When he first landed in what he calls the “City of Dreams,” he had no idea what was ahead of him.
The Dubai-based worker who was honored and honored at this year’s Taqdeer Awards credits the city for helping him realize his dream. “When I first came to this country, I didn’t even know what a computer was,” said Prashant Poojary. “Currently, I am his engagement coordinator at Emrill and my main job is computer related.I am who I am today because of this city and my company.”
An employee of facilities management firm Emril, Prashant arrived in Dubai 17 years ago as a housekeeper. Despite his health problems, his impressive promotion prompted the Taqdeer Award to produce a short film about his journey at last month’s awards ceremony.
“I was shocked when they first told me they were going to make a short film about me,” he recalls. “A lot of my colleagues called me after the video was shown at the event and congratulated me. I feel like a star now.”
Launched in 2016, the Taqdeer Awards recognize companies operating in the construction, manufacturing and service industries that ensure superior worker welfare and productivity.
rank increase
Coming to Dubai was a dream come true for Prashant, who hails from the Indian city of Mangalore. “I used to scour newspapers for job ads,” he said. “At that time, I came across an ad for Emril. I immediately applied and won.”
When he first landed in Dubai, which he calls “the city of dreams,” he had no idea what was ahead of him.
“I started out as a cleaner,” he said. “A few years later, when a colleague went on vacation, I became a clerk. The client liked me so much that I kept going.”
At that time, Prashant realized that computers were the way of the future and wanted to learn how to operate them. “My boss encouraged me and coached me to learn computers,” he said. “I practiced on my computer on weekends and after work. I made some mistakes, but over time I started to get used to them.”
Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to the role of Dispatcher and then to his current role as Engagement Coordinator.
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overcoming obstacles
Just when everything was going smoothly, Prashant received the biggest shock of his life. One day he passed out while at work. “I don’t remember much. All I remember is standing there and everything went blank,” he recalled.
After passing out, Prashant fell into a coma for 20 days. When he woke up, he needed weeks of testing and treatment before he could return to work.
“When I first came to my senses, my first thought was, how am I going to pay for my medical bills,” he said. “But my company supported me. After two months, thanks to the medical care I received from the UAE government, I finally felt better and was able to return to work.”
Working as an engagement coordinator is something Prashant enjoys. “It’s challenging,” he said. “I like being able to help people and solve the problems they face. I enjoy the challenge, it’s very rewarding and I enjoy interacting with people.”
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