“Education breeds confidence, confidence breeds hope, hope breeds peace” – Confucius
We all have different dreams, different passions, and different aspirations. It is the hard work and perseverance of every individual that make him reach his goals. And education plays a key role in helping each person achieve their dreams. Education not only makes a person knowledgeable, but it also instills the hope and confidence in a person which is necessary to achieve your dreams. It also gives you the wisdom to differentiate between right and wrong and also the courage to follow the right path no matter how difficult it can be. Overall, education is a basic necessity of each and every individual.
Giving the highest importance to education, Dubai Princess Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi along with Life Resolve mobile app is providing a scholarship to students who are pursuing their graduation. The scholarship is eligible for students who are pursuing their graduation in US. To avail this scholarship, the students need to write a detailed essay describing why they deserve this scholarship. The student who submits the best answer will be provided with a scholarship of 1000 US Dollars.
Princess Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi is famous for her philanthropic activities. She had previously worked with Sightsavers, who are an international non-governmental organization that works with partners in developing countries to treat and prevent avoidable blindness, and promote equality for people with visual impairments and other disabilities. This time, she is associating with Life Resolve mobile app for this wonderful initiative for students.
Life Resolve is a social mobile app which helps a user in dealing with the life related issues he/she faces. In this mobile app, a user can post life issues anonymously and get valuable solutions from other users of this app.
The scholarship ends on Dec 31 and the winner will be announced shortly after that.
Tag: Sharjah
Princess Arwa Al Qassimi and Life Resolve scholarship for students
Princess Arwa Al Qassimi and Life Resolve scholarship for students
“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela
Education is one of the basic rights of every human being. Education may not make human being better, but it will surely open the doors to a bright future. However, many students often struggle to complete their education owing to financial struggles. With this in mind, the Dubai Princess Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi in association with Life Resolve mobile app, is providing a scholarship for deserving students, to help in successfully completing their studies.
Princess Arwa Al Qassimi has passion for engaging in various philanthropic and charity activities. She has formerly worked and organized events with Sightsavers, which is an international non-governmental organization that works with partners in developing countries to treat and prevent avoidable blindness, and promote equality for people with visual impairments and other disabilities.
Now, Princess Arwa Al Qassimi is joining hands with Life Resolve, to provide this wonderful opportunity to students pursuing their graduation. Life Resolve is a first of its kind mobile app, where users can post their life related challenges and obtain meaningful solutions from other users within the app, while remaining anonymous.
The scholarship is aimed for students pursuing their graduation in US. The students need to submit an essay in their own words, describing why he/she deserves this scholarship. The best answer will be selected and would be awarded with a scholarship of 1000 US Dollars.
Sightsavers organizes Photography Events for the Visually Impaired sponsored by HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi
Sightsavers is an organization that aims at preventing avoidable blindness, and advocates for the social inclusion and equal treatment of people with disabilities. The collaboration of the Sightsaversand the Beyond Sight Foundation contributed to the successful display of photography done by the visually impaired with the. Recently, the two organizations planned workshops for blindphotography enthusiasts, with the support of Her Highness SheikhaArwa Al Qassimi. The first workshop and exhibition of the organization took place in Mumbai. The workshop named ‘The Blind View’ was the pioneer in the series of their national sponsorships that had been organized in collaboration with Beyond Sight Foundation. The second workshop took place in Bangalore.
To cap the project, the two organizations collaborated to organize an exhibition of the photographs taken by the workshop participants in New Delhi. The event took place at the British Council during the week of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated annually on the 3rd of December. The event gave persons with impaired vision a chance to showcase their photography. The exhibition displayed about 30 artistic photographs portraying diverse themes captured by the blind while doing various activities, including their day to day work. During this event, Sightsavers, in collaboration with Hosla Charitable Trust,also arranged a musical performance that featured visually impaired singers.
Some of the notable personalities who attended the events were ParthoBhowmick, the founder of Beyond Sight Foundation; RN Mohanty, the CEO of Sightsavers (India); Amal Gupta, Senior Manager, Brand and communications-Sightsavers;and Gill Caldicott, Director Operations, British Council India. The events also witnessed the participation of two popular blind photographers- Bhuvesh Patel and Padmashree Raghu Rai.
Overall, the eventsenabled the visitors to change their perceptions on the visually impaired persons and gave them a chance to evaluate a blind person’s life. Since 1966 the Sightsavershas been in India since 1966, where it has successfully inspired 53.4 million people, performing 36.2 million eye treatments and 4.9 million eye operations.
HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi Sponsors Photography Exhibition for the Visually Impaired Organized by Sightsavers in the Week of World Day of Disabilities
An exhibition of photographs taken by blind people was organized by Sightsavers at the British Council during the week of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, which is marked annually on the 3rd of December. During that week, people with impaired vision were given a chance to showcase their photography. The exhibition displayed about 30 photographs portraying diverse themes captured by the blind and represented various aspects of their day- to- day lives. These photographs had been taken during the photography workshops hosted earlier in the year by Sightsavers in Mumbai and Bangalore, where they were also exhibited. The photographs featured popular Delhi landmarks like the Qutab Minar, India Gate, and the iron pillar. Sixteen of the photographs were also uploaded to the Blind View website (www.theblindview.in), where visitors are allowed to vote for their favorite photograph.
