Competition to include non-competitive performance category for students of determination

Dubai, 28 January 2018: Organisers of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature are delighted to announce that Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, are sponsors of the Poetry for All competition. The bank is a strong advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities (people of determination) and for the first time, the competition will include a new non-competitive performance category for students of determination. The poetry performance competition has become an annual event on student and school calendars in the UAE, and will be held during the 2018 Festival between 1 and 10 March.

“We are delighted to partner with Emirates NBD to expand the opportunities this competition can offer for young people in the UAE,” said Isobel Abulhoul, OBE, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. “Every year we are amazed by the passionate poetry recitals from students during the semi-finals and final rounds, and we cannot wait to see the performances in the new category. Providing a platform for students of all abilities to showcase their creativity seems a fitting way to celebrate the 10th Festival and all that we have achieved so far.”

The Poetry for All competition has grown from strength to strength and this year has received a significant increase in the number of entries – the highest in its history. Held in Arabic and English, the competition is divided into two age categories to encompass both primary and secondary school students. Participants are evaluated on their interpretation of their selected poems as well as their performances.

Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President & Group Head – Retail Banking & Wealth Management at Emirates NBD said, “As part of our commitment to the UAE community, Emirates NBD is pleased to support the Poetry for All competition, a wonderful, creative celebration of poetry and its importance in the Arab world. For our first year as sponsors, we are piloting an inclusion programme to integrate people with disabilities into the competition, and will build on our experience for next year’s edition. We look forward to the performances at the Festival and we wish all the participants the best.”

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