Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Some 150 paintings have been donated by more than 50 artists in Oman towards raising funds for the Oman Down Syndrome Association, in collaboration with the Stal Gallery and Al Sultan School.
The paintings, which have been made by artists, students, and even those who suffer from Down Syndrome, will be auctioned off to raise funds for the association, which was only set up last year.
The fundraiser will be held at the Sultan School on April 19 and is the brainchild of Heather Ford, head of Primary Art at the school.
“I’ve been conducting these drives to raise funds for worthy causes since 2012, when we began collaboration with Dar Al Hanan, the Oman Cancer Association, and we’ve raised more than OMR40,000 for them through this endeavour,” she told the Times of Oman. “One of the parents at the school worked at the Oman Down Syndrome Association and she asked me to come and visit the centre,” she added. “I was so moved by what the volunteers were doing that I made up my mind to dedicate this year’s fundraiser to them.”
“A lot of the artists and students have been very generous and have donated some excellent work towards such a good cause,” explained Ford. “The quality of the work on display today is of the highest order and I am so happy that so many are eager to contribute to this.” About 50 paintings are on display at Stal Gallery until April 12, after which they will be moved to the Sultan School.
These will be auctioned off publicly, while the other 100 paintings will face a silent auction.
“A good society is one that takes care of those who are in need, and we are very proud to have contributed to such a worthy cause in Oman,” said Dr. Glenn Canterford, principal of the Sultan School. “These sort of events are very good for generating awareness about what is a very important issue to address in Oman.”
“This would not have been possible without all of the volunteers who work at the Oman Down Syndrome Association, Stal Gallery, and of course, the artists who have not had to think even once before generously donating their works to our efforts,” he added. “This sort of fundraising event has raised more than OMR40,000 in the past and it’s now grown into one that has an identity of its own.”
The funds raised from the auction will be used to fund the activities of the Oman Down Syndrome Association, which also runs a school for children affected by it in Al Azaiba.
“We have about 120 students in this school, and they are taught everything there from 9am to 7pm every day, but we need more facilities and create more awareness towards Down Syndrome because in Oman, there is a social stigma surrounding such mental disabilities,” explained Habib Al Zawawi, secretary of the association.
“We have had many fundraising events like this around Oman, and we were happy that so many people were coming forward and telling us that they knew someone who had Down Syndrome, and that now we can help them,” he added.
“After attending our events, many people have donated money to us, or volunteered their time, and we are glad they are contributing towards such a good cause.”
“It has been proved that those who suffer from Down Syndrome can learn, but they learn slower than other children, and require one-on-one attention so we want to do all we can to help them contribute to society,” added Al Zawawi.
