Saturday 20 / December / 2025
Muscat:The third edition of the Village of Happiness Carnival was launched on Friday in Muscat to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The two-day event is held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Khamis bin Saif Al Jabri, Head of the Implementation Follow-up Unit for Oman Vision 2040.
The carnival serves as an inclusive platform that combines entertainment, education, and awareness, aiming to empower persons with disabilities and highlight their talents and capabilities through a wide range of interactive activities.
In addition to its social objectives, the event supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the entertainment sector and promotes the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities by providing opportunities for them to showcase and sell their products, enhancing financial independence.
Hosted at the Civil Aviation Club, the carnival reflects effective collaboration between public and private sectors and civil society organizations. It offers a safe, inclusive environment that integrates entertainment, education, and rehabilitation, underscoring Oman’s commitment to community partnership and social responsibility.
Approximately 2,000 children with disabilities from various charitable associations and public and private centers across the Sultanate participated in the event. Children from expatriate communities in Oman, including students from Indian and Pakistani schools, also took part.
The carnival features more than 30 diverse activities over two days. Educational offerings include a science lab, board games, arts and crafts, and pottery, while entertainment activities range from classic car rides and adaptive bicycles to magic shows, horseback riding, face painting, henna art, circus performances, and appearances by cartoon characters — all within an accessible, universally designed setting.
Dedicated sections have been allocated to leading Omani SMEs specializing in children’s entertainment, alongside booths for home-based businesses and entrepreneurs with disabilities to display their products. These initiatives aim to strengthen community engagement and economic empowerment in line with national goals for social inclusion and sustainability.
Her Highness Sayyida Hajija bint Jaifar Al Said, the event’s organizer, emphasized that the annual carnival is the result of joint efforts between government and private entities. She described it as an educational, awareness-raising, and empowering platform that supports persons with disabilities and SMEs — particularly those owned by individuals with disabilities — in alignment with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Dr. Jean Jabbour, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Oman, stated that disability is not the end of the road but an integral part of human diversity that enriches societies. He noted that the event highlights the importance of shifting perceptions toward inclusion and empowerment.
He added that in recent years, WHO has worked closely with countries to strengthen health systems and ensure they are inclusive and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities. Initiatives such as Healthy Cities and Healthy Villages include standards addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly during health emergencies. Dr. Jabbour praised Oman’s progress in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through national policies supporting education, training, employment, and improved access to health and social services.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Oman and all member states in achieving full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the health sector and ensuring equal access to high-quality healthcare, emphasizing that health is a fundamental right for all.
