BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE

As the entries for Citizen’s #MyBetterStartsNow campaign continue to pour in, here are three nominees who are making a difference in their own unique way

When was the last time someone’s story ignited a light inside of you? Or made you believe that there is a better future within your grasp? It’s a question Japanese watch manufacturer Citizen is seeking to answer with its #MyBetterStartsNow campaign that was launched last month in celebration of the brand’s centennial.

The campaign aims to unearth individuals from the UAE who have stories of positive change and inspiring causes to tell and award one deserving individual whose determination, dedication and ability to overcome struggles stand apart from the rest. A grand prize of Dh25,000 will help them further their cause or initiative.

Citizen has left no stone unturned in seeking out these unsung heroes – the brand has been reaching out to people through social media platforms as well as spreading the message through the campaign’s very own ambassadors – Emirati innovation specialist Reem Al Marzouqi; Diaa Allam, a Dubai-based Egyptian calligraphy artist; Indian motivational speaker Simerjeet Singh and Katie Pattison-Hart, a British national who rowed across the Atlantic to raise awareness about human trafficking.

And the result has been overwhelming – Citizen received hundreds of entries from people of all nationalities and walks of life, some who heard of the contest through word of mouth, others personally recommended by the ambassadors and then our readers who discovered this inspiring campaign through Friday’s interview with the ambassadors published last month. We spoke to three such nominees to find out what winning the #MyBetterStartsNow contest means to them. Each one of them has overcome a myriad obstacles in order to champion a moving cause that’s improving the lives of people around them.