Hard times ahead

Monday, May 6, 2019Ramadan 1, 1440 AH

Doha today 270 - 360

Hard times aheadCOVERSTORY

In 10 years, half of middle-income elders won’t be

able to aff ord housing, medical care in US. P4-5

RAMADANIN TOWN

A Community presentation.

YOUR PAGE, YOUR STAGE!

There’s probably a photographer hidden in each of us, looking out for a platform. Community invites you to grab your chance and send your contributions with contact details and complete description of the images to [email protected] — PHOTO ESSAY, Page 10

Monday, May 6, 20192 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 3.30amShorooq (sunrise) 4.56amZuhr (noon) 11.32amAsr (afternoon) 3pmMaghreb (sunset) 6.08pmIsha (night) 7.38pm

“Drag your thoughts away from

your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way

you can manage it.” — Mark Twain

Avengers: EndgameDIRECTION: Joe

Russo, Anthony RussoCAST: Robert

Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruff alo

SYNOPSIS: Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers -- Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner, must fi gure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos, the evil who decimated the planet and the universe.

THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

UyareDIRECTION: Manu AshokanCAST: Parvathy, Tovino Thomas, Asif AliSYNOPSIS: Pallavi, a strong-willed woman who has

always aspired to become a pilot. How she gets back on her feet through sheer resilience after being beset by a series of personal crises forms the crux of the fi lm.

THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

The Mall Cinema (1): Uyare (Malayalam) 3pm; Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile (2D) 9pm; Avengers: Endgame (2D) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Avengers: Endgame (2D) 2:15pm; Avengers: Endgame (2D) 8:15pm; The Intruder (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Sherdil (Urdu) 2:30pm; Uyare (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Sherdil (Urdu) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Avengers: Endgame (2D)

2:15pm; Uyare (Malayalam) 9pm; Sherdil (Urdu) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Uyare (Malayalam) 3pm; Avengers: Endgame (2D) 8:30pm; Uyare (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Oru Yamandan Premakadha (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Devarattam (Tamil) 8:30pm; Avengers: Endgame (2D) 11pm.

Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Avengers: Endgame (2D) 2:15pm; Avengers: Endgame (2D) 8:15pm; Uyare (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Oru Yamandan Premakadha (Malayalam) 2:30pm; The Intruder (2D) 9pm; Avengers: Endgame (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Uyare (Malayalam) 3pm; Sherdil (Urdu) 8:30pm; A Vigilante (2D) 11:15pm.

3Monday, May 6, 2019 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

EVENTS

India to Qatar – Symbiosis of CulturesWHERE: FBQ museumWHEN: Ongoing till July 31Under the context of cultural exchange,

FBQ Museum brings together the treasures of the museum owned collection in order to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between Qatar and India. Composed of fi ve main topics, including community, trade, arts, food and incense, the exhibition takes one on a journey to explore the rich and diverse Indian cultures, the long historic links between Qatar and India, and cultural similarities between Qatar and India.

Leather Crafting WorkshopWHERE:The Dromedary Club, Doha,

QatarWHEN: May 10TIME: 8:30pm – 10:30pmEvery week, Leather Crafting Workshop

is conducted, to learn diff erent aspects of leather crafting followed by a hands-on practical session where you’ll work with the leather crafts team to make your own item and take it home with you. The workshop is open to both men and women and is priced at QR100 per person.

Summer Camp for Special NeedsWHERE: Step by Step Centre for Special

NeedsWHEN: June 30 – August 1TIME: 8:00am – 12:30pmDuring this time, all therapists and

teachers will be working together, running individual, peer and group sessions within classes. The children will continue learning age-appropriate concepts, work on social skills, life skills training, arts and crafts, music, and fun activities such as water play.

Artistic Gymnastic ClassesWHERE: Qatar Academy MsheirebWHEN: OngoingTIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pmThe Olympic sport using horizontal bar,

rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the children from age 4 till 16.

Career GuidanceWHERE: Right Track Consultants, Al

SaddWHEN: Sunday – Thursday TIME: 6pm – 8pmCareer guidance for course, country,

college and entrance for students of Grade IX-XII, of all curriculum. Career assessments administered for stream preference, career

test, branch preference, personality, multiple intelligence and learning styles and productivity. For more information, 55448835.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts activities for students

taking place after they fi nish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Arabic Calligraphy WorkshopWHEN: Saturday – WednesdayTIME: 6pmArabic Calligraphy workshop is back.

Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic handwriting and calligraphy at Music and Arts Atelier.

The lessons will take place every Saturday,

Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For more information, contact [email protected]

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mamangam Performing Art

CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMamangam Performing Art Centre, is a

holistic performing arts institution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We off er classes in contemporary, Bollywood, hip hop, Indian classical dance, music (Hindustani and Carnatic), arts and craft, karate, yoga, percussion (Chenda, Thimila, Elathalam and Madhalam), violin, harmonium, public speaking.

Additional services include dance education, choreograph music videos and dance cover albums, choreograph dance musical projects, corporate workshops and events, choreograph events for schools, colleges, alumni meets and corporate and choreography events. For details, call 33897609.

Dance and Instrument ClassesWHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times

BuildingWHEN: Wednesday – MondayLearn the movements of dance styles in

Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard for adults as well kids and move in the world of music. For details, contact 66523871/ 31326749.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The low-income cohort has been taken care of by tax subsidies, while the high-income cohort is largely self-sufficient. But the middle-income seniors have been ignored

— Mace, Chief Economist at the National Investment Centre for

Seniors Housing and Care‘ ’

Finding diff icult to pay for additional years of living

OVERLOOKED: Middle-income seniors are a group that has been often overlooked when policymakers and legislators think about housing and care for ageing Americans.

By Victoria Knight

In 10 years, more than half of middle-income Americans age 75 or older will not be able to afford to pay for yearly assisted living rent or

medical expenses, according to a study published recently in Health Affairs.

