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FOURTEEN Bahraini teenagers, some with disabilities, will be travelling to the US next month as part of a 21-day educational and cultural exchange programme between the two countries.
The Youth Citizenship for Disability Inclusion Exchange Programme is hosted by US-based Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation (BDSF) and sponsored by US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The event will run from July 2-23 and take place in Eugene, Oregon.
BDSF director general Essam Kamal said the aim of the programme was to strengthen skills and opportunities for young people with disabilities in the US and Bahrain.
“The school students, aged between 15 and 17 years, will travel to Eugene to participate in interactive workshops, volunteer community service projects, seminars, discussion panels, site visits as well as a camping trip,” he revealed.
The teenagers will also get the opportunity to visit universities and other educational institutions in Eugene.
“That will give them the chance to learn how a student life is after school graduation and how to become responsible and independent individuals,” Mr Kamal added.
MIUSA is a US-based national non-profit organisation whose mission is to empower people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights through international exchange and development.
It organises programmes that include people with, and without, disabilities and people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
“All costs relating to US visa, airfare, programme activities and materials, meals, lodging, disability-related accommodations, health insurance and accessible transportation are covered through a grant to MIUSA from the US Department of State,” explained Mr Kamal.
“Next year, 12 highly-motivated US high school students will be selected to travel to Bahrain with MIUSA staff for a 21-day visit.
“Students from Bahrain will participate in selected programme activities and site visits in the local Manama and surrounding area with the US delegation, to exchange experiences and discuss priority issues for young people with disabilities in Bahrain and to continue discussions previously initiated in Eugene,” he added.
Abdulrahman Hassan Shaikh, 15, from Qalali, said he was very excited about the trip: “I am very happy to be among the delegation travelling to the US.
“It will be a great change for me, a chance to see a different country and meet new people.”
Abdulrahman, a physically disabled student, said that he was looking forward to meeting the American athletes and representatives from the media.
“I am hoping to learn how to become more independent during this trip because when I graduate from school I am planning to get a job and earn a living for myself,” he added.
Despite his disability, Abdulrahman says life has been good so far.
“I don’t have a real problem here,” he explained. “Yes, there are things I can’t do, but so far the main obstacle that I face is not being able to carry heavy loads – other than that life is good. I’m happy in both my home and school.”
Wheelchair-bound Ruba Yousif Mohammed, 16, from West Riffa, said the trip will help her learn more about further education.
“I am planning to continue my studies after school graduation, so this is a great opportunity for me to see the universities available there,” she said.
“I am very excited about this programme as well. It is different from what we do in our daily routine life.”
By Farishta Saeed
farishtasaeed@gmail.com
