Kuwait's Journey of Hope heads to Abu Dhabi

Kuwait-sponsored 'Journey of Hope' boat Tuesday departed Doha, its second stop, heading to Abu Dhabi within its 19-country tour, part of Kuwait's keenness to shed light on people with mental disabilities. The stop in Doha achieved its goals following fruitful meetings with Qatari officials in charge of people with disabilities, Kuwait Charge d'Affaires in Qatar Turki Khaled Al-Mekrad told KUNA. Al-Mekrad added Qatari entities showed great deal of interests of the journey and the humanitarian role it was undertaking to highlighting awareness about people with disabilities, including the goal to encourage them to blend into society. The Kuwaiti official expressed appreciation to Qatari institutes, among them foreign and interior ministries, coast guard, and Qatari people, Special Needs Society, Ministry of Works, Qatari Culture and Education Institute, and Qatari Media for their interest in and coverage of 'Journey of Hope.' Kuwait Military Attache Colonel Anwar Khaled Al-Nuwaif expressed, in a statement to KUNA, his thanks to Qatari officials for facilitating entrance and departure of 'Journey of Hope' boat, noting that the Qatari naval forces have demonstrated great cooperation with the boat crew. For his part, Journey of Hope's leader Jasem Al-Rushaid Al-Bader said that their stop in Qatar was exceptional with a very warm reception from the Qatari officials. Al-Bader also praised Kuwait's embassy role during the visit, including efforts in coordinating meetings with Qatari officials. Al-Bader added that their next stop will be Abu Dhabi and they will stay for four-days for maintenance, before heading to Muscat. The locally-made 27-metre-long vessel will stop in 19 countries and 22 ports of call, through the surrounding Gulf region and Europe, ending at Washington DC. It will do this over 260,000km on an estimated 210 day-long expedition. The trip is being supported and sponsored by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Last night, Qatari Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Abdullah Al-Khulaifi praised the humanitarian role played by the 'Journey of Hope' in highlighting Kuwait's keenness in people with mental disabilities.