Envoy honours special ‘BBC’ correspondents
dubai — There was a special BBC team that covered the recent Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi — and it’s not the global media corporation you know. It’s a group of three students of determination from Al Noor Training Centre for People with Disabilities.
And on Thursday, they were honoured by the Consul-General of India, Vipul.
BBC stands for the first name initials of Bilal Hafeez, Brendyn Monsorate and Christopher Swaminathan. Serving as special correspondents, they were the first determined ones to have been employed as paid members of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi’s local organising committee. They also worked within the World Games Unified Press Office.
As part of their new role, the trio reported 20 stories that were picked up by the local and international Press during the 12-day sports event.
The BBC team — Bilal, Brendyn, Christopher — have been developing their skills at Al Noor centre, under the guidance of their mentor, Amit Kakkar, a media specialist and lecturer of mass communication studies in Dubai.
Vipul, who visited the centre on Thursday, was able to experience firsthand how the BBC team worked as reporters when he sat down with them in an interview.
Brendyn, who has Down syndrome, threw a question about Vipul’s thoughts on the centre, while Bilal asked the consul-general about his message to the Indian business community, regarding Al Noor. Bilal has cerebral palsy and, for the interview, he used an assistive technology that allowed him to communicate via a computer.
Urging the Indian community to come forward and help the institute, Vipul said: “In the UAE, we have over three million Indians working and, in Dubai, we have some well-to-do businessmen, thanks to the opportunity that has been provided to them by this country. I would urge them to visit this centre and get associated with it because it is important for their community and people.
“Out of the 210 students here, over 100 are Indians. They will be fascinated to see how the centre works and helps develop the skills of the determined ones so they can become self-sufficient.”
After the interview, the students, along with their mentor Kakkar, were honoured by Vipul. The recent event was also attended by the centre’s chairman, Khalid Al Halyan; Indian businessman Dr Ram Buxani, who is a board member at Al Noor; and Isphana Al Khatib, director of the centre.
Expressing his happiness over the recognition given to the trio, Kakkar said the lives of these students have definitely transformed but “there is lot more to do now”.
“This was the stepping stone and, now, they have proven themselves to the world. We are now ready to move to the next phase of their development, which is finding them placements in media houses. The boys have worked very hard and have given their weekends to attend my lectures — that were exclusively for them — for three hours on Fridays,” he said.
“It was their interest and dedication that gave me strength and excitement to work with them and train them. While Bilal is an excellent writer and researches well on the topics he wants to cover, Christopher loves technology and business and Brendyn focuses on entertainment news.
“But the trio showed amazing coordination while working for the Special Olympics and filed two stories a day together. While Brendyn and Christopher would go to the field and take sound bytes and come back, Bilal would send them questions that they could ask the participants and would later transcribe the sound bytes and file stories.”
In the UAE, we have over three million Indians working and, in Dubai, we have some wellto-do businessmen. I would urge them to visit this centre and get associated with it.”
Vipul, Consul-General of India
This was the stepping stone and, now, the students have proven themselves to the world. We are now ready to move to the next phase of their development.”
Amit Kakkar, media specialist and mentor
We are stuck in a difficult situation, where we are in desperate need of Dh3.5 million by the end of this July. God knows how we will manage to run this centre.”
Khalid Al Haylan, chairman, Al Noor Centre