Kids learn and have fun on the ‘Sesame Street’, with SpongeBob

The characters of Sesame Street and cartoon character SpongeBob entertained children of special needs and orphans from six charitable organizations on Thursday at Aramco premises in Jeddah.
“We have monthly activities and this is the first activity for the year 2013 to entertain disabled children and orphans with cultural and recreational programs,” said Eisa Al-Garni, Jeddah recreation supervisor at Aramco Jeddah community services.
The Aramco creation service unit of the western region and government affairs organized the event as a social responsibility program for children of special needs and orphans.
Al-Garni further said they conduct such entertaining and educational programs every month. This is the first program they organized especially for these children. Aramco plans to organize similar events frequently.
More than 300 children and families of special needs and orphans enjoyed the program.
“Saudi Aramco’s main aim is to support children of special needs and orphans, to cater to their emotional and psychological needs and to let them feel that they are part of our society,” said Al-Garni.
The program included a performance by SpongeBob, a quiz competition, a Sesame Street educational program, traditional folklore dances and face painting.
Bashair Abdul Razak Ba-Fart, co-founder of Arbtat-Jeddah, a voluntary, non-profit organization, said his organization took part in the program to bring children of special needs and orphans in contact with other children, to enjoy themselves and learn something.
“We brought more than 30 children from Arbtat-Jeddah. These children never have much opportunity to go to such a show,” said Razak Ba-Fart. “We are very thankful to Aramco for organizing this program and for inviting us and our children.”
The program became very colorful when 12 young performers of the Tunes Jeddah Folk Art band presented traditional dances, such as Khutwa, Musmar from Jazan and Bahriya, a dance from the coastal city. The youngest performer in the group was a 5-year-old boy from Jazan.