On the 17th October 2017 my friend and World Pulse Digital Change Maker Joanna Smiejka came to visit me in Dubai and we celebrated Anti-Poverty Week 2017.
We had a great time and she thoroughly enjoyed her first visit to the United Arab Emirates. I hope there will be many more!!!
Jo has recently established the first Austim Spectrum Centre in Warsaw Poland!
Heartfelt Congratulations Jo...:)
I am grateful to Jo for recording these interviews in English, Polish and being a great sport at teaching me Polish and learning Urdu.
We hope you will enjoy them as much as we did recording them.
Jo and Sabeena's introduction for World Pulse!
Jo's interview in English
Jo's interview in Polish
Jo and Sabeena learn teach each other Polish and Urdu
Jo and Sabeena say goodbye
Jo eating a delicious date filled with pistachios
Jo's first experience of Diwali and Rangoli
Jo admiring the colourful rangoli
Vibhuthi artist extraordinare and my neighbour creating beautiful Rangoli's
Joanna at Dubai Creek
Jo taking a few shots at Madinat Jumeirah
Jo relaxing at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Jo and I supporting Anti-Poverty Week 2017, Dubai, UAE
Jo supporting the 10 Principles of Fair Trade
Joanna is a qualified lawyer, behavioural psychologist and Austim Spectrum educator and trainer.
I met Jo online while mentoring for the World Pulse Digital Change Maker Programme February to June 2017.
Joanna is passionate about teaching, travelling and photography.
She hopes to establish the first Austim Spectrum Centre in Warsaw Poland in the near future.
I wish her every happiness and success!
It was a pleasure having you stay with us Jo. We look forward to seeing you again very soon.
I was surprised by their message as I didn't believe I was qualified to mentor anyone.
Joanna is 30 years old, is double psychology graduate and an autism specialist/therapist/shadow teacher and trainer.
Joanna has lived with her disability and has overcome it with the support of her family, friends, peers and colleagues.
She is a ''TRUE INSPIRATION'' and would like to share her passion, her teaching to assist children with autism to fulfil their dreams and ambitions.
Unfortunately, autism is an area of education which is under resourced and under funded in her country.
Joanna spent 10 months working abroad with two organisation based in California, US and Wales UK specialising in autism.
This August I continued to heal from my shoulder procedure (January 2022) and am learning to live with pain in my right shoulder.
My right shoulder was very painful and inflamed and I struggled to write this blog.
I attended a 2 day online webinar titled, 'Journey towards Meaningful Connectivity Exploring Value' with the Institute of Social Entrepreneurs Asia, (ISEA).
Joined the August 2023 webinar about storytelling with World Pulse.
I listened to guest speakers highlighting how to teach literacy to deaf learners from eKitabu, this session was organised by the World Literacy Foundation and Sun Books monthly webinars.
This month I continued to heal from my shoulder procedure (January 2022) and am learning to live with pain in my right shoulder.
I was very poorly and couldn't post about Plastic Free July 2023 everyday but hope to add short videos soon.
I attended a Zoom webinar titled 'The role of faith organisations tackling loneliness' organised by the Civil Society Consulting team.
Attended a Zoom webinar about social entrepreneurs and health organised by WISE women.
This month I continued to heal from my shoulder procedure (January 2022) and am learning to live with pain in my right shoulder.
I participated in the 2 day Loneliness Learning Programme organised by the Civil Society Consulting.
Attended the Fairtrade Foundation UK June 2023 Catch Up Zoom webinar.
Celebrated Eid Al Adha with my siblings.