(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Kuwait's Ambassador to France Ali Suleiman Al-Saeed on Monday welcomed a delegation from the Kuwaiti "Journey of Hope" mission and held a lunch meeting which included Kuwaitis and also French participants working to help people with intellectual or mental difficulties.
Kuwait's "Journey of Hope" maritime expedition, patronized by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, got under way in May and has brought its key message to 20 countries and 39 ports across the globe.
Organisers told KUNA that they had been very well received everywhere, by Kuwaiti embassies, local institutions and officials and NGOs, and even by UN officials with relevant responsibilities.
The Kuwaiti mission will soon leave from Toulon, southern France, to Italy on Thursday before heading back to Kuwait on August 15, the organisers said.
Kuwait's Ambassador in Paris expressed appreciation to the mission participants, which included youngsters Khaled Badi Al-Dosari and Meshal Jassem Al-Bader, both of whom have struggled against Down syndrome but have overcome many challenges with the support of doctors and family.
Both youngsters were present at the honorific event and have played an important part in shedding light on the plight of those suffering mental challenges but who can participate in society with the proper support.
Jassem Al-Rushaid Al-Bader and Badi Al-Dosari, the fathers of the two youths, are part of the Kuwaiti initiative.
"You have delivered a good message around the world, showing that Kuwait always defends its people and especially those with disabilities or difficulties," Al-Saeed told the mission participants.
"Kuwait considers people with difficulties as part of our society and will do everything to help and protect them," he added.
The Ambassador also noted that the "Journey of Hope" also delivered a message beyond Kuwait and helped draw international attention to this important issue.
"Not only did you bring a focus to what Kuwait is doing, but you also touched on a question that goes far beyond Kuwait and touches humanity in general," Al-Saeed remarked.
He also praised the Amir, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, for his solid support for the "Journey of Hope" project from the outset and for remaining behind the expedition during the many months it has been travelling the world.
Al-Saeed received a full account of the long voyage undertaken by "Journey of Hope" and was informed about the interaction the Kuwaitis had in Arab and Gulf countries and then in European and other nations.
The Ambassador said he was impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the crew and again emphasised that this was a very strong message about Kuwait's compassion for and devotion to its people.
The Kuwaiti initiative also drew praise from French participants, some of whom were also personally affected by problems of children with mental or intellectual challenges.
"It is very important to make the public aware of the abilities and capacities of our children who many see as merely handicapped," said Annick Tabet, Vice-President of "SESAME-Autism," a French NGO working with mentally-challenged children.
"The Kuwaiti initiative was extremely important as it makes known the problems of mentally-challenged and broadens the contacts on this issue. We must all join together to be better able to take into account the difficulties. We must draw on what is being done in the US, in Europe, in the Middle East to tackle this issue," she added.
Tabet noted that the Kuwaiti expedition would reinforce efforts to stress that each person, not matter what the degree of handicap, had rights "and must be allowed to have a dignified life and a life that is worth living.
"The Journey of Hope has gone a long way to sensitising people to this problems and showing it can be addressed in a way that makes life bearable for those suffering, We must have a positive view and help those suffering have confidence in themselves and help them progress," Tabet added.
Mission leader Jassem Al-Bader told KUNA said that the mission of "Journey of Hope" was to call for support from all sides because without such support people are powerless to help the mentally-challenged.
"We are trying to tell the entire world we need support to deal with problems of intellectual disabilities. We need families, governments or we cannot do anything to help people who need support. This is our message," Al-Bader said.
"We have met with all sorts of people from all sectors, embassies, governments, companies, NGOs, parents. We were welcomed by flag-waving crowds of parents and children in ports when we arrived," he stated.
"They were smiling and happy because they saw someone was highlighting this issue," he affirmed.
Al-Bader said that he hoped the countries he visited would take notice of the Kuwaiti initiative and would take care of those people who need help and support and "give them a smile every day.
"His highness the Amir was the biggest and strongest support for this trip. He met us and he told us, as a citizen I am with you, and he offered support for building the boat and we got all facilities in the Ministries and elsewhere," Al-Bader indicated.
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