Three ambassadors were chosen by chemicals and energy company Sasol for its Accessible Qatar 2019 initiative, a highlight in this year’s celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The 2019 ambassadors are Faisal Al Kooheji from the blind community, Said Al Marri from the deaf community and Abdulrahman Qassim Al Yafei from the physically-impaired community. Each ambassador will start devising plans that will be implemented in 2019 to serve their respective communities and raise awareness about the issue of disability in the local communities. Sasol will provide funds, media and logistical support for the activities.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Qatar
In partnership with Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs, Qatar Social and Cultural Centre for the Blind, and the Qatari Centre of Social Cultural for the Deaf, this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities was marked with activitities including four simultaneous workshops for the blind, deaf, physically-impaired, and people with learning disabilities.
Each workshop included a team-building exercise about inclusion, highlighting the message of being ‘different’ but Definitely Able. The workshops were followed by a discussion of accomplishments of outgoing Accessible Qatar ambassador and future requirements from the incoming 2019 ambassadors.
A stand-up comedy show by famous Qatari comedian Hamad Al Amari entertained the participants, with dinner officially marking the end of the festivities.
Empowering Individuals, Serving the Communities
According to Phinda Vilakazi, President of GTL Ventures at Sasol, they believe in an ‘inclusive’ society and in the right of every citizen to play active roles in its development.
We work to empower individuals to realise their potential and serve their communities. We are proud of last year’s Accessible Qatar ambassadors and we look forward to what the 2019 ambassadors will accomplish.’
Sasol launched the ambassadors programme to empower individuals with disability, and help them play active roles to promote awareness about their conditions. They participate in events organised by Sasol – Accessible Qatar and Definitely Able – and organise their own activities to serve their communities.
The first batch of ambassadors managed various successful activities, including a winter camp for the deaf, launch of the first wheelchair fencing classes in Qatar, and film showing events to raise awareness about the challenges that the blind and the visually-impaired face in their daily lives.
Accessible Qatar and Definitely Able initiatives have strong and trusted experience in empowering the ‘disabled’ community and on raising awareness around accessibility, says Faisal Al Kooheji. He was also an Accessible Qatar ambassador.
We’re thrilled to work on initiatives that benefit and support the disabled population in Qatar.’
Sasol Public Affairs General Manager Jack Saba, said that for a long time, they have been working to empower the ‘disabled’ community through social initiatives, although he emphasised that they do believe in individual talents and the achievements of their ambassadors.
Sasol has made considerable progress since the launch of its ‘Definitely Able’ and ‘Accessible Qatar’ initiatives as part of its CSR programme to empower the disabled community in Qatar and improve accessibility.
Visit accessibleqatar.com for updates and more information about communities of Persons with Disabilities in Qatar.