Dubai: There were many interpreters at hand to assist the participants at the World Government Summit in Expo 2020 Dubai, that ended on Wednesday. However, there was one particular interpreter in a green jacket who caught the attention of those present at the venue while he was translating one of the sessions to a person of determination.
Yehia Saleh Al Ammari, from Dubai Police, and the other members from the People of Determination Council, were going out of their way to ensure that people of determination attending the World Government Summit and visiting Expo 2020 Dubai felt very welcome. These interpreters were sign language experts.
These officers, who are entrusted with the responsibility to help people of determination, can be easily identified by virtue of their special, green vests with a badge that says ‘Sign Language Interpreter’.
Welcoming and helping people of determination
The sign language programme aligns with a police strategy that is aimed at providing equal opportunities to people of determination. It aims at empower people of determination and along with the ‘My Community ... A City for Everyone’ initiative, it aims to make Dubai a disability-friendly destination.
Al Ammari, who spent the last six months welcoming and helping people of determination visiting Expo 2020 Dubai, said that he met an Emirati man with hearing impairment who wanted to attend the World Government Summit. “He told me that he had heard about the summit and wanted to know more about it and participate in it. I welcomed the man and helped him access the summit,” Al Ammari told Gulf News.
‘A humanitarian mission’
“He was wondering who would interpret the sessions for him. So I offered to stay with him at the summit and translate the sessions that he wanted to attend.”
Al Ammari stood in front of the man at the main hall and used sign language to translate the speeches presented at the summit by different officials. He stayed with the man until the end of the session on the last day of the summit.
“It is a humanitarian mission to help people of determination at this global event. I’m happy and proud to help make a visit to this event enjoyable for anyone and everyone,” Al Ammari added.
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Round-the-clock service
He said he helped many tourists and special visitors who came to the mega event. “I go to them and ask if they need any help. They were happy and took pictures with me to send them to their friends and family.”
Dubai Police’s initiative to help people of determination follows special instructions from Lt Gen Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police. He said that members of Dubai Police walked all around the Expo 2020 Dubai site round the clock to help those in need.
