Issue #40 Doha Family Magazine Spring 2022

THE PREMIER MAGAZINE FOR FAMILIES IN QATAR

A Helping Paw: Supporting Stray Animals in Qatar

Kids Giving Back 101 Q&A with DEAP's Jose Saucedo

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Families giving back, volunteering, sustainability, and more.

SPRING 2022 Spring 2022 | Issue 21 |

ISSUE 21 | BROUGHT TO YOU BY DOHA FAMILY | DOHAFAMILY.COM

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Contents

Spring 2022 • DohaFamily.com

FAMILY MATTERS 12 Kids Giving Back 101 Tips to help your little ones spread kindness 17 Philanthropy Is a Family Affair Three mums share how their families give back

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52 Teen Talks: Community Support How a teen’s holiday took an altruistic turn 54 Staying Green: An Expat Family’s Path to Sustainability A determined family’s drive to maintain their lifestyle in Qatar

LIVING IN DOHA 22 A Ripple Effect: How Small Actions Can Make a Big Difference How lockdown inspired this dad to give more 24 Q&A with DEAP’s Jose Saucedo An insightful interview with one of Qatar’s leading environmentalists

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28 Building a Sustainable Community EcoSouk’s founder talks spreading eco-awareness, parenting, and educating future generations 47 A Helping Paw: Supporting Stray Animals in Qatar Unleash your inner animal advocate

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EDUCATION 33 Schools, Sustainability, and Community A look into the growth of sustainability movements in Qatar’s schools 38 Digital Native Creates Change A school student shares how she’s making a difference

Main contributors KIM WYATT is the Doha Family Magazine Food Contributor. A mum, photographer, writer, stylist, and cook, she is passionate about healthy and delicious food for the whole family. She also writes about and advocates for other causes, like mental health and the environment. Follow her on Instagram @kimwyattofficial.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 42 Mum’s Recipes Italian Recipes with Michela

IN EVERY ISSUE

LISA GAY is a writer from the US who has so far spent over a decade of her life as an expat. She’s lived in Beijing, where she worked as an editor of a parenting magazine.

Now a trailing spouse, she has since started a family in Doha.

7 Editor’s Letter 8 News Bites 9 What’s On 10 Things We Love 11 Book Bites

EMMA MORRELL is a British mum who has lived outside of the UK for over a third of her life. She’s a family travel blogger and expat who is passionate about helping families to travel more adventurously and empowering expat women and families.

59 Marketplace DR DEEPIKA an educationist and facilitator who is passionate about touching lives through her words.

Working in DPS Modern Indian School, Qatar, she enjoys being surrounded by curious and inquisitive minds that give her the drive to see daily life with a different lens. These perspective shifts are often expressed in her blogs. She loves to explore world through writing.

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Editor’s Letter

Hello Friends, it's me!

I

am forever inspired by people who believe in their ideas and work to make them happen. It takes a huge level of vulnerability and courage, no matter what they are. I also find it incredibly moving when they do this to make a positive difference in people's lives.

Qatar is full of these likes, and this issue will shine a light on some of the awesome things they are getting up to that I hope you and your family find inspiring.

Before we get into their incredible stories, we've put together a guide on how you can start talking to your children about giving back. We've even added some kid-friendly ideas to get them started. That's all on page 12. On page 17, you'll read about three local mums who have been putting this into action. And if you've been thinking about doing something yourself and don't quite know where to start, turn to page 22 for a boost.

We can't talk about making a difference without bringing the environment into the picture, so this issue has a bit of a sustainability slant. You'll hear from local eco-leaders (pages 24–32) and learn about the growing green movement in Qatar's schools (page 33).

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

Issue 21 – Spring 2022 DohaFamily.com Founder

Roxanne Davis

Publisher / Managing Director Anas Outa Bashi

Editor

Tesneem Ayoub

Sales & Marketing Nina Hall

Sales & Marketing Coordinator Speaking of schools, prepare to be wowed by these students' extracurricular efforts (pages 38 and 52). And animal lovers, rejoice! We've got a breakdown of what you can do to support our four-legged friends (page 47), plus so much more.

I always want to hear from you, so if you have any comments, questions, or pitches, get in touch with me at editor@dohafamily.com.

Happy reading!

Tesneem

Editor Doha Family Magazine

Elena Khomenko

Graphic Design:

Naser Nashashibi ( Naserarts ) For advertising or distribution inquiries, please contact Elena Khomenko at ads@dohafamily.com.

Editorial inquiries, suggestions, and submissions may be addressed to editor@dohafamily.com.

Doha Family Magazine is a free magazine published four times a year by Doha Family. It is distributed to over 300 locations throughout Qatar with a circulation of over 20,000 copies. Visit https:// dohafamily.com/distributionlocation/ to find the nearest copy.

Doha Family does not endorse or assume responsibility for any information, products, or services mentioned by advertisers or editorial contributors. Reproduction of any element of this publication without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Copyright 2022 by Doha Family. Doha Family Magazine is printed by Ali Bin Ali Printing Press.

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QATAR MUSEUMS' 3-2-1 OLYMPIC AND SPORTS MUSEUM has opened. This museum, which boasts an area of almost 19,000 square metres, is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Located in the Aspire Zone, it contains seven gallery spaces, all dedicated to celebrating local and international sports history. qm.org.qa

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION stated that five new schools will open in the 2022/2023 academic year.

Because of this, it said that it has been conducting job interviews with local and expat teachers to fill new vacancies. edu.gov.qa

SIDRA MEDICINE is expanding QATAR FOUNDATION has its services for women and girls. announced that it will build Green It will be launching the Executive Island, Qatar's first recycling hub, Women's Health Program, in Education City. It is expected which will offer annual multito launch in the autumn with six disciplinary health and wellrecycling streams being assessments and for paper, plastic, appointments for women aluminium cans, ages 18 and up. It will also electronic waste, establish the Well Woman batteries, and organic Health Center, which will waste. It will also be cater to women at mid-life constructed from used and beyond and offer support shipping containers and with menopause. Additionally, partially powered by solar Sidra also announced the panels. Green Island will also opening of its new maternity include other amenities, such ward in the main hospital, as research labs, a gift shop, which contains six luxury organic cafes, and a suites. It also now NEWS BITES farm-tooffers Human table Papilloma Virus restaurant.

(HPV) vaccines for qf.org girls and women ages 12 and up. sidra.org

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WHAT'S ON THIS SPRING BAT

BROWSE

Bravo Cricket Academy holds expert-taught cricket lessons for kids and adults, with dedicated classes for people with disabilities. For kids, lessons cost QR 400 per month and are held from Thursday to Saturday and run from 4 pm to 6 pm for Batch One and 6 pm to 8 pm for Batch Two. There is also a separate one-time QR 200 registration fee to cover the kids' uniforms costs. Adults' lessons run throughout the week and cost QR 400 for four one-on-one sessions and QR 700 for eight. Call 33771616 or email info@bravocricketacademy.com to find out more. q-tickets.com/Events/ EventsDetails/9097/bravocricket-academy

Mahaseel Festival might be over, but Mahaseel Market will continue to run until 15 May 2022 at the southern portion of Katara Cultural Village. Support local farmers and check out the locally-sourced goods on offer from Thursday to Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm. katara.net

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

SAVOUR Mondrian Doha's East-meets-West style restaurant, Walima, will offer delectable Suhoor and la carte menus throughout the month of Ramadan. The Suhoor meal costs QR 280 per head and will be served from 9 pm to 1 am, but the restaurant's doors will be open from sunset.

If you prefer to stay in, Walima's delivery service will also be available from 5 pm to 9 pm. Call 4045-5999 to learn more. sbe.com/hotels/ mondrian/doha/dining

SPLASH Wednesday nights are officially Ladies Only Nights at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort's Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park!

Put on your swimsuit and enjoy an evening of slides and elaborate rides at the Sea Caves Water Park section from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Boys ages eight and under are also welcome to join in (QIDs need to be provided for proof of age). Tickets must be booked in advance.

Please note that the water park will be closed for maintenance between 04 April 2022 and 20 April 2022. For more information, call 4423-6416 or email desertfallsinfo@hilton.com. salwabeachresort. qa/desert-falls-wateradventure-park 9

The Skittles Game for Kindness and Friendship The Skittles Game is a fun tool to teach and help children explore all kinds of concepts. To play, hand every child a random Skittle. Each child will then answer a question on the game board that matches their Skittle's colour. You can continue discussing their answer or help them brainstorm solutions before moving on to the next one. The kindness and friendship gameboards are free to download on the Cofee and Carpool website. If you want the others, you can buy the whole set of eight for USD 4 (around QR 16) at the time of writing.

