Chaica is a 22-year-old Emirati graduate of Sharjah English School who also studied art at the International School of Arts and Sciences in Dubai. She is fully focused on her martial arts, having attained a black belt from Shotokan Japanese Sports Center. She trains and competes in nine different martial arts with her main interests being Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo. Chaica recently earned a bronze medal at the Arab Karate championship in Cairo—her first outside the United Arab Emirates.
During the Special Olympics Middle East North Africa Regional Games, Chaica participated as a volunteer in the Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes program. She started her journey in the Special Olympics’ Athlete Leadership program by being a youth leader in the 2018 Global Leadership Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
During the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, Chaica joined four other female athletes and shared her personal testament of the power of inclusion during a panel discussion as part of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis lecture series, created by H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Additionally, she refereed Judo, the first ever athlete with an intellectual disability, to serve in this role. Lastly, Chaica participated as a Torch Runner during the Law Enforcement Torch Run at the World Games.
United Nations Athlete Lead Panel
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Ambassador Luis Gallegos
Ambassador Gallegos is Chairman of the Global UN Partnership for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies and Chairman of the Universal Design Commission. The Congress of Ecuador has honored him twice and he has received a number of awards for his work in the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities, amongst them, the prestigious "Justice for All Disabilities Right Award." -
Dustin Plunkett
Dustin Plunkett is an athlete and athlete leader who served as spokesman and Global Messenger for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles as well as on-air broadcaster for ESPN during the 2015 Games and the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. -
Nyasha Derera
Chair, Global Athlete Congress; Special Olympics Athlete, Zimbabwe; United Nations Panel -
Emanuelle Dutra Fernandes de Souza
Emanuelle Dutra Fernandes de Souza, is a 25 year-old empowered young woman! -
Tajha Ilerant
Tajha Ilerant is a recent graduate of Immokalee High School and is exceptionally active within her school and community.
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Chaica Al Qassimi
Chaica is a 22-year-old Emirati graduate of Sharjah English School who also studied art at the International School of Arts and Sciences in Dubai. She is fully focused on her martial arts, having attained a black belt from Shotokan Japanese Sports Center. She trains and competes in nine different martial arts with her main interests being Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo. -
Jared Niemeyer
Jared Niemeyer is an active Special Olympic athlete and has been for 18 years, in a variety of sports. Very engaged in school, community and church, he pursues responsible citizenship in every endeavor.