The researchers used demographic and income data to project estimates of a portion of the senior population, those who will be 75 or older in 2029, with a focus on those in the middle-income range currently $25,001 to $74,298 per year for those ages 75 to 84.

And it doesn’t look good for


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

that group because of the rising costs of housing and healthcare. The researchers estimated that the number of middle-income elders in the US will nearly double, growing from 7.9 million to 14.4 million by 2029. They will make up the biggest share of seniors, at 43 percent.

By 2029, more than half of the middle-income seniors will have annual financial resources of $60,000 or less, even if the equity in their homes is included. Projections put the average annual assisted living and medical expenses cost in 10 years at $62,000, meaning that a majority of the middle-income seniors then will not be able to afford an assisted living facility.

Middle-income seniors are a group that Beth Burnham Mace, one of the study’s authors, said has been often overlooked when policymakers and legislators think about housing and care for ageing Americans.

“The low-income cohort has been taken care of by tax subsidies, while the high-income cohort is largely self-sufficient. But the middle-income seniors have been ignored,” said Mace, who is Chief Economist at the National Investment Centre for Seniors Housing and Care, a non-profit research group.

The study’s authors said they are probably underestimating the extent of the looming problem. They projected out-of-pocket medical costs of only $5,000 a year for seniors.

Deborah Carr, Chairwoman of the Department of Sociology at Boston University, who studies ageing, noted that Americans “are able to live longer today than they have in the past because of medical technology.” The downside, said Carr, who was not affiliated with the study, is “if they’re living for years with dementia or mobility issues, then they have to pay longer for medical care for the additional years they live.”

Indeed, the researchers projected that 60 percent of the middle-income seniors will have mobility limitations, while 20 percent will be considered ‘high needs,’ meaning they have three or more chronic conditions and one or more limitations in activities of daily living, including bathing or dressing. Eight percent will have some form of cognitive impairment.

Seniors living with mobility limitations, chronic conditions or cognitive impairment are more likely to need care and support such as that offered by an assisted living facility.

But that’s not a reality for many.In her written response to the

Health Affairs study, Jennifer Molinsky, Senior Research Associate at the Joint Centre for Housing Studies at Harvard University, addressed the needs of seniors who decide to stay at home as they age instead of going to an assisted living facility. She said these older Americans face a different set of challenges.

“One of the challenges is that most people don’t live in cities,”

Molinsky said in an interview. “And most houses in these areas are single-family detached homes. The infrastructure is not set up for safe walking, so you have to drive. People often give up driving as they age. So these locations can be difficult to provide services to people.”

Molinsky said other issues to consider are making homes more accessible by adding ramps for wheelchairs or wall handles in the shower and the cost of these changes.

The other dire warning of the study: While spouses and middle-age daughters have historically provided the bulk of elder care, that is a less likely option in the future because of changing marriage patterns, lower birth rates and the increasing number of adult children who live far from their parents. Some seniors will need to seek paid care.

The study suggests that policymakers could expand Medicare benefits to include access to a wider range of supportive services, or create a new benefit, Medicare Part E, that funds long-term care. However, other attempts to set up such a programme have run into resistance among lawmakers because of cost.

While Medicaid is the primary payer of long-term nursing home care, right now the programme is available only to low-income seniors. Seniors may become eligible if they impoverish themselves. However, lawmakers could also broaden the Medicaid income eligibility requirements or expand options to include home-based care for those with higher-end incomes.

Some seniors are already turning to creative solutions to address their growing need for affordable housing.

Carr said one innovative option she has seen is the Village to Village Network, a community programme that allows seniors to stay in their homes but have access to general support services, such as home repairs, transportation, healthcare and even social activities.

Co-housing, where seniors share a residence, like in the classic TV show, Golden Girls, is another solution, Carr said.

Mace said she hopes the study will spark more conversation between public and private sectors for creative ideas to address the issue of housing the growing number of Americans who will turn 75 or older in the next decade.

Her advice to both those seniors and their children is to openly discuss the issue.

“It is a good idea to sit down and talk about what your plan may be,” said Mace.

“Talk about what the financial assets are and the housing options. It’s a worthy topic to talk about, though it can be hard, because it helps to avoid putting both children and parents in difficult situations in the future.,” she added.

– Kaiser Health News/TNSPROJECTION: The study by Health Aff airs, a peer-reviewed healthcare journal, used demographic and income data to project estimates of a portion of the senior population.

IMMOBILE: The researchers projected that 60 percent of the middle-income seniors with mobility limitations, chronic conditions or cognitive impairment are more likely to need care and support such as that off ered by an assisted living facility.

The researchers estimated that the number of middle-income elders in the US will nearly double, growing from 7.9 million to 14.4 million by 2029. They will make up the biggest share of seniors, at 43 percent


COMMUNITY

QTTSC announces winners of the Traff ic Safety Ambassadors ProgrammeQatar Transportation and Traff ic Safety Centre (QTTSC) recently named the winners of the Traff ic Safety Ambassadors Programme at Qatar University (QU). The programme was run in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traff ic and the National Committee for Traff ic Safety. Qapco and Dolphin Energy Limited supported this initiative with the aim of raising student and community awareness on the importance of traff ic safety and to cultivate safe driving behaviour among young adults in Qatar. Professor Faris Tarlochan, Director of QTTSC, along with other dignitaries attended the event. Eleven schools participated in the programme. The first position was bagged by Omar Bin Al Khattab School for Boys, which was followed by Ahmad bin Hanbal School for Boys and Tarek Bin Zeyad School for Boys with second and third positions, respectively. Talking on the occasion, Professor Abdelmagid Hammuda, Dean of Qatar University College of Engineering (CENG), said, “Through this initiative,

CENG is encouraging secondary school students to be a part of the traff ic safety awareness programme to play a vital role in spreading this culture within the community, and schools to find solutions to traff ic safety challenges.”Hassan al-Emadi, General Manager of Dolphin Energy, said, “We are very proud to support this important programme for the second year, helping to raise awareness among secondary school students and encouraging them to stay vigilant, follow road safety rules at all times and play a vital role in spreading this culture within the community. Congratulations to the winners and all involved.”Professor Faris Tarlochan added, “The QTTSC team is pleased to involve secondary school students in this initiative that is jointly run in co-ordination with centre partners for the benefit of all stakeholders who are committed to support QTTSC events targeting community, schools through campaigns, initiatives and public events.”