Available on coffeeandcarpool.com

Stone Soup

This board game is great for helping kids with their memory and association skills while teaching them cooperation. The game requires players to make a soup on time before the fire goes out, and they need to match 12 pairs of ingredient cards to do that. But there's a twist! The cards are downfacing, so they need to remember where they placed them. Plus, there are "fire out" cards, and if enough of those are picked out, they will have even less time to match the ingredients. Stone Soup is suitable for kids ages five and up, and it costs around QR 152 at the time of writing, shipping included. Available on amazon.com

Qatar Charity App We can't have an issue about giving and kindness without raving about this homegrown app. It's a one-stop-shop for all things benevolence, hosting a large selection of causes, local and international.

With a few swipes, you can pay to send meal parcels to workers, help out a struggling family, or sponsor someone's medical treatment or school fees. It even has an option to show you how many people need help near your local area. And there is much, much more. It is free to download, and you can make in-app payments using a credit card or locally-issued debit card.

Available on Android and Apple 10

Book Bites

By Saachi Bathia, FS2 Doha English Speaking School Title: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Genre: Fiction Author: Charlie Mackesy

I really like this book because it teaches you that everyone is very special.

This story is about a boy, mole, fox, and a horse and they are all together on a journey trying to find their way home. They all love each other.

My favourite part is when the horse says to the boy “You fell—but I’ve got you”.

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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FAMILY MATTERS

Kids Giving Back 101

By Emma Morrell

T

eaching children to give back to their communities might be one of the most valuable lessons they can learn. Yet, it can be challenging for many parents as they may not know where to start. It can also be difficult to figure out the right age to introduce them to the concept and find appropriate ways to get them involved.

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As with any value you want to instil in your children, it's likely going to take more than one conversation. In fact, it usually takes a series of discussions that evolve over time.

Acts of giving can range from minuscule to large. So while you might be thinking that you need to nurture the next Greta Thunberg, teaching your children how small actions can have a big impact on the world can be just as meaningful. So if you're looking for inspiration, we've got you covered with ideas of how your children can give back as well as ways you can support them.

FAMILY MATTERS

Fundraising

Sponsorship

Fundraising is one of the easiest ways kids can get involved with their communities. It is also a great way to have fun while honing their organisational and leadership skills. Although local regulations might mean that kids are primarily limited to fundraising through school, this doesn't mean it cannot be a fulfilling experience.

Within fundraising, there's sponsorship.

This way of giving back is also popular with kids, partly because it gets them involved in challenges and partly because the options are almost endless. Plus, they can do it from the comfort of their homes.

Selling baked goods is a popular choice as it allows kids to enjoy the process of making what they will sell. Other options include selling old books and toys, homemade crafts, or other types of food. If they don't want to sell a product, they may prefer offering services like gift-wrapping or car washing. Alternatively, they could set up an obstacle course or face painting service and charge a fee for using them.

Fundraising Ideas: • book or toy sale • lemonade stand or cookie stall • homemade jewellery stall or art sale • car washing or other fee-based offerings

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Finding an activity that means something to your child is the perfect way to get them to participate. Maybe the bookworm in your house will do a sponsored read, the party animal a danceathon, or the chatterbox a sponsored silence. Almost any of their favourite hobbies can be turned into a sponsorship opportunity to fund their charity of choice.

Sponsorship Ideas: • sponsored read • danceathon/singathon • sponsored silence • sponsored run/row/cycle/swim

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FAMILY MATTERS

Donating

Volunteering

Donating can be tricky for children as, after all, most of them aren't earning money! Yet there are still many ways they can contribute to worthy causes. Financially, they could donate their pocket money or ask family and friends to do so on their behalf instead of giving them presents on special occasions. Beyond cash, kids can donate lots of physical items, including clothes, books, and toys that they no longer need.

Volunteering is an effective way for children to be immersed in the causes they are helping. At the same time, the causes benefit from their time and efforts. People of all ages can join in, and the most obvious ways kids can volunteer in Qatar are in pet rescue centres and at beach clean-ups.

Older children may be able to volunteer with hospitals, refuges, or food banks. Unfortunately, the pandemic has limited many of these activities, so check with the organisation before going.

Donation Ideas: • money • clothes, books and toys • food • baby products (e.g. nappies, wipes, bibs)

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Volunteering Ideas: • pet rescue charities • food banks • women's/family refuges • hospitals

FAMILY MATTERS

Events If your child has bigger ideas, consider encouraging them to organise an event. This could be at school or with an extra-curricular organisation. With more people at their disposal, the options increase immensely! Many of the ideas above can be scaled up to involve a group of friends, a class, or even the whole school.

Leadership Ideas: • becoming a school representative, e.g. joining the student council • organising large scale sponsorship or fundraising events • leadership in extra-curricular groups • beach clean-ups

The cake stall can become a bake sale, and donating clothes can become a used clothes event. They could talk to their teachers about organising a school-wide dress-up day, a talent show, or even a school-branded cookbook.

Large scale events are more time consuming to plan and organise, but kids get a lot of enjoyment out of them.

Event Ideas: • bake sale or used clothes sale • karaoke night or talent show • non-uniform day • mass sponsorship event

Leadership Giving back isn't just about fundraising—it can also be about raising awareness to bring change in the world.

Most schools these days are committed to recycling and have eco-committees. If this isn't the case with your child's school, this would be an excellent opportunity for them to suggest it. They usually have student councils that offer children the opportunity to give back to their school and peers through feedback and ideas for improvement. If there is a cause that your child is passionate about, like bullying, they could try organising an anti-bullying group in school. If they are desperate to help victims of catastrophes or climate disasters, they can consider planning food or clothing drives.

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

Providing Support You can nurture and support your child's interest in giving by continuing to involve them in conversations about it. Keep discussing different ideas and plans and help them choose age and interest appropriate opportunities. Your shy child might not want to organise a school talent competition, but if they're passionate about dogs, then volunteering at a pet shelter might be right up their street. Likewise, your eco-conscious child might mobilise a recycling movement on your compound, and your long-distance runner might do a sponsored run. If your child is globally aware, they might find supporting refugee charities more appealing.

Finally, remind them that change starts at home and that their daily actions count towards changing the world for the better. Reducing everyday waste, acting with integrity, being a behaviour leader among peers, and committing to doing small acts of kindness are all brilliant ways to give back every single day. DF 15

FAMILY MATTERS

Philanthropy Is a Family Affair

By Dr Deepika

T

he modern world is rife with technological advancements that have been sold as solutions to loneliness and a lack of community.

Conversations can be started with a click of a button or a swipe on the screen. Despite these opportunities, many parents are concerned that their kids are less interested in connecting with their offline worlds. As a result, some have made concentrated efforts to involve their children with their communities by encouraging them to do acts of kindness. Doha Family spoke to three long-term expat mums who have done just that.

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

RAFIA AHMED Rafia firmly believes in the power of giftgiving and the responsibility of individuals to contribute to their communities. And according to her, living in Qatar has enabled her to enact those values. "Qatar is the land of serenity and divinity, with mosques at every corner and verses in the air, making us realise each moment the gratefulness [we feel] and blessings [around us]. With prayers, you are reminded of your duties and responsibilities, not just limited to you, but to everyone around you," she says.

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FAMILY MATTERS With this in mind, Rafia decided to take one of her children's birthdays as an opportunity to teach them about the gift of giving back. It has been a few years since, and she and her three children, Osaid, Labeeb, and Muntasib, are still organising small scale donation drives.

The pandemic was a pivotal moment for the family. The loss Rafia witnessed in her community pushed her to get planning. "There were many in the community who had lost their jobs. [For] some, even the bread earner in the house [was] left in a devastating situation," she says. As a result, she collected funds and household essentials to help those in need.

Her elder sons, Osaid and Labeeb, helped out by collecting books, stationery, and clothing.

These efforts have continued ever since.

"There is a WhatsApp group where people post the requirements of theirs and others. I try to arrange [to give them] the same at the earliest," she says.

Rafia believes that there is no shame in asking for help. "It's just [that] we need someone to hold [our] hand at the time of crisis." She also 18

proudly shares that her youngest child, fiveyear-old Muntasib, has been getting involved.

"Muntasib smiles with joy on receiving blessings and dua (prayers) as a complimentary gift."

These experiences have taught Rafia's children that they too can positively impact their communities in their own ways and that they don't need to wait for others to take the lead.

