A member of the deaf community is seeking financial assistance to travel to Moscow, Russia to participate in the Miss and Mister Deaf International pageant through which he hopes to build a platform to further empower the community in Guyana.
Sheikh Fazrul Mohamed, who was born deaf, has been invited to the international meet which takes place from July 7 to July 15.
The pageant pledges to empower, enhance and encourage women and men who would be great role models in today’s ever changing and fast-moving world and Mohamed wants to take advantage of this opportunity.
While the organisation will be providing lodging for the eight nights and nine days and transportation in the city, Mohamed desperately needs assistance mostly with the airfare.
He is slated to leave Guyana on July 2 via Suriname but needs $468,270 to facilitate the travel. While he would appreciate sponsorship for his clothing as well, he said he will try to garner these on his own but needs the ticket.
Speaking to the Sunday Stabroek through Sabine McIntosh, Director of Deaf Association Guyana, and Mohamed said he believes if he is allowed to participate, he would have a lot of positive experiences which he can share with others when he returns and also help to develop the deaf community.
It is also his wish upon his return to start a small pageant in Guyana for the deaf community. He is experienced in the field as he took part in a similar pageant in Las Vegas, United States in 2016 in which he finished among the top five. He has also lived and modelled in Trinidad for a while so he believes with such experience under his belt he can do well.
While he comes from a hearing family, Mohamed said initially he did not know sign language and it was difficult to communicate. But he later attended the David Rose School and was taught sign language, mathematics, social studies and writing. After David Rose he attended the Guyana Industrial Training Centre, where he was successfully completed a diploma in Agricultural Mechanics. It was not enough for Mohamed as he then moved to the Open Door School where he got a certificate in Electronics/Electrical Installation.
Unfortunately, though qualified, Mohamed was unable to get a job because of his deafness. He said he approached the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and while he showed them his certificates he was not employed. He now works in his father’s vulcanizing shop.
McIntosh said she believes the opportunity for Mohamed to attend the pageant is an excellent one for him and the deaf community in Guyana. She said he had applied to participate in the pageant three years ago and was unsuccessful but has now been invited.
On its website the Miss and Mister Deaf International Inc says, “As an organisation committed to excellence, we are honoured to provide a platform for our contestants, to demonstrate not only their unique talents, intellect, and beauty, but their overall personal and humanitarian goals.”
Should he win, Mohamed would be expected to the voice of deaf men and women around the world. He will also be expected to establish the standard for deaf women and men by demonstrating their best ability, “with grace and humility, as a role model of exemplary means for our present and future generation.
“With diplomacy, they (the winners) will revolutionise the working world as deaf career woman and men, to speak out against stereotypes that no deaf women and men should tolerate, as well as to help illustrate the inner beauty of deaf women and men.”
The winners will also travel around the world, meeting world leaders, participating in official charities and social events, they will make appearances on television to speak about a variety of topics in order to promote education and awareness of deaf rights and also sign language.
Persons wishing to assist Mohamed can call the telephone numbers of the Deaf Association in Guyana which are 225-4489 or 687-3797.