ICBF organises Hajikka Memorial Essay Writing Contest 2019Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), under the patronage of Embassy of India, recently organised Hajikka Memorial Essay Writing Contest 2019, in the memory of Late Hajikka at Doha Modern Indian School. Over 350 students of Grade VII-XII from different Indian schools in Qatar, including Doha Modern Indian School, Delhi Public School-MIS, MES Indian School, Ideal Indian School, Olive International School, Birla Public School, Bhavans Public School, Shantiniketan Indian School, Noble International School and Pearl School participated in the contest. Late Abdul Khader Haji was a social and charitable activist who is remembered for his humanitarian services spanning 40 years in Qatar. ICBF has been

conducting the Hajikka Memorial Essay Writing Contest since 2014. The contest was divided into two categories, including Juniors, for the students of Grade VIII-IX, and Seniors, for the students of Grade X-XII. The contest was organised to inculcate the need of benevolence in young minds to help the needy and awareness about ICBF services in Qatar.The theme for the contest was benevolence and humanity depicting the nature of the commemorated personality Hajikka. The participating students and school faculties will be felicitated at a separate prize distribution ceremony.

Bhavans Public School holds investiture ceremonyBhavans Public School recently organised investiture ceremony for its newly elected students council. Abdul Rahman al-Qassem al-Saadi presided over the event. M P Philip, Principal of Bhavans, in his inaugural address, urged the students to carry out their responsibilities with utmost dedication and dignity. The newly elected leaders pledged under the guidance of M

P Philip to uphold the honour and glory of the institution. The event was attended by Anjana Menon, Director Administrator; Babu Rajan, President; K M Anil, General Secretary; Joseph Thomas, Chief Operating Off icer; Shailaja Krishnakumar, Headmistress; and Asha Shiju, Headmistress, along with activity co-ordinators.

RED DAY: The nursery section of DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS) recently celebrated ‘Red Day’. The day kicked off with a display of red colour objects around the classrooms which were brought by the students from home to signify the day. Teachers discussed the red theme making the celebration a wonderful learning experience. The day also featured red colour rhyme along with other activities and games.


COMMUNITYMetito Overseas Qatar celebrates National Month for Health and SafetyMetito Overseas Qatar, in association with Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre, recently organised an event to mark National Health and Safety at the Vichy Celestin’s Spa Resort. The event aimed at creating awareness about work-related diseases, stress and injuries which could be avoided through the implementation of proper working techniques. The Ministry of Interior along with AL Fazaa, Public Relation, Traff ic Department, Drugs Department and Civil Defence also took part in the event. The event featured various sports, entertainment and health activities along with the health workshops, which were followed by an interactive session. Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical conducted medical check-ups for all Metito employees and their families. The

checkup included diabetes tests, blood pressure tests and body mass index test. Moreover, they shielded a small workshop that aimed to advise the employees about the right healthy lifestyle that should be followed while working. Walid Oraby, General Manager of Metito Qatar, said, “Since the beginning, the health and safety of all our employees has been our main focus and this is done by providing a suitable working environment for all our employees. Metito has always had stringent strategies and policies regarding the health and safety of the employees during their working hours. This is done by imposing a strict set of policies and rules that are followed by all the employees and managers in order to avoid any accidents that may happen in the work place.”

OIS organises Inter Campus Chess TournamentDepartment of Physical Education at Olive International School (OIS) recently organised Inter Campus Chess Tournament, to provide a platform for students to improve their logical thinking, analytical reasoning and problem solving. The competition was held for both boys and girls category, divided into three categories, including sub junior, junior and senior level. A total of 30 students participated in the tournament conducted in five rounds. The winners, included Anshul Sharma, first position, in Under Boys 11 Category; Ben Christo Lijose, second position, Under Boys 11; Mathew, third, Under Boys 11; Arnav Suhag, fourth, Under Boys 11; Rakshanya Murugesan, first position, Under 11 Girls; Utkarsha Wakhare, second; Under

Girls 11; Neha J John, third, Under Girls 11; Zunehera Rehman, fourth, Under Girls 11; Azalm Shafeer, first, Under 14 Boys; Dhruv Joshi, second, under 14 Boys; Sharan Eppanapelly, third, Under 14 Boys; Dwarkanath Duraimurugan, fourth, Under 14 Boys; Mayookha Raghunath, first, Under 14 Girls; Blaze Maria Lijose, second, Under 14 Girls; Kulsum, third, Under 14 Girls; Fatma Zahra, fourth, Under 14 Girls; Rijul Rajesh Kumar, first, Under 17 Boys; Dhruv Prashanth, second, Under 17 Boys; Sujay Sunil, third, Under 17 Boys; Aditya Babu, fourth, Under 17 Boys; Diksha Manoj Patil, first, Under 17 Girls; Aryanandha, second, Under 17 Girls; Fathima Rifa, third, Under 17 Girls; and Richa Joji, Under 17 Girls.