So, how does she recommend encouraging your child to give back? "Treat your child as an adult and make him realise that his contribution matters. Involvement is important."

HEMA SATYA REKHA POSINA Rekha recalls it very clearly—the moment she spotted her five-year-old daughter, Yakshita, making a mess while engrossed in separating her toys between two old, overflowing boxes.

Naturally, she got curious and asked her daughter what was happening, but she was not prepared for the answer. "I don't need these toys. You can pass it on to children who don't have it, mama," replied Yakshita.

Rekha was stunned by the maturity in her daughter's response and her awareness of how the toys that were just taking up space in her room could bring joy to someone else instead. She also described the moment Yakshita looked her in the eyes, smiling sweetly, as she thanked her for all the gifts she had received over the years.

FAMILY MATTERS Yakshita then asked her to help with donating her items to charity. "I felt I was on the track of right parenting. I always wanted my children to help others in the community in whichever way they can," shares Rekha. That day a new journey started for the whole family—one that took them to Qatar Charity's TAYF Containers.

It has been four years since that conversation.

These days, the family dedicates a day every three months to going through their possessions and giving away anything unused or no longer wanted. Panya, Rekha's other daughter, and Yakshita also collect clothes, toys, books, and shoes from other apartments in their building and pack them in boxes to donate. Rekha, who has been a YouTuber for a few years now, documents the process on her channel to create awareness and inspire others to do the same. "It's easier to cast an impact on tender minds," she says.

Looking back on her transformative conversation with Yakshita, what, according to Rekha, inspired her daughter that day? "Sometimes it is just the Spring 2022 | Issue 21

calling from within, and in that very moment you grow mature, understanding there are important responsibilities for you to shoulder. And this can happen at any age."

Neetu Adhlakha A mother to two and a teacher to hundreds, Neetu has made it a mission to teach the children in her life to be compassionate and loving. To her, instilling a sense of gratitude in them is essential, and involving them in acts of giving is an effective way to do that.

"I encourage my students and children to be responsible citizens and have awareness about the environment in which we survive," she says. Despite this, she acknowledges how challenging it can be to encourage them to get out of their comfort zones and give up their free time to do something different.

Neetu joyfully reflects on the day she participated in a beach clean up, pre-pandemic, with her son, Aryaman. The event was organised by the A Flower Each Spring programme, which was initiated and sponsored

by Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser. She describes how she felt excited and adventurous as their journey took them from the FES camp in Ras Matbakh, Al Khor, to Purple Island. She also recalls the joyous smile on her son's face as his gloved hands clutched garbage bags to collect and separate metal cans and plastic. Because this experience 19

FAMILY MATTERS was overwhelmingly positive, Neetu and her son have since been keen to join more cleanups. It also cemented her belief that children thrive through these activities and that they are integral to helping them become productive members of society.

These inspiring accounts show there are still ways for people of all ages to connect with others and spread kindness, no matter how digitalised the world becomes. And the effects of these acts are not just one-sided, as each family was left feeling enriched by their experiences. If you or your child feel the drive to do something positive, take a leaf out of these families' books and go for it. There is so much to be gained from being kind.

Tips to Support Your Child Spreading Kindness • Create awareness: explain to your child why charitable acts are needed in this world and how doing them improves their life skills, suggests Neetu.

• Appreciate their efforts: shower your child with kind words whenever they perform an act of kindness, whether that is giving to charity or taking up a volunteering role. This will help boost their morale and make them feel more confident, says Rekha.

• Allow them to take ownership: let your child decide what they want to do and only give guidance when required. Rafia believes this will help enhance their decision-making skills, promote responsibility, and teach them to own everything they do.

• Encourage consistency: children do their best when they understand why they serve others, take the lead when doing so, and do it consistently, according to Rekha. She believes that these steps will help them develop a deep-rooted interest in giving, prompting them to find other unique ways to support their communities.

• Be there for the ups and downs: selflessness is never easy, so your child will always need you by their side, admits Neetu. To her, this means that they will need you by their side to celebrate their little victories with them and when they are moved to tears from glimpsing into the lives of the less fortunate. Overall, be their support system by ensuring your presence keeps them determined to do good, she says. DF

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Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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LIVING IN DOHA

A Ripple Effect: How Small Actions Can Make a Big Difference

A

lmost everyone wants to leave a positive mark on this world, and volunteering is a simple and accessible way to do that. People of all ages can get involved, and there is a wide variety of causes and projects to choose from. But this can feel overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to start.

Because of that, it is essential to realise that small steps and a bit of creativity might be all you need to make an impact. This is what's known as a "ripple effect". Keeping this in mind is what drove me to start my own project, and this is the story.

By Brett Roberts

Finding Inspiration Like many, I felt that the Covid pandemic was the perfect time to get involved with my community and give back to others. I wanted to do something that I felt was rewarding and filled a need. As the possibilities were endless, I narrowed them down by considering my interests, what I enjoyed, and what worked with my schedule. Unfortunately, not everything that came up met those criteria, so I had to think of something on my own. It was then that I came up with the idea of organising quarterly meals for the staff at my compound and providing them with Christmas gifts. I wanted to also get other residents involved.

Putting It Together Now that I had my idea, I needed to act fast.

I started looking up restaurants to supply the meals and looking for gifts that would be useful. I decided on meals and gifts that I believed would be the best value for money. Then, I created a post on our community Facebook group to gauge if there would be enough participants to help fund the purchases regularly. Fortunately, this was a success, so I started a dedicated Facebook page for the fundraiser where people could also share their ideas for future projects.

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LIVING IN DOHA

From Paper to Reality Ongoing Effort Once I had the backing of enough residents, it was time to get the plan in motion. I contacted our compound's management to organise the meal and gift distribution. They were more than happy to assist us and, like us, appreciative of the efforts of the staff. We picked a date for our first ever meal and gift giveaway and started collecting funds to purchase the items.

Participants swung by my villa and breezily dropped off donations of QR 100 per household—the amount we decided on to meet our goals. The amount raised allowed me to arrange with a local restaurant to supply lamb biryani for the entire staff. There was also enough to purchase 75 insulated onelitre water bottles to substitute their old plastic ones.

The Big Day Finally, the day when I would see the results of all the effort we made in the last three months had arrived. We coordinated a schedule between the compound and restaurant and had the gifts ready for distribution. Of course, like any good plan, it didn't go entirely as planned. The food came slightly late but was hot and delicious, nonetheless. Thankfully, the staff enjoyed their meals, drinks, and desserts.

We also received many photos from the compound manager showing their appreciation for the event. It was great to see so many happy faces in those pictures and to know that volunteering for just a few hours could benefit so many.

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

Fortunately, we have continued this tradition and havbeen distributing meals every three months to around 80 staff members. I continue to advertise on the main community group whenever we have a fundraiser. There are always new families moving in that want to contribute.

Through the fundraiser page, we organised around 400 meals in 2021. We have also been able to provide the staff with insulated lunch bags and iceboxes to help keep their food cool in the summer months. They still enjoy these meals and know that people in the compound appreciate their efforts. I think the biggest return for me is seeing how this small gesture fostered a greater feeling of community between the residents and the staff that we interact with daily. I'm always proud when I see the items we purchased still in use today.

If you feel inspired to do something similar, you can. You just need to get organised and put together a list of what you want to accomplish.

Before you know it, you will be checking items off your list and meeting your goals. Whatever you do, small or large, the feelings of accomplishment and fulfilment will be the same. DF

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LIVING IN DOHA

Q&A with DEAP's Jose Saucedo

D

oha Environmental Actions Project (DEAP) is known to many for its beach cleanups and the environmental activism its leader, Jose Saucedo, inspires in young people. Emma Morrell chats with Jose about his passion project, the challenges Covid has brought, and how we can all get involved.

E: To get us started, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

J: I'm an industrial engineer turned environmentalist. I worked in the food industry in the US for over a decade. My job was to save millions of dollars through productivity projects. Many were sustainability projects, looking into things like saving electricity, water, and other resources. They were good for the

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businesses as well as the environment. That was how I started my sustainability journey.

Almost five years ago, my wife got a job offer in Qatar, and we moved. When we arrived, my plan was to set up a consulting business, but that quickly changed into being an environmental activist!

LIVING IN DOHA E: How long have you been involved with DEAP? J: DEAP started in 2017 with a group of friends who wanted to raise awareness, clean up places in Qatar, discover more about the country, and have fun. I volunteered with DEAP in its early days. Shortly after, I found myself leading the effort, but I quickly realised this was more than a hobby. Luckily, many people with good hearts have joined our efforts, and there was a real need for that.

