Hope Qatar, a centre for differently abled children, celebrated its third annual day recently. Touching performances by the students moved many in the audience to tears.
In her welcome address, Hope Qatar co-ordinator Dr Ciby Mathew outlined her team’s efforts to bring out the very best in the children.
This was followed by a series of skits, dances, and action songs which ensured that every single student took to stage in spite of their individual challenges.
Video films titled Three Years and Counting The Story of Hope and The making of the Third Annual Day provided an insight into activities at Hope.
Indian ambassador Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, the chief guest, said people with disabilities could go on to achieve great success if provided the right opportunity.
Romanian ambassador Adrian Macelaru, Nepalese ambassador Dr Suryanath Mishra, Sri Lankan embassy counsellor Lheka Premasire, and representatives of the embassies of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand were present.
Hope Qatar’s sponsor Juma Ismail A al-Buainain expressed his happiness at being able to participate in the organisation’s activities.
The advisory board president Nizar Kochery detailed efforts by the Hope team to deliver high quality result oriented training for children with special needs.
Friends of Hope president Rajeev Mathew Thomas proposed the formation of a youth wing to bring in more youngsters into activities designed at integrating the children with special needs into mainstream activities including education.
He called upon expatriate schools in Qatar to open their doors to such students and announced that Hope was prepared to partner with any educational institution.
Ghanim Saad al-Saad and Ikram Hamdad were named as winners of the Star of Hope awards for their individual contributions to Hope and its activities.
A commemorative booklet and Hope’s annual newsletter The Ray of Hope were released on the occasion.
Prizes and certificates were also given away to the 21 finalists of the My-Mother inter-school creative story writing contest.
Fahima Abdul Azis, a class 12 student of Ideal Indian School was the winner and Grace Sarah John, a class 11 student of Doha Modern Indian School, the runner up.
Prizes and certificates were awarded to the children of Hope Qatar for various activities and events. Stevin Mathew was given the certificate for his prize winning entry at the Doha International Institute for Family Affairs painting contest on the title ‘My Mother’.
Students of Hope who participated in the Indian Republic Day function organised by the Indian Cultural Centre were also given certificates.
Winners of various events during Hope’s annual sports day were also awarded certificates, and medals. Overall championship trophies were awarded to Musthafa (senior), Jessina (intermediate), and Mahin and Alan (junior).
Friends of Hope general secretary M A Salim proposed vote of thanks. The venue for the event was sponsored by the Doha Modern Indian School.
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