SIFQ organises training programme on Neuro-Linguistic ProgrammingScience India Forum – Qatar (SIFQ), an associate organisation of the Indian Cultural Centre, functioning under the aegis of the embassy of India, recently held a special training programme on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) ‘Transforming Teachers to Motivational Gurus’ at MES Indian School and Rajagiri Public School, Doha. Science and mathematics teachers from 12 Indian schools participated in the training. Dipak Dahake, President

of SIFQ, welcomed the gathering and introduced the theme and importance of NLP for teachers in the student’s learning process. Avinash Deshpande, NLP Expert and executive leadership and strategy coach, conducted the interactive sessions with practical techniques and tools to influence teaching – learning process by improving communications with learners, scientific approach in personal development and self-motivation.


COMMUNITY

Masterpiece Events organises BRICS AWD 2019 Award ceremonyMasterpiece Events recently organised BRICS AWD 2019 Award ceremony at Intercontinental Doha. Sojan Josseph, CEO of Masterpiece, welcomed the gathering. Prominent leaders across the world gathered to discuss the role of Brics economy under the central theme of peace, love and harmony. The highlight of the event was the Brics members dedication to multilateral rules-based system and the need to co-operate and increase in trade, not only the economic and political realm, but the cultural and people -to-people exchange between countries and communities. The event was attended by notable personalities. In addition to the award ceremony, a painting by a Russian artist was presented to HE Sheikh Faisal bin

Qassim al-Thani to honour his dedication in preserving Qatar’s history, heritage and cultural traditions.The award recipients, include HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, Award for Outstanding Performance in Business; Azim Abbas, Award for Excellence in Leadership; Fahad al-Qubaisi, Award for Performing Arts (Singer); Dr Mohammed Jaham al-Kuwari, Award for Outstanding Performance in the Field of Medicine; Dr Raghavan Seetharaman, Award for Contribution to Environment and Social Responsibility; Sherida Saad Jubran al-Kaabi, Award for Outstanding Performance in Contracting Business; and Mohamed Ali, Award for Eco Green Environment.

CNRB holds Qatar Conference 2019As part of World Conference Series 2019, Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi (CNRB), a nonprofit organisation with a global presence, promoting the welfare and socio-economic interests for Non Resident Bangladeshis in cohesion with government agencies of Bangladesh, recently held a discussion meeting with prominent Bangladesh community members in Doha at Holiday Villa Hotel.The panel discussion was attended by notable personalities, including Asud Ahmed, Ambassador of Bangladesh; Dr Habibur Rahman, an expert and strategist on Middle East History; Dr Anwarul Hassan, Assistant Professor at Qatar University; Nurul Kabir Chowdhury, General Manager of Arabian Exchange; Anwar Hussen Akon, President of Bangladesh Community Qatar (BCQ); Abdus Sattar, Nazrul Islam, Kapil Uddin and Noor Mohammed.Speaking on the occasion, the ambassador, said, “Some of our social and economic indicators are way ahead

of our neighbouring friendly countries and investors from around the world are now eagerly looking towards Bangladesh for making it their next investment destination. The current government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is providing special facilities and incentives for prospective investors with preferences for foreign investors of Bangladeshi origin.” He urged expatriates living in Qatar to avail these opportunities.“I am very happy that people from all walks of life came here to listen to what is going on in Bangladesh right now. There have been some great stories of success in both the public and private sector and we have been trying to transcend this message across to the common people,” said Shekil Chowdhury, Chairman of CNRB.“We should look at the ways on how best we can help each other. There are more than 400,000 Bangladeshis living here and are contributing to the development of Qatar besides sending remittances back to their homeland,” Chowdhury added.

PICPA Doha holds seminarThe Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Doha recently held a seminar ‘Audit Standards and Internal Controls’ at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The seminar was spearheaded by Fernando T Tayag IV, CMA reviewer and an internal auditor at Abu Issa Holdings.Speaking on the occasion, Tayag said that having internal controls and conducting internal audit plays an integral part in achieving the objectives of every company, specifically the eff iciency and eff ectiveness in conducting business, integrity of financial information, safeguarding of assets, and compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. “Sometimes, strengthening the internal controls is left on the back-burner because the management, and even the board of directors,

are more focused on handling the general operations; mainly for revenue earning purposes,” he said. Tayag also primarily discussed various approaches related to governance, risk management and control, applicable auditing standards in public and private practice and international auditing frameworks. He emphasised the importance of having appropriate internal business controls and management objectives as well as with the fundamental concept of internal control and the applicable and relevant global frameworks. Sharon C Dela Cruz, President of PICPA Doham welcomed the gathering and Christian Dave Barrameda, Chairman for Social Media Relations at PICPA Doha, proposed a vote of thanks.


COMMUNITYQAK concludes student-led autism awareness month celebrationsQatar Academy Al Khor (QAK), part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, recently concluded its Autism Awareness Month campaign ‘You are Not Alone’. QAK’s campaign, created by Fatima al-Mahanadi, a student of Grade VI, in collaboration with the Islam El-Shahidi, QAK Librarian, ran through April, and included a diverse range of educational opportunities, awareness-raising events, and activities involving teachers, students, and parents.As part of the campaign, a banner was hung on the school’s facade highlighting the theme, and students and parents could use a QR code to view a video of students expressing the theme in seven diff erent languages. Poster and video competitions were run throughout the month, too, while badges were worn by students and staff alike, helping in increasing awareness and promoting acceptance. Additionally, autism awareness assemblies were held at QAK’s elementary

and secondary schools, where Fatima told the story of her journey with a sibling with autism. The school also purchased additional library books and learning resources suggested by Fatima.Aisha M al-Megbali, Director of QAK, said, “It has been a great pleasure to see QAK students celebrate Autism Awareness Month by participating in our very own campaign run by our Grade VI student, Fatima al-Mahanadi. Dr Adrienne Robek, Clinical Director and Psychologist from the Child Development Centre, helped students understand what it is like to live with challenges, and to better understand autism. By understanding and accepting diff erences, students learned to be more tolerant, and caring towards others. The school will continue to educate its learners on autism by extending our campaign and sharing what we know with the wider community.”

