Children from the GCC receiving treatment at the world-renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) have been given a superhero makeover, thanks to a Dubai-based initiative.
Nine children, including two Emiratis and one Kuwaiti, at the London-based hospital were transformed into their superhero alter-egos with the help of a creative team made up of a comic book artist, children’s costume designers, a celebrity photographer, make-up artist as well as a production and special effects studio.
UAE-initiative Superhope teamed up with GOSH to give children receiving treatment for haematology and oncology conditions a boost to their mental health.
The children took part in a professional photo and CGI trailer shoot, which was presented to their families at a special event to launch a documentary film about their experience.
Noora from the UAE was transformed into Cloud Princess, while fellow Emirati patient Ahmed became Super A, dressed in a red and black costume complete with a matching cape.
"Ahmed is a real hero for all the treatment that he has had to go through,” his father said. “We are happy that he had the chance to experience something like this during his treatment journey; it means a lot to our family. Super A will always be a part of him."
Doctors at GOSH have credited the superhero alter-egos with improving the children’s experience in hospital and promoting a positive mental attitude.
“Superhope has given these amazing children the perfect opportunity to forget about their struggles and take their minds off being in a hospital,” Dr Giuseppe Barone, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at GOSH, said.
This is the second time that Superhope has worked with GOSH, which treats 1,500 children from the Middle East every year. In 2018, the initiative worked with six children, including one Emirati patient.
Superhope’s creators Tarik Batal and Basma Masri launched the scheme in Dubai in 2014 and have taken it to hospitals around the world.
“The wonderful thing about this campaign is that it goes beyond nationality or condition and instead focuses on helping children from all corners of the globe to help them find strength during a traumatic time in their lives,” said Ms Masri and Mr Batal.
“Seeing the children’s reactions once they put on their super-suits was an amazing moment. For everyone involved, it was truly satisfying knowing that we were able to make that happen.”
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
Gertrude Bell's life in focus
A feature film
At one point, two feature films were in the works, but only German director Werner Herzog’s project starring Nicole Kidman would be made. While there were high hopes he would do a worthy job of directing the biopic, when Queen of the Desert arrived in 2015 it was a disappointment. Critics panned the film, in which Herzog largely glossed over Bell’s political work in favour of her ill-fated romances.
A documentary
A project that did do justice to Bell arrived the next year: Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum’s Letters from Baghdad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Gertrude Bell. Drawing on more than 1,000 pieces of archival footage, 1,700 documents and 1,600 letters, the filmmakers painstakingly pieced together a compelling narrative that managed to convey both the depth of Bell’s experience and her tortured love life.
Books, letters and archives
Two biographies have been written about Bell, and both are worth reading: Georgina Howell’s 2006 book Queen of the Desert and Janet Wallach’s 1996 effort Desert Queen. Bell published several books documenting her travels and there are also several volumes of her letters, although they are hard to find in print. Original documents are housed at the Gertrude Bell Archive at the University of Newcastle, which has an online catalogue.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
