UAQ Khalifa Village, home of 300 orphans, abandoned kids

Umm Al Quwain - The promising village, contributed by the Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, is up to the latest international standards adopted in the care of orphans and children of unknown parents.

The 30 villas of the Khalifa Village in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain has become home to 300 orphans and abandoned children who are living in real families that meet their psychological and social needs. 
The promising village, contributed by the Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, is up to the latest international standards adopted in the care of orphans and children of unknown parents. 
The project was initially designed to be built on a plot of land which is 40,000 square feet in area, but that has been increased to 940,000 square feet granted by His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain. 
The village constructed in collaboration with the ministry of social affairs consists of 30 villas, according to official sources. "Twenty-six of these have been allocated for the young children and four young people." 
Each and every villa of these consists of two separate floors, which are each spacious enough for two families, and every story of these includes four bedrooms, a big hall, a dining room, and a kitchen, they added. "Every villa accommodates four to six children." 
The village also contains public parks, playing and entertainment areas, nursery schools, kindergartens, youth centres, an administration building, a clinic, a café shop, a playground, a swimming pool, a library, and a mosque, they elaborated. 
"The project is based on extensive studies and follow-up of the successful practices of the same scheme locally and abroad which are meant to involve those children in the society, and never isolate them or give them the feeling that they are living in an institution for juveniles, but rather feel they are living within regular families." 
The village is mainly targeting children of unknown parents, homeless kids, and the orphans who do not receive the right care, love, attention, respect, security, and family atmosphere, they underlined. "They are each provided with alternative mothers to look after them and give them the love and compassion they need." 
Abdullah Ali, Emirati, said the much-awaited village is an added value to this vulnerable segment of the society. "It gives those young children, particularly the abandoned ones a healthy alternative for their families." 
Sulaiman Al Mahi, Sudanese, said the project reflects the leadership attention to all segments of the society, particularly those in need for help. "With this pioneering project, which not a regular care house, those children will be soundly brought up to be good citizens."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com 

• Umm Al Quwain