Doha Festival City, Qatar's ultimate destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment, is hosting an impactful initiative from October 12 to 14 in line with the White Cane Day and World Sight Day celebrated globally in partnership with the Al Noor Center For The Blind. This initiative reaffirms the mall's commitment to supporting the visually impaired as an integral part of its #festivalCares CSR program.

Central to this initiative is the objective of raising public awareness around visual impairment, emphasizing the vital role of the white cane in bolstering the independence of blind individuals. The event is poised to be an educational foray, aiming to eradicate misconceptions and stigmas associated with blindness.

Robert Hall, General Manager of Doha Festival City, remarked, "In line with our brand's slogan, 'It's my place, my choice', our commitment extends beyond retail and entertainment offering. We're profoundly invested in community welfare and inclusivity. This initiative underscores our dedication to nurturing an environment where every individual, irrespective of their challenges, feels valued, understood, and supported. By emphasizing the importance of the white cane, we wish to reinforce the message that independence and empowerment are universal rights we should all advocate for."

The Al Noor Center for the Blind provides comprehensive services to its members in various aspects of life, such as education, rehabilitation, and social integration. The Executive Director, Mishal bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, stated that the center aims to equip its members with confidence, independence, and skills to participate in their society.

"The center has an optical clinic unit that evaluates visual functions and determines eligibility for the center’s services based on the World Health Organization’s criteria. Mr. Mishal also said that the center trains its members in mobility skills using tools like the white cane and tactile and sensory techniques. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness among the society about the issues and rights of people with visual disabilities.

The Al Noor Center for the Blind was established in 1998 as the Al Noor Institute for the Blind to care for blind children over the age of three. In 2018, it was transformed into a center under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development and Family. The center’s vision is to provide exemplary services for people with visual disabilities in Qatar and help them achieve a more independent life and greater integration into society.

By channeling key messages that focus on the promotion of inclusivity, empowerment, and a deepened public understanding of visual impairments, Doha Festival City seeks to inspire the community to become proactive advocates for the visually impaired rights and well-being.