West Bay Beach’s vocational initiative provided 12 teens with special needs hands-on work experience in roles like ticketing and marketing, boosting confidence and community inclusion through certificates, earnings, and shared learning.
West Bay Beach (WBB) recently held a felicitation ceremony marking the successful completion of the third edition of its Vocational Placement Programme, which concluded during Ramadan, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and social empowerment.
The initiative provides teenagers with special needs hands-on work experience, promoting personal growth, community involvement, and a sense of achievement.
This year, twelve students aged 12 to 16 participated, taking on roles in ticketing, food and beverage service, security support, floor management, and marketing.
Participants included individuals on the autism spectrum, those with Down syndrome, and others with learning differences.
Candidates were carefully selected and assessed by specialists from HOPE Qatar and Happy World Centres for Special Needs to ensure placements matched their skills and interests.
Aidana Saparbaeva, WBB’s Development Coordinator, explained that the program had a dual purpose: to empower teenagers with disabilities through work experience and to encourage societal change.
“This programme was designed not only to empower teenagers with disabilities through hands-on work experience but also to serve as a catalyst for societal change,” Saparbaeva stated.
She added that the initiative aimed to boost participants’ confidence, skills, and sense of belonging, while also encouraging the community to embrace empathy and inclusion.
“True integration happens when both the individual and society grow together,” she concluded.
Throughout the program, students were guided by trained mentors who provided hands-on assistance and emotional encouragement. This holistic approach ensured that participants were empowered not only with practical job skills but also with the self-esteem and interpersonal connections that come from being part of a team.
At the conclusion of the program, participants were honoured for their commitment and dedication. Each received a certificate of appreciation, a personalised letter of recommendation, and – perhaps most meaningfully – their first financial compensation, celebrating their efforts in a real work setting.
Beyond professional recognition, the true success of the program was evident in the joy, confidence, and friendships formed.
“My son Stefan looks forward to this every year,” shared Valentin Florin Galatanu, the father of participant Stefan David Galatanu, a HOPE Qatar student.
“He feels important, useful, and happy. He’s gained new friends and a sense of purpose.”
Stefan’s mother echoed this sentiment, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the organizers and emphasising the importance of expanding such opportunities for more youth in the future.
Other parents, including those of Sadeem Tarek Ahmed, Karl Ynigo Pablo, Izzati Fithri Hassan, and Domnic Wynne Incabo, described the program as transformative – helping their children develop patience, discipline, confidence, and a belief in their own limitless potential.
“We also felt truly welcomed and connected,” noted parent of Muhammad Syauqi Djauhari. “It wasn’t just a program for the children – it was a community for us, too.”
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