Visitors to the Mena Special Olympics in two weeks will be greeted by trained volunteers with developmental disabilities in what aid workers have described as a first for the region.
Around 70 residents with intellectual disabilities have signed up to guide visitors around the mega event in Abu Dhabi.
The groups are being trained to interact with the public, talk to the media and point out directions to people.
“The training is just a start. We have invited young adults who are able to participate independently. They could also be from a centre or school and their teachers or coach will be with them to support them,” said Renate Baur-Richter, programme manager at Sedra Foundation in Abu Dhabi.
The centre for research facilitates the integration of people with disabilities in schools and the workplace.
The ninth Middle East and North Africa regional games runs from March 14 to 23 and will act as preparation for the Special Olympics World Games next year.
The government’s aim is to engage people with disabilities across the country, empower them and spread awareness on the need for inclusion.
For the special needs community, it presents an opportunity to learn new skills.
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Read more:
UAE Sports Federations ready themselves for Special Olympics
Abu Dhabi to host regional Special Olympics next year in run up to 2019 main event
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“They could be working behind a desk or greeting visitors. It will show them how to cope with stress because there will be some pressure even if it is positive stress. They will have to learn to deal with the public, work in an area with so many people who are strangers and at the same time cope and navigate their role as volunteers,” Ms Baur-Richter said.
Emirati Ahmed Al Qubaisi had never heard of the Special Olympics before, but seeing the opportunity to learn, he now motivates others to volunteer their time like he does.
The 31-year-old, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, said being a volunteer will help him “give back to the community and help learn time management, be more patient, learn self-management.” He is also looking for internship openings.
Reaching out through centres and family support groups, Sedra has outlined the benefits of the experience including fun educational training and support on-site at the games.
The plan over the next year is to organise similar training sessions in other emirates in the lead up to the World Games.
While 70 volunteers with cognitive disabilities may appear a small number, it is the first time the community is coming together from across the country.
Maja Eckmeyer-Bandak said her daughter Lea, 20, was excited about volunteering.
Lea has limited comprehension abilities but interacts well with people and is part of Sedra’s youth club. She volunteers in an Abu Dhabi hospital and travels twice a week to Dubai by bus and metro to the Mawaheb art studio.
“This is her first time as a volunteer and she loves it because whenever she gets to do something with people she is super excited,” said Lea’s mother.
“It’s very important for Lea and others to learn social manners, how to speak with the public, to approach people, to overcome stage fear. There aren’t many opportunities for people with special needs in this country so maybe this will open things up.”
In the first training session on Thursday (Feb 22), that lasted more than two hours, separate stations were set up for both Arabic and English speakers to talk volunteers through grooming, presentation and even media skills.
Sedra staff gave examples of team work and the need to follow instructions.
Media training involves talking to press reporters and photographers about the purpose of the photo or interview.
Some volunteers are young adults; others are 40-year-olds who are participating in a group event for the first time.
“This in itself is a success because we are seeing people we have never met before,” Ms Baur-Richter said.
“We believe this project is a head start. Our aim is to establish a platform beyond the sports that can make them independent and provide work readiness. This can really be a movement for ongoing and lifelong training. It can open up opportunities for jobs.”
For information on becoming a volunteer, send an email with your contact details to: info@sedra.org
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
BLACKBERRY
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The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Results
2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Teaching in coronavirus times
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