It's been a fun journey. I became an environmental activist in Qatar without realising it, and I love it.

We've reached many people and had a positive impact on the community. I'm happy with what we've done, but we still have a long way to go.

E: What does DEAP do?

J:,DEAP leads Qatar's beach clean-up movement and the fight against plastic pollution.,We advocate for nature and volunteerism. We're as grassroots as it gets.

We're scrappy, simple, and humble, but I like it this way because I think it inspires people. Our volunteers are our secret ingredient—without them, there's no movement. It's amazing to get people excited and provide an avenue for them to be involved.

Since we started, we've mobilised over 12,000 volunteers in 276 clean-ups. Most of our volunteers are students through the partnerships I have built with many schools, from kindergarten to university level. Those 12,000 people have collected over 134 tonnes of trash from Qatar's beaches, sand dunes, and heritage sites.

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E: That's a lot of people and a lot of trash! Covid must have really affected your operations.

J: Covid changed things a lot. Not so much in the frequency of clean-ups—I'm actually doing more clean-ups than ever—but I can only go with smaller groups. Before Covid, we averaged 100–150 volunteers per cleanup, and since Covid, it has been between zero and 30. In 2019, we mobilised around 4,600 volunteers, and in 2020, I was on track for 6,000–7,000 volunteers.

Covid put a stop to that. Our last pre-pandemic clean-up was on 6th March 2020. After that, we had nothing for five months. We couldn't even go to the beach, and, like everyone else, we were trying to figure things out. When things started reopening, we went slowly from five people up to 30, and we've operated like that for 18 months. In that time, we've had around 1,600 volunteers and collected about 18 tonnes of trash which is pretty good, given the circumstances. Between October and December last year, I was busy with school reopenings. I did lots of presentations and took schoolchildren on clean-ups. At one point, I worked for 14 days in a row because I thought we would be shut down again. And we were!

The most recent restrictions took us back to 15 people while schools returned to distance learning. It's hard because we must be responsible and keep everyone safe, but that means we can't access as many volunteers.

Another change is that people must now provide their own transportation. Before, I organised car-pooling for all 100–150 volunteers. Now, some people come in groups to save on transportation. I've also gone online a lot more.

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LIVING IN DOHA E: Speaking of school presentations, can you tell us more about your passion for educating the community?

J: We have partnerships with schools and corporate and government entities like the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and with institutions such as Qatar Museums.

Many of our clean-ups are at heritage sites, so Qatar Museums naturally became one of our most important partners. Obviously, they love what we do because we clean and preserve the natural environment and the country's cultural history.

That partnership goes all the way up to their chairperson, Sheikha Al Mayassa [bint Hamad bint Khalifa Al Thani]. She's very active with us and often comes to clean-ups.

She became fully invested not only in our movement and what we do in the fight against plastic pollution but in the green movement in Qatar. She has become a champion for it.

People were hungry for a role model, and then she came along! That has been a total game-changer.

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E: The news about the environment is getting worse every day. How do you stay so upbeat?

J: I believe we have a moral responsibility to leave this world better than we found it. It's not what we say but what we do that will bring change. Four years ago, everyone thought I was crazy. Nobody understood why I was doing this. Now, everybody is on board. Qatar Green Building Council is doing a fantastic job helping to advance the green movement. They organise an annual Qatar Sustainability Week, which gives the megaphone to us, the little people. They work with huge corporations and with the average volunteer like me who needs a space to convey a message and capture people's minds and hearts. At the most recent Sustainability Week last November, every presenter talked about plastic pollution, which was so encouraging. For us, that's the key focus because plastic pollution is so pervasive.

In a way, it's good that Covid pushed us all to step up our game. We have a long way to go, but the changes I've seen tell me we're onto something as a whole movement. I really think things will be better and brighter for everyone.

LIVING IN DOHA E: What is the ratio like between local and expat volunteers?

J: It depends on the location and the partner. At first, we struggled to get locals to participate.

Later, when I started going into schools, I took 150–180 Qatari kids to a weekday clean-up. That's how I started to influence sectors of society I couldn't reach as easily at the beginning. The Friday clean-ups are our flagship clean-ups. For those, we started creating and building relationships with Qatari businesses and families. Of course, the day you have the sister of the Emir showing up to a beach clean-up, everything changes! Since then, Sheikha Al Mayassa has invited important, influential people to join the green movement, and the word has spread. At this point, our representation corresponds to that of Qatar's population, although it varies depending on each clean-up. It's a good representation, but we need more, especially from people who can be good, visible role models.

E: This is all so awesome! How can we get involved?

J: Follow us on social media to get up-to-date information about our events. We do everything through our pages and our partners.

Our weekly flagship event is on Friday mornings, and you can find details of those online.

E: What advice do you have for people who can't get to a clean-up?

J: That's one of the main things I'm asked in presentations. When Covid made us pause the clean-ups, we concentrated on encouraging people to go out with friends and family to do small clean-ups. That's still the case today.

I always say you don't have to join an organisation to do the right thing. It doesn't have to be a big clean-up. It could be as simple as collecting one bag of trash after a day at the beach or in the dunes, or even just five pieces of trash. Just leave the place better than you found it. Then take a photo and tag us!

E: What would you say to young people and their parents about taking care of the planet and following their passions just like you have?

J: We can all make a difference. It could be starting a recycling programme at school or at home and leading that effort. Schools are also enabling kids to create and lead eco-committees or clubs.

They also have things like edible gardens and composting programmes run by students. Often, schools only use me once—I train them, and then they organise their own clean-ups.

It's not about what so-and-so is doing (or not).

It's about what you are doing to help make a difference. I do what I can with my resources and my limitations because I can, and so can you.

Don't be afraid! Just do it, and you'll figure it out.

If you want to do the right thing, you can do the right thing.

DEAP considers itself a 100% family-friendly organisation with no age or disability restrictions. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss any accessibility issues with organisers ahead of time, as some locations might be more challenging to reach than others. DF

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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LIVING IN DOHA

Building a Sustainable Community

The climate crisis and humankind's impact on the planet are constantly in the headlines. As a result, there has been an ever-growing focus on leading a sustainable lifestyle. Qatar is no exception, as evidenced by the explosion of innovative products and solutions on the market. Laura Powell-Corbett caught up with EcoSouk founder, Laura Brennan, to discuss her family's journey into a more sustainable lifestyle and the mission behind her business.

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LIVING IN DOHA From an early age, Laura has been conscious of the impact of human lifestyles on the environment. This eco-consciousness and the drive to protect her surroundings had been instilled by her mother from an early age.

She recalls her mum sending her to school with sandwiches wrapped in washed and reused cereal packets and turning her car off when idling while waiting for trains to pass.

Eventually, the messages sunk in, leading her to realise that the way children are raised can be instrumental in changing the world.

So, she too was determined to pass these values to her children and has been doing so before EcoSouk was founded. She says: "My youngest child sees rubbish while we are driving and I have to stop the car to chase after it. Each time she shouts, no matter where I am, as long as it is safe to do so, I stop.

I chase down the plastic, and I take it to be recycled. Every time she shouts. Because if I were to stop, then I don't feel that I would be reinforcing the right message."

A Single Idea It is easy to get swept away by the abundance of single-use plastic options—plastic water bottles, disposable nappies, single-use wipes, and pre-packaged food. They are convenient and readily available, but they also contribute to plastic pollution. National Geographic estimates that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations every year, and Qatar is no different. In fact, when Laura saw plastic waste washed up on West Bay Lagoon Beach during a walk with her daughter, it sparked the beginnings of an idea. This germ of an idea grew legs in the supermarket as she wrestled armfuls of apples and onions onto the weighing scales. She kept repeating "no plastic, no plastic" and hunting for a space on the shopping list she carried to stick the price stickers. An apple rolled across the floor, and it hit her: why not create a reusable bag that was fit for purpose?

Laura set out to create a bag that was not only reusable but one on which you could stick a price sticker. After testing, re-designing, and re-testing, she was ready to bring her creation to the market.

"It was incredibly daunting

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LIVING IN DOHA having 600 bags delivered to my door. I was expecting to have bags around the house for months and months. Yet the response to the bags was extraordinary," she shares. Laura quickly realised that other environmentallyaware families in Qatar existed that also wanted to make a difference.

So, EcoSouk took off. And it was a family affair, with different members hand-sticking the labels to the bags and her children accompanying her to the various market stalls. Laura's eldest daughter also holds conversations with the shoppers explaining why her mum's reusable bags are so important and how reducing plastic use is vital.

