About 164 children from the Help Center together with performers from the Desert's Knights performing troupe successfully presented a play here in Jeddah recently. The 60-minute play titled “Ana Meen?” (Who am I?) featured a cast of 164 talented performers who showed that creativity lies in the heart of every child. Speaking proudly about the strong performance put on by the children, Maha Juffali, director of Help Center, said, “It was a great show and the kids performed well by showing their natural talents. The show, which lasted for three days, attracted a large number of parents and guests and we are glad they enjoyed it.” She pointed out that over the past 26 years the Help Center has presented 13 different plays. Theater production has been an important part of the Help Center, she added. “In 1998, we put on a grand production of ‘The Lion King', ‘Cinderella', and the likes. The Help Center provides learning for children with intellectual disabilities with a whole range of positive experiences: Following instructions, working together toward a common goal, overcoming fears and negative feelings, exploring new talents and perfecting their skills. The Help Center boosts children's morale to let them shine on stage as well as to empower their self-confidence and to perform their abilities, their gifts, and their talents in front of the community,” Juffali said. “Ana Meen?” centers around the mysterious character of Zan and his friends who, as children of the jungle, embark on a quest to find out who he is. Starting from the lions' den, passing through the monkeys' kingdom and through the animals' camp, the friends travel through the jungle until they reach the wise owl's court who finally reveals Zan's true identity. Mothers were invited during the first day of the show, the second day was for fathers and the last day was open to families and friends of the center. The Help Center, founded in 1986 by the late Ahmed Abdullah Juffali, is a private non-profit center located in Jeddah dedicated to the welfare of children with mental disabilities, from birth to 18 years of age. __
