Filmmakers lauded for highlighting domestic helpers’ plight

Manama

  Six youngsters were praised at the Bahrain Awareness Awards, organised by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA)  on Sunday, for their work that highlighted the significant role of labourers and particularly domestic helpers in Bahrain.

 “The participants have produced 23 distinctive pieces of work, all of which won the hearts and minds of both the judging panel and the general public,” Osama Al Absi, LMRA Chief Executive, said at the ceremony held under the patronage of Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

 “The group of young participants worked for seven months and used various social media platforms to promote their work among Bahrain’s community. Their combined work was viewed by 750,000 people, with 59 per cent of them from Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] countries.”

 The figure prompted organisers to decide to expand the competition scope in its second edition to include citizens and residents of all GCC countries.

 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the Deputy Premier, who attended the ceremony, said that respecting rights was a fundamental component of any modern community.

 “The wide participation of Bahrain’s youth in the competition serves to demonstrate the kingdom’s commitment to reinforcing rights and tolerance within the community,” he said.

 Expanding the scope of the competition to include citizens and residents of all GCC countries will reinforce Bahrain’s commitment to guaranteeing the fair treatment of foreign workers in accordance with international best practice, he added.

 Mahdi Rafi was the overall winner of the competition for his short film Maria, followed by Sana Allah Mohammad Ali in second place for her short film Shades, and Omar Farooq in third place for his short film The Housemaid.

 Zainab Al Haddad and Eisa Hijris were fourth for their short film The Suffering of a Labourer, and Ahmad Ali was fifth for his short film My Right.

 In the Master Card award for outstanding creativity, Sayed Alawi Hashem won for his short film That Day while Khalid Janahi came second for his short film Countless Giving.