Beyond Reusable Bags EcoSouk has expanded into providing many other sustainable products. What once began as a reusable fruit and vegetable bag retailer has seen new products being designed and added, including cotton buds, reusable makeup wipes, and bamboo straws. EcoSouk has also partnered with various businesses, including Ocean Bottle, where every bottle sold funds the collection of 1000 plastic bottles from the waterways. It even has Natty Peach on board, a formerly Qatar-based designer, to design a range of sustainable scarves. EcoSouk was also proud to support the efforts of an incredible team of high school girls who provided menstrual cups and sanitary kits to low-income women in Qatar.

Laura has no plans to stop, and she is constantly scouting for new product ideas and local small businesses to work with.

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LIVING IN DOHA

Finding Community EcoSouk has grown to become more than a shop. Laura's ultimate aim has always been to create a community of like-minded people looking for ways to help the environment. This has led to the recent creation of a new EcoSouk Facebook Group to promote sustainability in Qatar.

Many Qatar-based organisations are doing game-changing things for the environment.

These include Elite Paper Recycling, DEAP, Salma Eco Lodge, and Torba. Yet, not everyone is aware of them. By creating this community and starting conversations, Laura hopes to promote their work and amplify the sustainability efforts of the wider Qatar community.

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Inspiring Future Generations For Laura, educating and mobilising children to take action is essential in the fight against climate change. She believes that with the right tools, they can be empowered to make a difference: "Anxiety about climate change is present and real, particularly in the younger generation, and we need to be the ones to help show them that there are positive ways of dealing with this, that they can control their actions, and there are options to help."

So, since EcoSouk's conception, Laura has been involved in spreading these messages to schoolchildren and encouraging them to adopt small changes. According to her, feedback has been heartening.

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LIVING IN DOHA "The response from the children has always been fantastic. They are so enthusiastic about ways we can help, however small." Besides leading future generations, she believes that children can also positively influence the adults in their lives.

Laura has also been working on a range of child-friendly, eco-fiction books addressing different climate change issues in ageappropriate formats. She plans to distribute them to schools across Qatar from the next academic year.

In the grand scheme of things, EcoSouk may seem like a small cog in this large, ever-rotating wheel we call the world. But as Laura's story shows, the smallest actions can ripple on to have long-lasting effects. Everyone can make a difference.

CONTACT Email: info@ecosouk.org Facebook: Facebook.com/ecosoukqatar Facebook.com/groups/ecousoukcommunity Instagram: @ecosoukqatar.DF

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EDUCATION

Schools, Sustainability, and Community

By Kim Wyatt

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he past two years have undoubtedly been challenging. Still, living through a pandemic has taught the world a much-needed lesson: the importance of community. We discovered ways to maintain our relationships with family and friends despite endless stretches of isolation, online schooling, and social restrictions. Virtual meetings and video calls became our lifeline to the outside world as our social lives became increasingly limited. Now, as the world slowly recovers, we're returning to familiar routines, places, and faces. We're dusting off the Covid cobwebs and starting to reengage with our lives and communities.

For many schools in Qatar, community activities form an essential part of promoting health, well-being, and purpose. Often a collaborative effort between students, parents, and teachers, they offer a chance to engage in activities that foster cooperation, understanding, and responsibility. They also create exciting opportunities for exploration, creativity, and problem-solving.

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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EDUCATION

Guiding Green Thumbs Sustainability has become a hot topic throughout the world. In Qatar, many schools are actively encouraging students to become responsible global citizens. At Qatar Academy Sidra (QAS), part of Qatar Foundation's (QF's) Pre-University Education, a sustainability project has literally grown from the ground up.

The school garden, created by students and teachers of the QAS Science and Sustainability Club, is a riveting success. Spearheaded by Neema Saleem, a science technician and agriculturist, and Jaseena Faisal, an MYP teacher, the two passionate gardeners have inspired a new generation. They've even piqued the interest of parents. "Our students adore gardening. They thoroughly enjoy the sessions and always look for more outdoor experiences. Some students have started their own gardens at home. Parents have expressed their appreciation towards our initiatives and are always very supportive," says Neema.

The school garden offers students ages 11 to 17 a chance for practical hands-on experience.

They can prepare soil, sow seeds, water and prune plants, add fertilisers, and harvest produce. Pre-Covid, the garden supplied the school cafeteria with fresh veggies and herbs.

"Our supply of garden produce educated and encouraged our students to eat healthily.

Students learnt the value of growing their food, respecting nature, and getting involved in activities to protect the planet," explains Neema. She also shares that the school's passion for gardening and growing food has led it to adopt UNESCO's Garden Based Learning (GBL) as one of its integrated learning projects. The project aims to provide real-life experiences that enrich education and build community ties.

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To create the garden, students and teachers found a suitable location, created a budget, and planned its layout. They sewed crops such as cabbage, lettuce, and broccoli. Carrots and radish were grown from seeds in pots and later transplanted to the field. Organic and mixed crops helped to boost soil nutrients.

Additionally, they used most of the plant debris to supply natural organic material and create natural fertiliser. They also planted bright flowering plants such as marigold and sunflower to attract bees and insects for pollination.

EDUCATION

Lessons for Life Undoubtedly, action-based learning, such as gardening, is an important opportunity to enhance the education experience. Emma Dempsey, PE teacher and phase leader at Compass International School Doha, initially organised several sustainability workshops, which soon sparked a lot of interest. "I felt it was important to complement the academic lessons with activities that would help the planet and get our pupils away from their screens. We are lucky to have an increasing number of teachers and students eager to start sustainability intiatives," she says. To keep up with this demand, the school created a Green Fingers Extra-Curricular Activity (ECA). During this ECA, young students grow edible plants and learn the importance of plant life to the planet. Some of the older students also formed a group of eco-warriors to raise awareness of sustainability movements in Doha. Plus, parents and teachers have been invited to participate in Meat Free Mondays and to start composting at home. To promote The Global Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

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Compass worked closely with UNICEF to encourage environmental responsibility. As a result, Compass students and staff are working to reduce water consumption around the home and eradicate single-use plastic.

While saving the planet may be on many schools' agenda, Emma believes community initiatives serve a deeper purpose. "Sustainability initiatives are great for more than just saving the planet. School clubs, ECAs, and workshops bring like-minded people together and build positive relationships, boost mental wellness, and empower people to try activities such as composting. It's very powerful to know your actions are having a positive impact on someone millions of miles away, too—these sustainability initiatives improve positive global connectivity."

Neema and Jaseena agree. "The education from the garden is not just about science and botany.

Importantly, it teaches life skills too. Students acquire different skills in areas pertaining to personal, academic, vocational, social, moral, and community development," says Jaseena.

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EDUCATION

Connecting Communities Beyond the campus, schools are joining community-based initiatives that promote local sustainability and environmental protection.

Beach clean-ups have become extremely popular in Qatar. Several groups, including Doha Environmental Action Project (DEAP) and Seashore Group, organise weekend projects to collect plastic pollution and #KeepQatarClean.

Moreover, Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), a non-profit organisation and member of QF, organises Qatar Sustainability Week. This yearly public programme offers workshops, discussions, and activities to encourage sustainable development by engaging the community. And now that Covid restrictions are lessening, schools are looking forward to

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increasing their collaborations. "We're very excited that school trips will be allowed again so we can join community initiatives such as beach cleaning," says Emma.

As sustainability initiatives grow in popularity, an increasing number of schools are actively creating their own and are branching out to support the wider community. This creates opportunities for all members of society to strengthen personal connections, share knowledge, and utilise practical skills to help preserve the environment. Ultimately, efforts to make the world a healthier, more connected place are sorely needed as it recovers from the pandemic's effects. DF

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EDUCATION

Digital Native Creates Change Offline

M

odern life is increasingly digitised, and with the advent of social media, some have expressed concerns about today's youth prioritising online presence over "real-life" connections. Despite

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this, many youngsters defy those stereotypes and make waves in their communities.

Claudia Cojocea speaks to Stella Bianchi, a Doha-based year 12 student who has been harnessing her passion for social change.

EDUCATION C: Firstly, what motivates you?

S: I would say that the biggest motive for me is a desire to contribute to the betterment of the community. I want to be part of a community that prioritises and cares for the well-being of all its members and the environment. This has inspired me to take the initiative to create change. There are so many ways we can improve, and I believe that many issues must be addressed. For example, people struggle to balance their work and school lives with their personal and social lives. This has a negative impact on their mental well-being. I have witnessed this through the people around me and experienced it myself, which has motivated me to create a project to promote self-care and a balanced lifestyle.