The exhibition was part of ‘The Blind View’ campaign that had been initiated by Sightsavers alongside the Beyond Sight Foundation and was meant for blind photography enthusiasts. The exhibition, which was a success, received support from Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
People with normal eye sight regard photography as simply an extension of sight, as a way of capturing moments and events. However, the blind are gifted with the ability to use other senses to gain keener awareness. The Blind View project is meant to highlight abilities and talents of the visually impaired and to confront the misinformed perceptions on disability.
One may wonder how the visually impaired manage photography. They do so by using senses of touch, smell and textures. These senses, for example, enable Bhuvesh Patel, a well-known blind photographer, to take photos. Notably, the famous photographer earned credit on his video shoot of Actress Katrina Kaif for the Lux Perfume Portraits campaign.
The event was graced by Padmashree recipient Raghu Rai, the popular photographer and photojournalist; Partho Bhowmick, the founder of Beyond Sight Foundation; RN Mohanty, the CEO of Sightsavers (India); and Gill Caldicott, Director Operations, British Council India.
According to the director of Sightsavers- Mr. Mohanty, the aim of the project was to display the day to day activities of the visually impaired and how assistive technology helps them do their work.
Mr. Bhowmick commented on the workshops that had taken place earlier in the year, saying that the participants received training on how to take perfect photos under the supervision of skilled experts. He added that the events had seen the participation of the popular blind photographer, Bhuvesh Patel, who recently did a photo shoot of Katrina Kaif, a Bollywood actress.
Caldicott, on the other hand, noted that the British Council was pleased to work with Sightsavers in providing a platform where the incredibly gifted blind photographers could display their work. He added that the exhibition was not only a display of the blind photographers’ talent but also a way of helping the general public to appreciate the abilities of the visually impaired.
Sightsavers also arranged a musical concert that featured visually impaired singers. The musical performance was held in collaboration with Hosla Charitable Trust. The event prompted visitorsto change their perceptions on visually impaired persons and gave them a chance to evaluate a blind person’s life.
Beginning from 1966, Sightsavers has changed the lives of 53.4 million Indians, treating the eyes of 36.2 million people, and performing 4.9 million eye operations.
Visually Impaired Photography Workshop Sponsored by Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi
This past summer, Sightsavers—a development organization that focuses on preventing blindness when it can be prevented, restoring sight when possible, and fighting for the visually impaired on political, social, and accessibility levels—set up a photography workshop for blind photography enthusiasts. The photography workshop was sponsored by HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi and provided lessons for the visually impaired attendees regarding how to engage in photography and improve their technique. The photos showcased blind people in their day-to-day lives, with the workshop itself emphasizing the talents of these blind photography enthusiasts and being the first in a series of events throughout India collectively titled “The Blind View.”
This “The Blind View” campaign’s events were held with the help of the Beyond Sight Foundation (BSF).
HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi is part of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah and had previously partnered with Sightsavers to organize “Ability of Disability – A Night of Melody” in Mumbai. The artistic event featured the talents of disabled artists, including the famous Abhijeet Sawant. Her Highness was also involved in organizing the Food for Change effort, which brought together donors from around the world to partner, network, and team up to help make a major social impact through their charitable donations. All donations were given to organizations chosen specifically by the various donors; examples of organizations that received funds as a result of this event included ones centered around education, children, giving elderly citizens shelter, helping pay for the medical bills of the poor, and assisting homeless women who are mentally ill.
The top selections from “The Blind View” workshops were featured in three exhibitions as envisioned by Mr. Partho Bhowmick, the Founder of BSF:
• Mumbai: Inorbit Mall, Malad West, August 01-02 2015
• Bangalore: Garuda Mall, 10-11 October 2015
• Delhi: British Council, 1-2 December 2015
Both Princess Arwa Al Qassimi and Sightsavers’ Jatin Tiwari are on the record as being eager to bring such workshops and activities to the UAE.
For Partho Bhowmick, the founder of BSF, “The key objective behind this innovative initiative was to look beyond blindness and motivate the participants to believe in themselves and pursue their interest.”
The blind enthusiasts who attended the workshops were trained by skilled professionals, among them Bhavesh Patel, a world-famous visually impaired photographer, who even recently produced a photo shoot for a Lux ad with Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif.
As Mr. Amal Gupta, a principal manager for Sightsavers, explained his organizations’ purpose with The Blind View: “Our main goal in organizing the event was to showcase the ability of disabled people and to offer an enabling environment to the visually challenged. Our hopes are that they can contribute to the economy rather than being dependent on it.”
The workshops and exhibitions of “The Blind View” are aimed at shaping public perceptions about blindness, to help them appreciate their unique senses and talents by showing what they are capable of producing artistically. The photos are photos taken by the blind and are of the blind, showing them going about their everyday lives.