Land Rover announces plan for the new Defender for final phase of field testingTo celebrate World Land Rover Day, Land Rover has recently announced plans for the new Defender to complete a final phase of field testing with Tusk Trust, on location in Kenya, stated a press release.A Defender prototype wearing a unique camouflage will experience life at the Borana Conservancy as part of Land Rover’s 15-year partnership with Tusk Trust. The prototype will tow heavy loads, wade through rivers and carry supplies across unforgiving terrain in a series of real-world trials at the 14,000-hectare reserve.By the time the new Defender makes its public debut later this year, it will have passed more than 45,000 individual tests in some of the most extreme environments on earth. Land Rover engineers have taken the test fleet to the 50-degree heat of the desert, the sub 40-degree cold of the Arctic, as well as up to 10,000 feet altitude of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to ensure the new Defender will take everyday life in its stride, for even its most adventurous customers.Nick Rogers, Executive Director and Product Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, said, “In addition to the extensive simulation and rig testing, we’ve driven new Defender 1.2 million kilometres across all terrains and in extreme climates to ensure that it is the toughest and most capable

Land Rover ever made. The incredible opportunity to put it to the test in the field, supporting operations at the Borana Conservancy in Kenya, with Tusk, will allow our engineers to verify that we are meeting this target as we enter the final phase of our development programme.”With on-road dynamics honed at the Nürburgring facility in Germany and all-terrain credentials tested on the muddy roads of Eastnor, UK, the rocky trails of Moab in Utah, and on the sand dunes, the new 4x4 promises to bring unparalleled breadth of capability and new levels of comfort and drive-ability to the Defender family.The new Defender has been designed and developed in the UK, at Gaydon, home to Land Rover’s world-class design, engineering and testing facilities. The new home of global Defender production will be Land Rover’s recently opened state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nitra, Slovakia. Land Rover has been an off icial partner of Tusk Trust wildlife conservation charity for 15 years, helping to reach some of the world’s most remote locations. News of the testing initiative has been announced to mark World Land Rover Day, which is celebrated on 30 April every year to mark the world premiere of the original Land Rover at the Amsterdam Motor Show on this day in 1948.

NIS organises Talent’s Day programmeNoble International School (NIS) recently held Talent’s Day programme featuring theatre, dance performances, speeches and fancy dress competition. The students of Grade I-XI participated in the talent show. Robin K Jose, Vice Principal of NIS, welcomed the gathering. He motivated the students. The event was inaugurated by Shibu Abdul Rasheed, Principal of NIS. Speaking on the

occasion, he said that the stage is not a platform to portray one’s skills and seek victory always but also to realise setbacks and the spirit of participation. Shihabhudheen, Nizar K and Indira Ajeesh, Head of Sections at NIS, along with Mohammad Hassan and Reshmi Gireesh, CAA Co-ordinators, organised the event.


COMMUNITY PHOTO ESSAY

YOUR CHANCE TO BE IN THE Here’s your chance to let the world know of your skills and create a buzz. The published images will appear on both our

Instagram page (@communitygt) as well as this coveted space. Community invites photographers to let their pictures speak the proverbial thousand words! E-mail your contributions with your full name, contact details and complete description of the images to [email protected]

A time to reflect on our livesTonight, Muslims in Qatar will join our

brothers and sisters across the world as we embark on the holy month of Ramadan together, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This is the month in which it is believed that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). And so we begin on a 30 days journey, where Muslims will fast, which means no food and no water from

sunrise to sunset. Fasting is one of the fi ve pillars of Islam, the other four being testimony of faith, daily prayers, charity and the Haj. Many of us see fasting as a celebration as well as the greatest acts of our faith.

Not eating or drinking even the tiniest drop of water is hard enough, but the true spirit of Ramadan lies in the acts that accompany our fast. This means simple acts of kindness,

charity and good deeds such as not lying or backbiting.

While we recharge our faith with extra focus and discipline in prayers and the teachings of the Qur’an, let us work on our lives and focus on good habits and lifestyle that that follows the teachings of Qura’n and Sunnah.

— Text by Azmat Haroon, photos by Samrah Shahid


COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

Chernobyl confronts devastating impacts of 1986 nuclear accident

By Jami Ganz

More than three decades later, the fallout from the worst nuclear accident in history lingers.

The HBO miniseries Chernobyl is a dramatic exploration of the devastating explosions that shook Soviet Ukraine’s now-abandoned town of Pripyat on April 26, 1986. The infamous accident caused shockwaves, literal and figurative, around the world.

The series, written and created by New York native Craig Mazin, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on the 33rd anniversary of the disaster.

Chernobyl follows Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, and Emily Watson, the trio investigating the disaster, and is bookended by the series slogan: “What is the cost of lies?”

“It is a story about what happens when we ignore the truth, and we ignore facts, and we ignore expertise, and we ignore wisdom, and replace it instead with whatever narrative is most convenient for us,” Mazin told the Daily News. “You can do this for a while. For a while. But the truth will remain the truth. The truth doesn’t need us to believe in it, and eventually, it will make itself known.”

A significant aim of the series was “to tell the stories of these people who have been buried by the history of it, whose sacrifices weren’t known to us,” said Harris, who plays Valery Alekseyevich Legasov.

Although Mazin began work on Chernobyl nearly five years ago, today’s political climate – coloured by the resurgence of Russian aggression toward Ukraine and the west – gave him a particular sense of urgency. The parallels between today’s tension between Russia and Ukraine as well as the threat posed by climate change are not lost those involved in the production.

Chernobyl doesn’t seek to settle the ongoing disputes about the number of casualties, both direct and indirect – which range from a United Nations estimate of 4,000 to Greenpeace’s tally of 90,000. Instead, it seeks to honour fallen, the survivors, the scientists-turned-investigators, those who helped to curb the effects of the tragedy and everyone still affected by it.

