‘Special’ children wake up to fun-packed morning

The Universe at a glance, Zula show packed with educational and entertainment events, a peek into the Red Sea from under and much more. A group of more than 80 children with special needs woke up to a morning full of new experiences and entertainment here on Dec. 16.
The mothers of the special guests from Hope — For Exceptional Needs were also touched by the initiative of Arab News in organizing the event and support of Fakieh Planetarium & Aquarium and Al Baik in ensuring the program was a big success.
A total of around 160 people including the special children and their mothers, and the staff of Arab News and the center took part in the program.
The event started at 8:45 a.m. at the Fakieh Planetarium, where the children had the chance to go through an educational journey through the Universe, followed by the Zula show specially for children via a projector screen built primarily for showcasing educational and entertaining programs about astronomy. The planetarium staff deserve a special thanks for being very friendly and cooperative from start to finish.
From 10 am to 11  am, the children had the pleasure to witness the wonders of the underwater environment of the Red Sea containing more than 200 species including sharks, groupies, string rays, Napoleon Wrasse, sea horses and murrays. The sparkling creatures brought smiles, joy and happiness to the children as well as their mothers.
The fun was just getting started for everyone. The children soon got the chance to experience a live dolphin and sea lion show for the next 45 minutes. The acts by the dolphins and seals literally held the audience spellbound. Adding to the excitement, four children were selected to touch the dolphins, courtesy the Fakieh Aquarium staff members.
With so many activities in the space of four hours, it was time for lunch. By the end of zuhr prayer, Arab News took everyone to the Red Sea Mall where they enjoyed burgers, fries, sandwiches and drinks sponsored by Al Baik. Located on the top floor, with great surroundings, the staff of Al Baik made sure children had fresh and hot food to end their day on a delicious note. For many families, it was their first-ever, as well as amazing, experience.
Source :Arab News