Some of the children with Café Céramique staff and Al Noor Institute officials during the event
Café Céramique has hosted its annual “The Art of Giving” event from May 16-18 with some 30 visually-impaired children participating. Held for the first time in 2010, the key event on Café Céramique’s calendar was a resounding success at its maiden effort.
Café Céramique managing director Raida Abu Issa had earlier said: “We are very excited to be putting in place the final details of “The Art of Giving 2011. Our joy is doubled since Café Céramique finds that The Art of Giving is a programme that rewards our most special and valued guests, the visually-impaired children of Al Noor Institute.”
Describing the focus of The Art of Giving 2011, Issa said: “This year, we are placing the best of Café Céramique’s resources to assist the Al Noor Institute. The childen at Al Noor Institute, who numbered around 200 are either blind or have low vision. However, we know that art is something that always pushes the boundaries of creativity. Art awakens the spirit in us, that overcomes challenges, be they visual or any other form.”
According to Issa, this year Café Céramique has put together an ambitious plan to work with the children and enable them to enjoy as well as overcome a few of the difficulties they face.
A child tries his hands at ceramics painting
Some 30 children were invited from Al Noor Institute to visit Café Céramique and make their own creations over three days with professional staff of Café Céramique assisting the young guests to give expression to the artists within them.
As an environmentally conscious business Café Céramique guarantees that all painting materials used by them are safe and environmentally friendly, thus teaching the young clients a measure of responsibility in caring for the earth, while they enjoy a creative activity. 
Joining hands with another key entity, the Qatar Business Women’s Association, Café Céramique holds an auction evening following the completion of the art and crafts created by the children of Al Noor Institute.
At the auction, the artwork were made available for bidding to raise funds for Al Noor Institute.
Notable speaker and Girls on the Go - Qatar! founder and programme director Margaret Gigliotti makes an address during the event.
Al Noor institute Public Relations co-ordinator Ibrahim al-Sharshani said: “It is a pleasure for us to have a company like Café Céramique take such an active role in supporting our institute. At Al Noor Institute, we put in a lot of effort to ensure that our kids get the same experiences that children who are not visually challenged enjoy. So we plan outings and excursions that reinforce their confidence and belief that they can engage in normal activities.”
“Getting a chance to participate at The Art of Giving will definitely be something memorable for our children. So we are looking forward to that. I’d like to thank Café Céramique for taking the initiative to generously share in this manner and give an opportunity for Al Noor Institutes children to have a number of days or joy,” he added.
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