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Qadeer also learned about the impact of inclusion in the education system , a framework that is being implemented across the world through Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program .
While meeting with government officials every day , she also ran a hospitality workshop for more than 100 directors of hospitality on what inclusion truly means . She was one of the team ' s youngest members at the time . " It eventually made me realize this had been my calling all along ," she said . The Managing Director and Regional President of Special Olympics Middle East / North Africa ( MENA ), met with her in the final days of the Games and interviewed her for her current role .
Prior to joining the regional office , Qadeer founded an initiative that helps People of Determination find jobs in the UAE through an online portal , and it became so successful that now People of Determination dominantly run the program in the form of a social enterprise .
Today , her work at Special Olympics MENA comprises of developing fundraising , marketing , partnerships , and communication programs for a region that consists of 22 different countries . She
works with team leads from sports , youth , health , athlete leadership and inclusive education programs .
Her work leads her to receive powerful stories from numerous athletes and community . Resonating with one of her favorite stories from a youth leader from Special Olympics Lebanon , she echoes that nothing can be done halfway in the work of disability , inclusion and advocacy .
Qadeer feels that complete immersion and dedication are necessary in her field for people to understand all aspects of
Hafsa Qadeer at her office during the World Games 2019
accessibility , stigmas , and barriers . Over the years , Qadeer has noticed a change in the Middle East , as people in the community or organizational leadership positions are starting to understand disabilities and the importance of inclusion . Companies are beginning to be defined by their awareness of disability inclusion .
" We as allies to disability inclusion and advocates should know that People of Determination can and should speak up for themselves ," she said . “ I learn every day from athletes , in fact , athlete leaders present alongside our teams