Clinical psychologist Dr Janina Scarlet was nearly 3 years old and in one of the fallout zones about 180 miles away from the blast.

The Soviet government, she tells The News, didn’t notify the public of the severity for at least two weeks. So, people continued “drinking water, eating raw fruit, and unfortunately, all of it was poisoned.”

Scarlet herself has long suffered the

effects of radiation poisoning. She grew up with a compromised immune system that, on several occasions, landed her in the hospital for colds and nosebleeds that refused to clot.

Scarlet, who emigrated with her family to the US at age 12, had to abandon New York – her home of 15 years – for San Diego because her intense migraines are affected by weather changes. When they intensify, her migraines can cause seizures.

Skarsgard plays Boris Shcherbina, an official in the Soviet government. The frequent Lars von Trier collaborator, Mamma Mia, and Marvel Cinematic Universe alum acknowledges the weight of this project, which he says is “not purely there for the benefit of company shareholders or for pure entertainment, but … actually has something that is of vital importance to us today. What we’re doing to this Earth is frightening, and we’re running out of time.”

Watson’s composite character, Ulana Khomyuk, is a tribute to the real-life scientists who helped with the investigation.

She offered a similar call to arms, telling The News, “Truth has become fluid. We are facing a scientific crisis, now, that lack of political will is not allowing us to face up to it. And we could be facing utterly devastating consequences. … The life of our species is hanging in the balance.”

Chernobyl is Renck’s first experience in nonfiction, but he was immediately

attracted to the script.“I’m drawn to some hopelessness,

mixed with sort of the beauty of humanity, mixed with the horrendousness of humanity, mixed with the melancholy,” he said. “You know I’m Scandinavian, I’m from Sweden originally, I like the dark stuff. That’s the way it is for me.”

The responsibility that comes with telling the story is not lost on Renck. “There’s no one in Ukraine whose identity is not partly influenced by Chernobyl today, no one,” he said. “To do this just, you cannot cut any corners anywhere.”

Even 33 years on, Chernobyl remains a sensitive subject for those who lived through it.

“It took me until (age) 31 to be able to talk about Chernobyl and to be able to discuss what happened to me and what happened to some other people,” Scarlet said. “It’s something that has been such a painful part of my life. … Now it’s gotten easier, it’s still hard to read about it, to watch documentaries about it, so I spent a good portion of my childhood not knowing if I would make it until adulthood, so it’s still hard.”

Scarlet hopes those who remain detached from the impact of Chernobyl and its legacy will be sensitive to those still coming to terms with it. “This is not just one event that occurred in the distant past. This is something that is still prevalent.” – New York Daily News/TNS

MESSAGE: Emily Watson in HBO’s Chernobyl.

Farah having fun working on Rohit Shetty’s fi lm

Choreographer-fi lmmaker Farah Khan says she is having fun working on her upcoming fi lm, which is produced by Rohit Shetty.

Talking about the development on the upcoming “musical actioner”, Farah said: “We have fi nished most of the scripting and have a month more to go and then we will start casting. We are having fun. It’s a full-fl edged musical with action in it. It’s my movie and then Rohit’s movie. So, you know what to expect.”

Asked if her very good friend and superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be a part of the fi lm, she said: “I love Shah Rukh. I love working with him. But as of now we fi rst want to do the dialogue draft and everything and then go on to the next step.”

This will be the fi rst time that Farah will be collaborating with Shetty.

Farah has earlier directed fi lms such as Om Shanti Om and Main Hoon Na. Shetty is busy with his next directorial venture Sooryavanshi. – IANS

COLLABORATION: Farah Khan will be collaborating with Shetty for the first time.

Katrina fl aunts new car, shows off driving skill

Actress Katrina Kaif is loving her new car Range Rover, which she proudly showed off to fans via her social media page, and also showed how she proved a man wrong with her driving skills.

“Thank you Modi Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Worli, for the wonderful experience,” Katrina wrote on Instagram along with a photograph in which she is seen leaning against her new luxury car.

Katrina looks stylish in a short red dress with a denim shrug.

The car has reportedly been gifted to Katrina by her former boyfriend and superstar Salman Khan, also her co-star in the upcoming fi lm Bharat.

In another post, Katrina shared a shot of herself behind the wheels but in another vehicle from “on location” for Bharat. She is seated next to a man.

Giving a description of the photograph, she wrote: “Bharat, the man beside me is the actual owner of this classic 1960s’ Land Rover, who was convinced that I couldn’t handle the car, while I was convinced I could.”

The Ali Abbas Zafar directorial brings Katrina and Salman together on screen again after fi lms like Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Yuvvraaj, Partner, Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai. – IANS

SHOW OFF: Katrina Kaif shows off new car Range Rover on social media.


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.

PROBATE PROFESS PROPOSEPROBEPROFITPROSPERPROBLEMPROGRAMPROTECTPROCEDUREPROGRESS

PROTOCOLPROCESSPROJECTPROVIDEPROCLAIMPROMISEPROVISOPRODIGYPROMOTE PRODUCT PROPER


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

Across1 Sweet stuff made from purple yams? (5,5)7 Recommend a lawyer (8)8 Reduced energy? Charming! (4)9 Scorch most of map (4)10 Awkward redhead may be stuck (7)12 They have lots to sell (11)14 How old clothes are? Rubbish! (7)16 His Worship, while delayed, finally went quickly (4)19 Endless disgrace is not real (4)20 Anti-hero’s novel being broadcast (2,3,3)21 Singer who could make big snob cry (4,6)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

Down1 Extremely miserable detectives turned up for doctor (5)2 Dull experts and flipping spies (7)3 Cheese used by well-fed Americans? (4)4 Submissive bearing (8)5 Family member, about fifty, in French article (5)6 Capital cheers up birds (6)11 Fight in ring? (4-4)12 Lack of interest, in a way, on the fourth of July (6)13 Fast, say (7)15 Italian child ignoring no Disney film (5)17 Flower is found within 24 hours (5)18 Beginning, not ending, as celebrity (4)


COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

A current or potential partner might seem like the most perfect,

wonderful person in the world to you, Aries. Your nature could get

the better of you today. Don’t gaze at your partner all dewy eyed!

