A two-day event marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities took place at the Sweden Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai concluding with a star-studded gala dinner and award ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. Distinguished guests attended the event including H.E. Xavier Chatel, Ambassador of France to the UAE, Mr. Patrick Chalhouband Mrs.IngieChalhoub, H.E Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Talent Attraction and Retention at Ministry Of Economy, UAE, H.E. Nathalie Kennedy, Consul General of France in Dubai, Hugo Henry-Ceylan, Director of Institut Français, H.E. Dr Raphael Nagel  Founder and Chairman Of The Board at The Abrahamic Business Circle and Mrs. Veronica Nagel.

The events were organized by the Better World Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Paris that uses art – particularly cinema – to highlight global issues.

At the event’s gala dinner, an auction raised money for Dubai Cares to support the education of underprivileged children in India. In addition, an exciting new partnership was signed between Paris-Sarclay University and Better World Fund.  In this partnership, Better World Fund will explore the most innovative and inclusive solutions related to education, arts, science, and sustainability in the world, via a global, cross-border talent and data platform: Academia for a Better World.

At the red-carpet gala dinner, activists were honored for their work, including jazz singer Melody Gardot, an advocate of music therapy for the disabled, who spoke via video link, and the UAE’s H.E. Noura Bin Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister for Youth and Culture, represented by H.H. Mubarak Al Naki. As part of the event, the UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Youth and InstitutFrançais screened a four-minute animated film about life with disabilities, Dear Mother by FadelAlMheiri and Pierre Filmon. Alexander Bodart Pinto, an entrepreneur, author, and founder of Wheeling Around the World, and Sandrine Martinet-Aurieres, gold medalist in Judo at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, were among the inspiring global speakers.

RemigioMaradona discussed possible solutions to eliminating malnutrition and presented an ambassadorship to Manuel Collas de la Roche, President and Founder of the Better World Fund. Team Angel Wolf, a non-profit foundation based in the UAE, was also present at the event to encourage the inclusion of people with disabilities, and to encourage society as a whole to embrace people with disabilities.For more information, please visit: https://www.betterworld.fund/events