Dubai opens first care shelter for boys under 18 to protect teens from violence, neglect
On Monday, Dubai inaugurated a shelter specifically designated for male minors, marking a pioneering development in the emirate.
The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children has opened a facility that caters to both nationals and residents, refraining from sharing personal details to ensure their safety.
The shelter assists boys who have suffered from violence, neglect, or exploitation, addressing a long-known shortcoming where no such facility existed for those over the age of 12.
Previously, this demographic was accommodated in Youth and Sports Hostels throughout the UAE, with the Foundation subsidizing costs for more than 20 boys starting in 2022.
“The shelter has a current capacity of 20 boys, managed by 14 male staff members to ensure a culturally and socially appropriate environment. The team includes social workers, psychologists, residential supervisors, and support staff,” said Acting Director General of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children Sheikha Saeed Al Mansouri.
Staff are licensed by the Community Development Authority and receive over 40 hours of training during their first 2 years. Along with the other three, this marks the fourth one under the Foundation.
Facilities
The shelter has bedrooms, a kitchen, a gym, prayer and recreation rooms, living areas, lounges, and counseling offices to provide psychological and social support.
Children are referred through community reports as well as police, prosecution, school, or hospital reports. All procedures are routed through the Community Development Authority and the Public Prosecution. The entire process takes just a few hours due to the collaborative synergy of multiple agencies.
In emergencies, children may be brought in within 24 hours. Their safety and well-being are immediately prioritized.
Every child is provided a comprehensive evaluation to determine harm type as physical, psychological, sexual, or neglect. Assessments made will determine the protection plan, which may include family reintegration, placement with extended relatives, or assistance through embassies and relevant organizations, especially for undocumented children.
Rehabilitation programmes
The shelter offers a range of rehabilitation programs that include social, psychological, and educational support. These are conducted in individual and group sessions on topics such as bullying, peer relations, and emotional resilience. Activity rooms, prayer space, and sports areas are used as facility ambulatory services in addition to covered areas.
Al Mansouri highlighted that the care handles the individual needs of cases after the age of 18, “We do an advanced vocational training and life skills teaching before they turn 18.” This also covers long-term psychological, legal, and social counsel that is bespoke for each case.
The shelter provides accommodation and clothing, food, transport, and also provides healthcare, education, and legal aid, for the purpose of assisting children in rehabilitation to support and enable them to shape stable families and lives in the future.
The new building was officially opened by Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai. Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, Shaikha Saeed Al Mansouri, Acting Director General of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, and many other guests and top officials also attended the opening ceremony.
Founded in 2007, The Foundation is the first licensed non-profit shelter in the UAE. It aims to protect susceptible groups in accordance with international standards and Dubai’s social care system continues to broaden its services.
Adolescent Focus
Al Mansouri remarkeed that the recent cases have involved emotional and verbal abuse, often accompanied with physical and sexual abuse. “Adolescents pose a unique set of challenges and require special care and attention because of the intricacies associated with their age.”
*This project demonstrates the aim of the Foundation to reach out to all children and ensure no child suffers in silence without help. It helps achieve Social Agenda 33 from Dubai’s Agenda 2023 and the Child Rights Law by establishing an appropriate environment concerning the child’s welfare. It also aligns with the vision for the Year of Community 2025, which seeks to design an all-inclusive social framework supporting the life of the child towards a better tomorrow.*
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