I am also very aware of the climate crisis. This has motivated me to educate people on the importance of looking after the environment and making more sustainable decisions.

C: I could see from your volunteering work that you lead with your own ideas. How do you generally come up with them and put them to action?

S: I usually find a group of people to brainstorm and discuss ideas with. I always set up a leadership team when conducting my projects so that plenty of ideas can be carried through.

Additionally, I like to do some research online to find examples to inspire me. I also think it's important to involve the entire community when brainstorming. For Sustainability Week and Well-being Month, I created many surveys to send out to my community at school to receive feedback and ideas for activities and events.

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

C: I'd like to go back in time and find out more about how you got started. When did you discover your passion for community well-being, and how important is it now for you to contribute?

S: I discovered my passion for community well-being after my first few experiences as a volunteer. I have always been passionate about helping people. When I was around 12, I joined a service program at my school and discovered how much I enjoyed service work, especially when it was related to the community. At 13, I created my first well-being project. It involved educating my school community about physical health and included various activities such as wellness walks.

C: And how long have you been in Qatar? Is it easy to get involved in these activities here?

S: I've lived in Qatar for most of my life, and I consider it my home. I would say that it has always been easy for me to get involved in service actions, as people such as my parents and teachers have always been supportive. I have always been encouraged by others to create new projects and have received help from those around me when organising activities and events.

C: What are the benefits of volunteering, and how do they impact your life?

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EDUCATION S: Volunteering has many benefits, and it has had a significant positive impact on my life.

It provides me with a sense of purpose—I have a goal to work towards. It also gives me a sense of community as it helps me feel a connection with the people that I am helping.

Furthermore, I am able to make new friends and meet new people. I have met many people that I would not have met if I had not participated in service projects. These projects have strengthened a lot of my friendships. I have also developed many skills through volunteering, including social and communication skills, as I have had to meet and communicate with a lot of new people and have also had to do some public speaking. I have always struggled with public speaking, but volunteering has helped me overcome this obstacle. I have also developed leadership and organisational skills by creating and organising my own service projects, as I have had to take the initiative with planning and have had to supervise volunteers. Another huge benefit is that volunteering improves self-esteem. It makes me feel a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment, which boosts my confidence. Lastly, volunteering is fun in general, and it's a great activity that helps me focus my energy on being helpful.

C: What is the biggest life lesson you have learnt from your projects?

S: The biggest life lesson I have learnt is the importance of taking things one step at a time.

It can be really stressful to start up and organise big projects, and you need a lot of planning and patience. Planning may take weeks or even months, which can be overwhelming, but the end result is always worth it. You may not see huge results immediately, but every little thing you do matters.

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C: Getting involved in social causes can expose us to very sensitive parts of life like poverty, injustice, and neglect. Still, we end up learning things about ourselves we didn't know before. Has this happened to you?

S: Yes. I realised that I should improve my behaviour and lifestyle just as much as the rest of the community. As mentioned, I have focused a lot on environmental sustainability and wellbeing projects, which have led me to rethink my own life and choices. I have learned that I need to take the things I am advocating for to heart and reshape my own behaviour when it comes to things like acting sustainably and doing more self-care to prevent anxiety and burn-out.

C: What message would you like to send to other teenagers who might be more interested in spending time on social media than engaging with their communities? What can you say to arouse their interest in social causes?

S: Although there are many ways to spend our time and energy (like being on social media), volunteering can also be very fun. It is a fulfilling use of that time and energy, and it not only benefits us as individuals but also our communities. It leads to the overall betterment of our world. Through our actions, we can inspire future generations to advance our society for the better.

EDUCATION

Expert Volunteering Tips Bosco Menezes, the founder of the local community outreach initiative #bigbmeetup, shares his top volunteering tips for people of all ages.

1. Find your interests.

2. Research local organisations and determine what skills you can offer. Popular ones include Qatar Charity, Education Above All, and Red Crescent. You can also do something different and support animal charities like PAWS and QAWS (Bosco's favourites!).

3. Consider starting your own project. Acts like

distributing meals to the underprivileged or visiting the sick and elderly in the hospital also count.

Bosco believes that volunteering can benefit kids and teens as it helps with building character and developing a sense of gratitude.

It can also be a way to make friends. So, if you or your child are looking to do a good deed and possibly meet new people, these tips might be the inspiration you need to get started. DF

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Mum's Recipes: Italian Recipes with Michela

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By Kim Wyatt

izza and pasta are undeniably two of the world's most loved dishes (and frequent family favourites!), but there's more to offer from Italian cuisine. Located in Southern Europe, Italy is divided into twenty regions, each boasting unique culinary traditions, customs, and ingredients, offering a breadbasket of gastronomic delights. From the cold snowcapped Alps in the north to the warm turquoise waters of the south, the climate varies from region to region and offers an abundant array of ingredients. Think delicious cheeses such as mascarpone and ricotta from fertile, green pastures to freshly caught seafood such as sardines and anchovies from the Mediterranean Sea. And there is so much more on offer. How can we forget iconic ingredients such as olive oil and balsamic vinegar— cupboard staples for anyone who loves Italian cuisine? Italy is truly a shining star on the culinary map.

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For Doha resident Michela, her husband Karim, and teenage daughter Asia, food is the heart of the home, as with many Italian families. "The love for Italian food was born with me. I am Italian. As a child, my father decided we had to move to the countryside for a healthier life. There, we had bees, fruit trees, and veggies. You know when honey is pure if you always had it that way!" she says.

Michela's passion for the Italian way of eating lends itself to her support of fresh, local ingredients—key components of Italian cuisine. "The main characteristic of Italian produce and products is they come from a specific place or region. That is what makes them special!

Italy has a huge variety of microclimates which is an incredible advantage for agriculture. This is what makes our products unique!

For example, butter from the Alps is very creamy and rich because the cows graze on the mountains.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Vesuvius tomatoes are incredibly tasty because of the rich volcanic soil," she shares. Michela believes that the Italian soil makes locally farmed products tasty, which, according to her, encourages healthy dietary patterns. And she might be onto something, as the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world. It's a testament to the farm-to-fork approach with its abundance of fresh, seasonal produce such as fruit, vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, legumes, and lean meats.

So, does Michela maintain her passion for locally grown produce in Qatar? "I like to buy local vegetables. Whenever I see produce from other countries, I search for the local equivalent—the produce is good, and I trust the limited usage of pesticides. We love local Tuscan kale, which is typically Italian, for salads. Recently, I've been creating jam with local dates." It seems that wherever Michela is in the world, good quality produce stays at the top of her shopping list.

Yet, for her, it takes more than great ingredients to make the perfect dish, and Italian culinary traditions directly inspire her recipe for success.

"First, the principle of Italian food is simplicity.

Ingredients should all be balanced. One ingredient should not overwhelm the others because you should taste everything. It is fundamental to the quality of the ingredients.

The beauty of Italian food is history—everything has a reason why it is done in a certain way. It is fascinating!" This respect for paredback recipes highlights another important factor: using creative methods to repurpose ingredients to whip up wholesome, hearty meals for the family. "For example, in the past, Italian people who could not afford cheese used stale bread. It was made into breadcrumbs and sprinkled on pasta. Now, this recipe has become one of my family's favourites to use leftover pasta."

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It should, therefore, be no surprise that recycling and avoiding food waste are also essential in Michela's household. "Our daughter Asia has been taught about recycling and respecting the environment. At home, I always tell her prepared food must be eaten because there are many people around the world without food".

Clearly, Michela has been keen to pass on her eco-awareness to Asia, but has she been able to do the same when it comes to an interest in Italian cuisine? "My daughter is interested in many types of food. She likes to cook pasta, bake biscuits, and prepare fast snacks like quesadillas or crostini," she says.

Food has always played a significant role in Michela's family life. Growing up, she was inspired by her mother and grandmother as she watched and learnt classic cooking techniques. Her dad was a great influence too. "Men cook too all the time. It is normal in most Italian households. So many recipes were prepared by my father".

It's easy to see how Michela's vibrant culinary background, filled with fantastic local produce and mouthwateringly simple recipes, has influenced her love for cooking, which she now shares with her own family. Without a doubt, her daughter will carry the flag for supporting local producers and ingredients. Better for health and the planet. Buon appetito!

MICHELA'S TOP TIPS 1.Reduce overspending: go to the supermarket with a shopping list.