Blindness is more than just not seeing, it is also an enhanced ability to perceive along other lines, with other senses. A person can “see” without their eyes; thus, a blind person can say “I’ve lost my sight; not vision,” which is just what “The Blind View” exhibitions are all about. In the end, attendees can experience a chance to understand the exciting and inspiring world of the visually impaired.
In some countries, the cultural, social, and political setting can frequently make it difficult or even impossible for the visually impaired to participate in everyday life in ways that those possessing sight take for granted. Basic activities like reading books, using machines, taking money from an ATM, and using public transportation are all actions that require accommodation and/or assistance. The Blind View wants to help end this unfairness by lobbying governments to legislate and implement laws and regulations that ensure the blind can use and enjoy as many public and even other services and activities as possible. If you want to help bring about this change, sign the petition and read more at http://www.theblindview.in/.
Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi One of Primary Sponsors Bringing About a New Vision of Blindness
From apps to specialists, technology and workshops, there are a myriad of ways visually impaired people are partaking in photography these days.
If you thought that photography as an art was cut off for people without sight, or that you need to see to take photographs, you might be surprised to know that this is actually not the case.
In India and other places, the idea of “blind photography” is new, but we can dream that the idea will not seem so strange or different in the future, though the physical and technical attachments and apparatuses that can help blind photographers are either in short supply or do not yet exist. Instead, blind photographers rely on their sensual experiences, the orchestra of sound of a crowded street, the moisture in the air, the light of the moon, the chill of the wind, the help of a passerby. With more training and new innovations, hopefully the process will become easier for visually impaired photographers and then we will begin to see more such artists producing more art and at a more refined level.
Even though blind photography and exhibitions showcasing such work is not widespread, these are not new phenomena and there have been core groups of enthusiasts and exhibitions for years now. As time progresses, the hope is that they will become more popularized and appreciated by the public. One visually impaired photographer who has been at this for some time is Sonia Sobertas. In fact, it was after she lost her vision that she got into photography. Sobertas lets her other senses guide her in taking her photographs. When photographing people, she asks them to describe themselves to her, then has her assistant make adjustments to her equipment and lighting—sometimes involving flashlights or Christmas lights—in reaction to their skin tones, hair color, and other physical traits. This is how she crafts her photographs.
When blind photographers work, they incorporate the sounds and textures of what they are photographing in addition to their natural need to explore in unconventional ways, molding their style and technique in novel manners. They even utilize text-to-braille converters to help them make technical adjustments to their equipment when necessary. Other visually challenged artists have spoken of using 3D printers that produce a way for them to physically feel their photographs and also of online educational institutions like www.blindwithcameraschool.org. Apps like TiltShift and Camerabag are accessible for visually impaired users and help them edit their photos. Thus, there are a number of available tools for blind photographers, and these tools are expected to grow in number and quality over time.
Particularly in India, photography by the blind is still quite out of the ordinary but that is not discouraging for its enthusiasts. Sightsavers, active in India, is one example of an NGO that fights for the blind; it works to prevent and treat blindness and also fights for the visually impaired on the social, political, and accessibility fronts. It has organized with 53.4 million people, undertaken 36.2 million eye treatments, and saw to 4.9 million eye surgeries. The group organized an exhibition in New Delhi featuring photography by and of the visually impaired at the British Council during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The exhibition was part of a larger campaign titled “The Blind View,” and was also assisted by the efforts of a like-minded organization called the Beyond Sight Foundation. At the New Delhi event, one keynote speaker, Padma Shri Rai—one of India’s most iconic photographers (possible its most) in its history—remarked of the blind photographers: “I believe what they have captured is much purer than what others do because they are uncorrupted souls. Wohmannkiaankhon se dekhtehai. That innocence is what refines their talent.”
ParthoBhowmick, Founder, Beyond Sight Foundation, was also on hand to assist the blind artists during workshops he helped to sponsor: “We trained them to click pictures at a workshop that we had organised some months ago,” he noted. “Our supervisors were well-trained but we also registered the presence of some really talented participants, one of them being Bhavesh Patel, who is known for having done a photo-shoot with actress Katrina Kaif.”
In addition, famous photojournalist and photographer RN Mohanty—who is also the head of Sightsavsers’ Indian branch—was on hand, as was the Director Operations, British Council India, Gill Caldicott. They were especially appreciative of the support of Princess SheikhaArwa Al Qassimi, one of Sightsavers’ board members. The exhibit showcased roughly thirty photos centered around themes related to the experiences of the visually impaired and featured blind people as subjects, displaying them performing normal things like dancing and office work but also showing them facing the unique challenges presented by their impairment. One of the blind photographers was there to illuminate his technique and thinking behind his art.
Ketan Kothari, an visually impairedadvocate for the disabled, recently began photographing monuments. He uses volunteers, strangers, and his instinct in his artistic pursuits, but also hisiPhone and its automatic features. His explanation for his pursuits was simple: “Well, if the differently abled could be lawyers, singers, mountaineers, why not photographers as well?”
The event also featured musical performances by visually impaired musicians with the assistance of theHosla Charitable Trust, a fitting addition to a night of arts by, for, and of the blind.
