(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Kuwaiti boat, making a journey around the world to bring attention to the plight of people
with mental disabilities, anchored on Wednesday in this French city.
On hand to greet the boat's passengers and crew were the consul of Kuwait in Paris Muhammad Al-Shamlan and the staff of the Kuwaiti embassy in the capital city, among others. Moreover Kuwait's ambassador to France Ali Al-Saeed issued a statement, a copy of which was obtained by KUNA, in which he touted the humanitarian nature of the mission of the boat, the latter has been dubbed the "Journey of Hope" boat.
By arriving here today, the boat has traveled 6532 nautical miles since it sailed from Kuwait last May 1st, having made 22 ports of call including that of Toulon, said one of the caretakers of the boat's mission Yousif Al-Jassem, in remarks to KUNA, noting that the boat will be anchored for a month of maintenance at a naval port in France under the guidance of the French and Kuwaiti ministries of defense, prior to the return trip back home to Kuwait.
Chief of the crew on board the Journey of Hope boat, Jassem Al-Bader, in similar remarks to KUNA, thanked the city of Toulon for their warm welcome and said the message was not lost on anyone that it was imperative to show optimum care for people with mental disabilities by integrating them into the society, their handicaps notwithstanding.
The idea of the worldwide journey was the brainchild of a number of Kuwaiti parents with children having mental disabilities including the down syndrome and autism. The parents wanted to bring awareness to the plight of these children and life's restrictions on them.
The boat is supposed to make 37 ports of call in all during 210 days of sailing around the world.
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