2. Be prepared to create a meal plan for the week.

3. Make the freezer your friend—cook vegetables and store in the freezer to use at another date.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Crunchy Broccoli Stems Instead of throwing broccoli stems in the garbage, whip up this simple dish the whole family will enjoy.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Spaghetti Frittata Made with leftover pasta, Michela says this recipe is a quintessentially Italian meal of food recycling.

As a bonus, it's very simple and delicious!

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Crunchy Schiacciata with Courgette Flowers, Courgette, and Onion This traditional unleavened bread from central Italy is super simple to prepare. A great recipe to use leftover vegetables and reduce food wastage.

DF

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LIVING IN DOHA

A Helping Paw: Supporting Stray Animals

By Lisa Gay in Qatar

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ne of the more poignant scenes in Qatar is the enormous number of stray cats roaming the back streets. Many are extremely friendly, which makes their precarious situation even more heartbreaking. It's worse with stray dogs who find it harder to thrive in the local environment. Unlike most cats, they have very few survival skills.

If you've ever wondered if you could do something for those animals, this is your cue. Here are a few ways you can help Qatar's animal overpopulation problem. Some involve low effort (but still high impact) volunteer opportunities, while others are more time-intensive activities that will help bring comfort to our furry little friends.

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Become a Dog Walker or Cat Cuddler If you have ever wanted to have a dog but live in cramped quarters, you can visit an animal rescue for some puppy love. Take one of the dogs out for a walk or cuddle up with an adorable kitty. While seemingly trivial, you are helping to socialise these animals. Getting them used to humans will give them a much higher chance of finding a "forever" home with a loving family.

Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) currently has 300 animals in their shelter near Aqua Park Qatar. You don't even need to register beforehand, as they are open to drop-in visitors every Friday and Saturday afternoon. QAWS not only has dogs to walk and cats to brush, but they also have a handful of other rescue animals on-site, such as donkeys, chickens, goats, and sheep.

Paws Rescue Qatar (PAWS) used to welcome families to their shelter, but they are currently relocating. Once they find a new base of operations, they too will invite visitors to come and play with their rescue animals.

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LIVING IN DOHA

Get Behind the Wheel For both PAWS and QAWS, there is a surprisingly huge demand for drivers. Animal rescue involves a lot of ferrying cats and dogs to veterinarian clinics and picking up basic pet supplies or animal export paperwork.

They particularly need drivers during workday hours. So, if you have the odd spare morning, consider getting in touch with one of the rescue groups listed in the contact section and offer them some time on the road. "We struggle with that," says Alison Caldwell of PAWS. "[We really] need help during school hours to pick up animals at the vets!"

Become a Foster (Pup) Parent Perhaps you love the idea of dog or cat ownership, but you cannot totally commit.

Maybe you plan to move to a country with eyewateringly expensive import processes, or you know your time in Qatar will be short-term. Whatever the reason, you can register your interest in being a foster pup/cat parent with one of the many rescue groups in Qatar. First, determine the conditions under which you'd like to foster: some arrangements are very brief, perhaps just a few weeks or months. "It's never open-ended [with QAWS]. We look for foster homes for travelling animals

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that will be adopted in the UK or Europe.

They move out of the shelter and into a home while waiting for their blood test. This frees up shelter space," explains Kelly Allen of QAWS. Pregnant or nursing cats will also need a safe, quiet space for a limited number of months— usually just until the kittens are ready to be adopted.

Offer Your Skills Many new arrivals to Doha are trailing spouses who have left rewarding careers to follow their husband or wife to Qatar. If you fit that bill and have in-demand skills, consider offering them to animal groups on a volunteer basis. For instance, volunteers with a graphic design background are needed to help make posters advertising upcoming events or adoptable pets. Likewise, if you have amazing photography skills, consider helping snap pictures of rescue cats and dogs. "We always need help with photography. Taking cute, nonblurry photos is hard!" admits Kelly.

Recently, , PAWS,has organised pub quizzes and 80s nights, so if you are an experienced events planner or have the time to assist with logistics, get in touch.

"We always need people to help run fundraisers," says Alison,"there's just not enough volunteers for our events!"

LIVING IN DOHA

Be a Flight Buddy Expats in Qatar are a jet-setting bunch—always coming and going from (often multiple) home countries. If you are flying somewhere at a relatively relaxed pace with no tight layovers, get in touch with an animal rescue to see if they can use your ticket to send one of their pets abroad.

This might seem like a strange request. However, the reality in Qatar is that the number of stray animals in need of good homes far outstrips the supply. That is why so many rescue groups have increasingly sought adopters living abroad. Direct flights to American cities are especially prized by cat rescuers (where, for the moment, rescue dogs are banned).

European destinations like Amsterdam in the Netherlands and bigger cities in Germany and France are also heavily used by cat and dog rescuers. Even places further afield like the Philippines are looking for "flight buddies", so do check to see if any rescue could use your spot. Often, you can contact just one rescue with your flight plans, and they'll put the word out effectively through their tight-knit community. This is how it works: the animal rescue will book an animal on the flight using your ticket details. Then, they will arrange all the paperwork and deliver the animal to the airport themselves. As a flight buddy, all you need to do is walk the animal through customs to a volunteer group waiting on the other end.

This beats lounging around an airport cafe anytime.

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Spay/Neuter Community Strays Bunnies are notorious for multiplying rapidly, but we think cats are somehow more productive. Left alone, a breeding pair of cats and their surviving kittens can reach 10,000 individuals in just five years! Unfortunately, there are far too many cats and not enough homes for them. It's heartbreaking, but there's quite a lot you can do to improve their situation.

TNR Qatar is a volunteer group that tries to solve the cat overpopulation problem in a humane way. They organise trap-neuterreturn (TNR) activities for their managed cat colonies across Doha. TNR refers to a practice of trapping cats with special cages, sterilising them, and then returning them to "managed" colonies that are looked after by a volunteer or nearby resident. Post-surgery, they are given a characteristic tip on the left ear to let other rescuers know which cats have already been fixed. This is considered a humane method of animal control, as the numbers of a managed colony will slowly dwindle by the year. Trapping activities will occasionally have to be repeated to catch newcomers to the colony.

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LIVING IN DOHA Volunteers are needed to help trap and transport cats to vet clinics for sterilisation.

Alternatively, you can help feed the cat colonies overseen by TNR Qatar. Even just a couple of spare mornings or evenings during the week would be highly appreciated, so get in touch to see if there's a managed colony near your home or place of work.

Go Solo You can also help cats closer to home by organising TNR activities with your neighbours.

But before you start grabbing cats, it is highly recommended to consult with TNR Qatar, as they can provide expert guidance on how to do it right. Olga Piven, a solo cat rescuer, followed their advice on meeting with building management. After she and TNR Qatar met with facility management, they handed out printed sheets in Arabic explaining their plans for the compound's cats. They received permission to do TNR, and Olga and her fellow residents managed to trap and sterilise an astonishing 100 cats.

With TNR, you'll quickly see changes such as quieter nights due to the lack of aggressive fighting and reduced squawking from cats in heat. In time, you'll also notice the compound cats looking calmer and healthier.

Plus, it's just nice to see the same friendly kitty faces when you come

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home from work or school pickup.

That said, during your time in Qatar, you will likely come across a distressed cat or dog.

While you may have success contacting an animal rescue, there is no guarantee they will be able to help with resources stretched so thin. For the best chance of survival, take the animal to a vet clinic immediately. Don't just upload a picture to Facebook and hope for the best, as it will often be too late.

Even if you're afraid you'll get "stuck" with an animal, don't give up, urges Olga. The animal rescue community is extremely supportive and ready to help newbies. If you feel overwhelmed caring for an animal, reach out for advice. Keep sharing the animal's special story online, and point out their adorably unique characteristics. That way, you might just find a new home for your rescue among your friendship circle. Just make sure they are trustworthy individuals who understand the responsibilities of pet ownership!

A Final Word So many expats left Qatar during the pandemic, with few arrivals to replace them.

This has left many volunteer groups with a serious shortage. Now that restrictions are

LIVING IN DOHA easing, please consider using your free time to help make Doha a better place for both the human and four-legged communities.

