that do a tremendous job in nurturing them.

At the auctioning, they showcased work by each child and  was bought at a 5% reward to the artist with the aim of empowering them to do more great work.

David Kintu the president of the rotary club of Kalangala who also attended the exhibition contributed towards every child’s art pieces with 600USD in total in an effort to streamline the good faith of Rotarians.

The Organisation needs upto $40,000 ( shs 140,0000,000) to construct the sensory gym for children with special needs.

Open Friends center that is located in Ntinda next to UNEB is a parent’s initiative that was established in 2020 with a mission of empowering communities to practically support children with special needs in their care and a vision of making a society where every child with special needs attains their full potential