Instead, try to maintain a certain distance. It was probably your

self-suff iciency and inner power that attracted your partner in the

first place.

Innovative art forms might seem especially appealing today, Cancer.

Stay out of gallery shops unless you’re prepared to take home a

carload of merchandise. If you’re more into music, you might break

the bank downloading tunes to your MP3 player. This could be a

new phase in your artistic tastes or it could be a longstanding trend.

Whichever it is, have fun!

Have you been exercising too rigorously lately, Libra? If so, you

might feel some little aches and pains. Stay off your feet for most of

the day. When you exercise, concentrate on stretching. Spend some

time soaking in a hot tub if you can. The old saying, “No pain, no

gain” has pretty much been discredited! Yoga or tai chi could serve

you as well as aerobics today. Stick with those!

A partner may host a social event or meeting of some kind,

Capricorn. It might be interesting to get acquainted with friends

of your mate you haven’t yet met. Some of them are probably

intelligent, interesting people in fascinating professions. One of them

could recommend a few books that you will definitely want to read.

Have fun. Don’t forget to thank your friend!

You might not be able to concentrate on your work today, Taurus.

Your head may be in the clouds and your eye for detail could fail

you somewhat. Needless to say, this isn’t a good day to tackle new,

diff icult, or complicated tasks. Concentrate on routines that you can

do without thinking. That way you will get through the day without

making yourself crazy.

Do you believe in ghosts? Some strange phone calls, e-mails, or

other communications may come your way today, Leo. One may

come from someone who thinks you’re someone else. Phone calls

may be hang-ups, wrong numbers, or phantom rings. If there’s a

knock at the door, it may be the house settling and not a ghost, but it

can still be rather unnerving. Try not to think about it.

The feeling that someone is coming to visit you might be with you

throughout the day, Scorpio. Your intuition is probably right, except

for one thing – it’s probably more than one person! Some friends

may have some good news that they want to share as soon as

possible. Straighten up the house and pretend to be surprised when

they come to the door. Have a great evening!

Are you contemplating a trip, Aquarius, perhaps to a place you’ve

always dreamed of visiting? If you’re in doubt as to whether or not

you can do it, work out your budget and you might be surprised.

Invite a friend to accompany you. Such a trip could boost your

personal growth like nothing you’ve ever tried before. Think about it!

Material values may pale beside spiritual ones today,

Are you an artist, writer, or musician, Gemini? If so, your work may

take on a more symbolic or impressionistic tone. Today you’re

probably more interested in conveying feelings and impressions

than details. It might surprise you that you’re thinking along those

lines. This urge may vanish tomorrow, so if you like today’s work,

make the most of it. Try to remember how and why you’re doing it!

An unexpected sum of money could come your way today, Virgo. It

probably won’t be large, but it will be welcome nonetheless. Perhaps

someone has owed you money for a long time and finally repays it.

Or you might sell an item you’ve wanted to unload for a long time.

Whatever it is, you might want to take a friend to dinner. Go for it and

have fun!

Are all of your friends into astrology, divine science, or spiritual

matters, Sagittarius? It might seem like most of them are today,

anyway. You may have many new friends in those fields. You have

a lot to learn from all of them, and even more that you can learn

together. A giant spurt of personal growth is right around the corner.

Pisces. You might consider giving up the rat race and retreating to

the wilderness. This would perhaps make a good vacation, but you

probably aren’t ready to chuck it all just yet. Don’t be too hard on

yourself if your enjoyment of worldly pleasures returns tomorrow.

Changes like this come gradually, not overnight. Take it at your own

pace.

Staying active in midlife may depend on mental well-beingS

taying physically active in midlife depends a lot on your overall satisfaction with life or mental well-being

a decade earlier, not just your physical health, suggests new research.

Men and women with high mental well-being at the age of 42 were more physically active at the age of 50 compared to those who got lower scores in mental well-being at age 42, said the study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.

The researchers investigated mental well-being through three dimensions: emotional, psychological and social well-being.

Emotional well-being indicates overall satisfaction with life and a tendency to have positive feelings. Psychological well-being refers to experiences of personal growth and the purpose of life. Social well-being tells about relationships with

other people and the community.The researchers found that

leisure time physical activity did not predict later mental well-being or subjective health, but mental well-being predicted physical activity.

It seems that mental well-being is an important resource for maintaining a physically active lifestyle in midlife, said Tiia Kekalainen from University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.

For the study, the researchers gathered data from over 300 people at ages 42 and 50 by questionnaires and interviews.

Walking was related to emotional well-being, rambling in nature to social well-being and endurance training to subjective health, the study said.

“Although exercise did not predict later mental well-being or subjective health in this study, exercise is important for current mental well-being and health,” Kekalainen said. – IANS

Monday, May 6, 2019 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSPIRIT OF RAMADAN

The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.

Qur’an 2:185, Sahih International

From cleaning up relatives’ graves and sharing food with the poor to holding colourful torch-lit street parades, millions

of Indonesians are getting ready to welcome the holy month of Ramadan in the world’s populous Muslim-majority country.

Ramadan begins on Monday, with devotees fasting from dawn to dusk until Eid celebrations marking the end of the holy month.

In the conservative province of Aceh, Muslim families break their fast by eating meat together and sharing the meal with the poor, in a centuries-old tradition known as Meugang.

As customers lined up in wait, butchers in the western province were busy at work, chopping bones and slicing meat.

“It’s a tradition that we must follow, I’ll cook rendang and eat with my family,” Ramla, who like many Indonesians has only one name, told AFP, referring to a popular beef stew.