Contact Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) qaws.org 5539-6074 facebook.com/qaws.org

Paws Rescue Qatar (PAWS)

pawsrescueqatar.org hello@pawsrescueqatar.org facebook.com/pawsrescueqatar

TNR Qatar

tnrqatar.com tnrqatar@gmail.com facebook.com/TNRQatar

2nd Chance Rescue - Qatar

2ndchancerescuedoha.qatar@gmail.com facebookcom/2ndchancerescueqatar

Kimmy Clarkson (flight buddies) facebook.com/kimmy.clarkson.1

BarkinQ

5573-2144 facebook.com/barkinQ. DF

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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Teen Talks: Community Support By: Zainab Hussain, age 13, Al Khor international school

I

think everyone can contribute to social development through volunteering if they want to bring a positive change to society. There is a very human aspect to the problems facing people around the world, and it needs to be properly understood and appreciated. There are challenges like poverty, injustice, violence, unemployment, educational issues, and disability.

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During my last visit to Pakistan, I learnt that my grandmother voluntarily opened up her backyard to women from her village. They would come there to sew and embroider clothes. After that, some boys would volunteer to take those clothes to sell them in cities and return to give them the money. I was really impressed with those boys' acts of kindness.

I also noticed that those women would bring their children to play. One day, I asked those children whether they go to school and which schools they go to. They told me that they could not afford to go to school. This made me feel really sad and bad for them, so I decided to do something.

FAMILY MATTERS After my uncle finished his exams, he was no longer busy and could help. So I asked him for ideas to help those children. He told me that we could build a small school for them. I thought that this was an excellent idea and that we should implement it. So I started planning. I talked to some of our family friends, and they all wanted to help, too. They donated some books, and we also bought some from the market. We also bought stationery. Then we took a small corner of the backyard and put tables and chairs so that the children could come and learn. In a few days, the setup was complete, and we had built a small classroom. So we invited the children to study, and they were all so surprised and excited.

My uncle, siblings, friends, relatives, and I taught those children many subjects, including maths, science, and English. The kids were really happy, and they were very intuitive. I learned that they all were good at their studies and were fast learners, but they never got the chance to show it. In a few days, the maids that came to the houses nearby sent their children, which made us feel really happy. My grandmother was really happy and proud, and so were all of the mothers, and they thanked us all. We told them that this was our job. From that day on, we taught the kids and even gave them prizes and awards.

This is just one example of the many ways we can help others. This was just a small act of charity, but many small actions can have a big effect when they come together. We can help everyone, one at a time. All it takes is a little bit of kindness and motivation. We can make this world a better place—not just for others but also for us. We can reach this goal together as a community. DF

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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Staying Green: An Expat Family's Path to Sustainability

By Leena Bathia

Simple Living Before moving to Qatar, we, as British-Indians, had been life-long UK residents. There, sustainability was an integral part of our lives and those of our community.

In a typical kitchen, you would see an uneven line-up of reused glass jars storing lentils, pulses, and spices. Family members also consistently passed on children's clothes. Children would also play with items available in the home, like tins and cotton reels. They were also encouraged to play outdoors, in rain or shine.

I

t can be extremely challenging as a family to go from living in a place where sustainability is ingrained in daily life to uprooting to a completely different environment. It requires strong commitment and responsibility from at least one adult to consistently lead and guide the family regardless of the changing circumstances.

A move abroad can lead to adapting to a new lifestyle and forgetting how we used to live.

Although being adaptable is an essential skill, it should not lead us to discard our core values.

For our family, sustainability is one of them.

A new home and environment need to be viewed from a fresh perspective. So, when it comes to sustainability, you might need to focus on implementing smaller solutions while adjusting to your new surroundings. Here's how our family did it when we moved to Qatar.

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Our recycling and wastage system was also very advanced. For nearly two decades now, local councils in England have supplied every household with a compost bin and three separate bins for recyclables, garden waste, and general waste (for landfill). It is also common to find recycling bins close to public spaces. Additionally, supermarkets tax single-use plastic bags while promoting biodegradable or reusable carrier bags.

Sustainable solutions go a while back in the UK. Decades ago, a fridge would contain glass bottles of fresh milk delivered daily by the local milkman. As you would only be able to obtain what you needed, wastage was minimal.

Like many households, we also had our own garden where we would plant and grow all year round with our children.

FAMILY MATTERS We also habitually repurposed kitchen items for cleaning and medical purposes. For instance, we used lemon juice as a kitchen sink cleaner and gargled warm salt water to treat sore throats. These solutions helped us reduce our packaging use, and we considered them to be healthier for our bodies and home environment. Implementing the three Rs— reduce, reuse, and recycle—was almost second nature.

Adapting But Remaining Rooted When we arrived in Doha in 2017, my initial reaction was, "how much plastic?!". My workplace offered an endless supply of plastic water bottles to staff and visitors, and supermarkets gave several carrier bags for a handful of items.

The recycling system was also limited compared to what we were used to.

We immediately noticed that the Doha lifestyle provided many of its residents and citizens with a convenient and minimally stressfree life, which is wonderful in many ways.

However, convenience can negatively affect the environment if we are not mindful.

So, we took matters into our own hands. We located our nearest recycling point and set up a waste organising system within our home.

We took our own bags to the supermarket and Spring 2022 | Issue 21

attended the local farmers' market to buy fruits and vegetables. We also carried our own water bottles for refilling and refrained from buying plastic bottles or at least tried to avoid using them whenever possible.

Additionally, we taught our children to pick up any rubbish they saw and place it in the nearest bin or, better still, take it away for recycling.

We also limited our household water use and reserved unused water for our plants.

Moreover, our family time consisted of nature walks to engage our children with the environment, watching earth-related documentaries, and reading nature-themed books. We hoped that exposing them to as much eco-conscious material as possible and linking them to our daily activities would help them become environmentally aware.

These were the steps we took to ensure that our core values stayed as intact as possible during our settling period.

National Drive Since then, Qatar has come a long way. The development of sustainable cities like Lusail and Msheireb, green transport initiatives, and a large-scale solar power plant, plus the green movements cropping up throughout the country, are all examples of that. Hopefully, there is more to come, with environmental development being one of the Qatar National Vision 2030 pillars. It has been very exciting to see something vital to us represented as a national goal.

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Our Professional Lives

What You Can Do

As parents, my husband and I take the task of educating and ingraining sustainability in our children very seriously. After all, we are equipping them with tools to serve themselves and their future communities.

There are many actions households in Qatar can take to live more sustainably. For starters, as frequently moving home is common in Qatar, consider reusing boxes and donating them to the next person. Boxes are also great alternatives to plastic containers to store kitchen and household items and toys. Once you are completely done with them, take them to one of the many recycling collection points around.

The same is true when it comes to our roles as nursery founders. For this reason, we have pledged to run our nursery sustainably by recycling, reusing, composting, growing fruits/ vegetables, and planting trees.

As individuals who are passionate about sustainability and early years development, it gives us great delight to combine the two and apply our ethos and practices on a larger scale. We hope that this will lead us to have a more significant positive impact on our communities and the world.

It's a common misconception that you cannot grow plants without a garden. The truth is, you only need a small balcony or window with good sunlight to grow herbs or vegetables. So, find your green thumb and give it a go!

Another step you can take is attaching a water filter to your kitchen tap for drinking water. This reduces waste and saves money in the long run because bottled water—whether from individual bottles or large dispenser ones—impacts the environment because of the processing and transporting it requires.

There are also many environmentally-friendly ways to keep your children entertained. You can encourage them to write and draw on 56

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scrap paper, which can be used to origami or create paper aeroplanes. They can also do other activities with household materials like making coloured rice and coloured water in glasses or constructing vehicles and houses out of boxes and decorating them. Better still, take them outdoors—it's nature's playground!

Sustainability can also include helping others, so pay it forward by donating clothes and any items you no longer need. You can turn this into a fun opportunity to bond with your family while planting a seed in your little ones that will inspire them to do the same in the future.

All in all, sustainability is not just something one does—it's a way of life that we can all adopt.

Family Eco Tips for Qatar Newbies • Encourage your children to recycle by having separate boxes for paper, plastic, and glass.

• Produce your own compost.

•If you need a hand, visit gardening workshops.

Hadiqaa, a local gardening organisation, offers courses and online resources.

• Get your children involved with planting and growing vegetables.

• Take them to visit the Al Meera recycling robot. You get loyalty points for every item you feed him!

• Enjoy children's gardening activities at Torba Store/Market or Maktaba Children's Library, where they also have daily activities.

• Take regular family visits outside Doha to Purple Island, Zekreet, Heenat Salma farm, and other nature-rich places.

• Join beach clean-ups.

• Share and start a swap rotation of books with friends instead of buying new ones. You can even join a library (our family favourite is Maktaba!).

• Stay up-to-date by joining Facebook groups, especially ones for your local area. DF

Spring 2022 | Issue 21

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