In the capital Jakarta, thousands of Muslims marked the holy month by visiting cemeteries to clean up their relatives’ graves and pray for the departed so they would get peace in the afterlife.

Outside, fl ower sellers set up makeshift tents to sell blossoms to visitors so they could scatter petals on their relatives’ graves.

“Before the fasting month begins we usually visit each other, but we don’t only visit the living ones, we also visit the dead,” said Cepi Imamsyah Arian Tandjung, who was visiting the graves of his parents, brother and uncle.

About 90 percent of Indonesia’s 270 million people follow Islam but infl uences from other religions are deeply ingrained in the country, including “Nyadran”, a Javanese ritual heavily infl uenced by Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

In Temanggung in Central Java, over a thousand people joined Nyadran celebrations, carrying a round basket fi lled with food on top of their heads before sharing in a communal feast.

In Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, hundreds of locals bathed in a spring or a river, taking part in a cleansing ritual known as “Padusan” to purify oneself before entering the holy month.

In North Sumatra, locals including children wearing traditional dress chanted prayers as they held a torch-lit procession to make the start of Ramadan. —AFP

Indonesian Muslims welcome Ramadan

FIRST NIGHT: Indonesian Muslims pray on the first night of Ramadan at the Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh, in Aceh province. AFP / CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN


COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF RAMADAN

By Azmat Haroon

Who hasn’t heard of the evergreen classic dish Biryani? This aroma c, vibrant coloured mixed rice dish is popularly known as part of the Mughlai culinary tradi on, and traces its roots to the central Asian cuisine. As per the standard recipe, it is prepared with layers of basma rice, browned onions, cilantro, mint, yogurt, saffron, ghee along with a combina on of spices.

It is typically cooked with marinated meat or chicken in most restaurants in Qatar, but you will also find its varie es in fish and prawns in the household of Biryani lovers. But that’s simply because the style of cooking

Biryani varies not only across the sub-con nent, but you will arguably find a different recipe of Biryani in every household! The difference comes from the heart-warming spices and the love with which the rice are cooked!

Here are my favourite places to grab a plate of Biryani, in no par cular order.

Top Biryani places:

1. Al Jamal Restaurant

2. Kababs & Kurries

3. Spice & Sizzle

4. Zaffran Dining Experience

5. Deccan Deewan Restaurant

By Mudassir Raja

The holy month of Ramadan brings in some changes in every Muslim’s daily routine, along with inspiring

the faithful to perform great deeds that become cherished memories.

Zahra Shikara, a British Iraqi expatriate, has been living in Qatar for 13 years. She calls herself “third culture” as she carries diverse background. Community spoke to her about how she has been observing Ramadan.

“I’m what you would call third culture. I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, grew up in London in an Iraqi household, and have lived in Qatar for 13 years. Although it was a struggle working out my identity growing up, I think I realised the importance of identifying as an individual quite early on and embraced being different so I could start achieving my goals as authentically as possible. Wearing hijab meant that I was very visibly Muslim and Islam was indeed a

central part of my identity – as well as being British and Iraqi.”

Remembering her days in UK, Zahra said: “Ramadan in London in the 90’s was a relatively dull experience. Life carried on as normal and there was no celebratory spirit. Work and study hours were the same, there was nothing visible on the streets to differentiate the days and nights of Ramadan from any other month of the year.

“However, at home, it was an exciting time. Social gatherings intensified, food quantities and varieties increased, sweets and desserts were amplified, and it was all in all a really special time.”

She added: “We would always eat at home or at other people’s homes – halal restaurants were hard to come by and the ones that were certified halal were far away so we made our own food and that tradition has continued for me to this day. My earliest memories of Ramadan in London were of my mother waking me up before dawn for Suhoor; I distinctly remember the darkness, the artificial light,

British Iraqi expat finds a nice rhythm to Ramadan in Qatar

Food Tips: What to eat?

the drowsiness, and my mum in the kitchen rustling up something quick and nutritious.”

Zahra feels Ramadan in Doha is very different and special. “Ramadan in Doha is very different and, in many ways, very special. The streets light up, wishes for a blessed Ramadan are everywhere, decorations in the form of crescent moons, mosque lamps, domes and minarets, Islamic patterns and arabesques embellish public spaces, and the sound of Qur’an recitation fills the air.”

She added: “You get the feeling the whole country is fasting with you. The times change to work around the fasting day and the nights get longer yet feel shorter. Also, in Doha, sunset timings

don’t change so drastically compared to the UK where you can break your fast anywhere from 3:30pm in winter to 10:30pm in summer. Fasting in Doha is very predictable and is pretty much the same every year which has a nice rhythm to it.

“The other great thing about Ramadan in Qatar is our ability to directly share our Iftar with others – especially workers in the area who are away from their families most of the time and who really appreciate quality, home-cooked food. These acts of sharing, giving and service are crucial to a successful Ramadan.

“Also in Qatar, there is a large selection of mosques to pray in, to listen to Qur’an and to feel part of a Muslim community, praying

and worshipping together. I think it’s the sense of community that really makes Ramadan in Doha special. Of course, the downside is that my family are far away (in London) which means some days I break my fast solo, but there is also a plus side to that as I can control what I eat, I can relax and take my time as there is less pressure to entertain and serve.”

Zahra further said: “The essence of Ramadan, of course, is self-reflection, spiritual growth and physical healing. This should happen regardless of your locality, however, each place adds a unique flavour to the experience and living in Doha is a wonderful location to enjoy Ramadan, especially when you have the right people around you.”

“In Qatar, there is a large selection of mosques to pray in, to listen to Qur’an and to feel part of a Muslim community, praying and worshipping together. I think it’s the sense of community that really makes Ramadan in Doha special. ”

— Zahra Shikara, a British Iraqi expatriate

Documents

Hard times ahead