Oman Pride 2018 by Muscat Media Group

2018 Inspiring Stories from the Sultanate

oman pride

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There have been far too many stories of hope, charity, bravery, excellence, and passion over the last two years of #OmanPride to contain in the pages of this book. The stories we do tell are representative of so many others doing good around the Sultanate. On these pages, we honor nearly a thousand such people who have made it into the column, and we hope to continue to expand this list of names as we continue to share the good news stories that take place every day in our beautiful country.

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inside

What is #OmanPride? >p6

Children & Young Adults >p38

Sports & Athletics >p12

Academics & Education >p22

Health & Wellness >p30

Arts & Culture >p46

Business >p54

Giving Back >p62

Ten Superstarts >p70

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Published by Muscat Media Group AN ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED COMPANY Post Box: 770, Postal Code: 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman Printing Oriental Printing Press

Founder Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali

Editor Charles Lavery charles@timesofoman.com Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell felicia@timesofoman.com Arabic translation Khaled Taha

Inspiring Stories from the Sultanate

Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2039; richard@timesofoman.com Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphics Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Production Manager Shafi Shaik EDITORIAL 24726600/24726666 Ext 214 scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com ADVERTISEMENT 24726600/24726666 exT 435/193 richard@timesofoman.com CIRCULATION 24726600/24726666 Ext 135/136 circulation@timesofoman.com

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Proud to Live, Work, and Create in the Sultanate The series #OmanPride began almost two years ago, when we here at Muscat Media Group realized that there is a whole lot of good news that goes unreported or under-reported in this sensational country. The values of charity, teamwork, humility, innovation, and excellence seem to be infectious in Oman, with locals and expatriates alike exhibiting these characteristics in their professional and personal pursuits. We have told hundreds of stories since the series began, on everything from the accomplishments of local artists to the visionary leadership of business moguls. Here we highlight the stories of athletes, children, educators, healthcare professionals, cultural icons, philanthropists, volunteers, business men and women, and ten all-around superstars. Our hope is that these stories inspire you to create your own positive impact, and that they fill your heart with pride in the great people who call this blessed land home.

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Social Investments

ocial responsibility is one of contemporary social life pillars and an important factor in the economic and social development of societies. In this context, Orpic has endeavoured to integrate roles

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and strengthen its relations with the local community through the establishment of a relationship based on respect and responsibility. It adopted the social investment policy within its current and future plan to contribute to the sustainable development of the country through projects and social development programme in several fields. Also, through Jusoor Foundation, Orpic social investment arm, which carries out other projects as well. MAJOR CSR PROJECTS Orpic International Scholarship Programme As part of our core value, it has been Orpicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endeavour to invest in young Omani students who we believe are the future of the nation. With this in mind, Orpic has undertaken a distinctive programme - Orpic International Scholarship Programme. The programme is

designed to prepare young Omanis to take on leadership roles and contribute effectively towards Oman’s progress. The programme calls for students from North Al Batinah Governorate to benefit from the scholarships provided based on particular criteria. Once applications are received, screening of candidates is carried out by Takatuf Scholars Programme and selected students are offered international scholarships for two years in a preparatory school followed by another 3 to 4 years for Bachelor Degree in one of the leading universities around the world. Internship Programme Orpic provides opportunities for On Job Training for college and university students from various disciplines. This programme is monitored by the Learning and Development department. The company believes in the importance of practical experience and not only focusing on

the theoretical side. The On Job Training is considered as a bridge between academic education and the real work to develop the skills of students and qualify them to be able to get a job in the future. There are two types of training offered by the company: the winter internship programme which is in March and April, and the summer training programme which is in June and July of each year. Assisted Scholarships Programme Orpic’s joint venture with Sohar Aluminium in Al Batinah International School (ABIS) has been formalised with ABIS LLC being incorporated. The project expansion is at 65% complete with two more buildings being commissioned in August 2017. The Global Section has further been opened to grade 5 from this academic year, with an increased emphasis on English, Arabic and Islamic studies with the aim of helping children grow into Oman’s leaders of tomorrow. Orpic

further implemented a scholarship programme with 49 Omani children from the region benefiting, with an expected 12-15 new scholarships being awarded yearly for the next near future. Children Exploration Centre Investment Amount: OMR 180,000 The Children Exploration Center is the first of its kind edutainment centre in Sohar. It has a unique design that suits kids, helps them to understand the world

around them, interact and gain knowledge through play. The Children’s Exploration Centre is one of the most important facilities within Falaj Public Park which was funded by Orpic in collaboration with Sohar Municipality and inaugurated in August 2016. Orpic continues to implement the exploration centre on a built-up area of 650 m2 in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development, which will supervise the project in its operational phase and appoint specialised staff to ensure the sustainability of the center. Also, the construction work was assigned to one of the local contractors with maps and drawings of the centre which had been approved by Sohar Municipality. Liwa Cultural Centre Investment Amount: OMR 1,000,000 Liwa Cultural Center is the main interface in Liwa that will provide a range of

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services and cultural programme for all members of society to raise community cultural awareness, support talents and youth through organising cultural activities and programme as well as creating a healthy environment where youth can develop their potential and national identity. The centre is a result of fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture who will manage the project after its opening to ensure the sustainability of its components and sections including Planetarium, Public Library, Innovation Centre and Museum Multi-purpose hall coffee shop and commercial frontage in a total area of 2,750 square meters Liwa Public Park Partnership with Sohar Aluminium Investment Amount: OMR 400,000 Public parks are the lungs of the cities by virtue of its expansive greenery and the fresh air it provides. In addition, it provides integrated recreational facilities to all family members. Orpic in cooperation with the Directorate General of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources in North Al Batinah have established this important project in a total area of 66,000 square meters. The park is also equipped with all the necessary equipment such as children’s games and specialised games for children with special needs. Also, walkway, rock garden which includes different types of rock and many other facilities. The park’s unique location will attract a large number of visitors and beneficiaries by organising recreational, sports and cultural activities as it is located at mid-distance between the wilayat centre and the new residential area which is close to the mountain villages. Investment Buildings of Sohar, Al Salam and Majis clubs Partnership with Sohar Aluminium Investment Amount: 700,000 OMR The sports clubs are one of the most important institutions for youth and the whole society as it plays an effective role in the society through organising various events either sports, cultural, educational or awareness programme that target all society members. These buildings aim to support and develop the local teams and provide a sustainable income that contributes to club activities through the monthly return out of 56 shops and 16 apartments in these buildings. The investment buildings of Sohar, Liwa and Shinas are handed over to the management of the clubs while the construction work agreement of Majees Club is assigned to one of the local contractors.

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Major Community Engagement Orpic Award for Educational Excellence “Orpic Award for Educational Excellence” was launched in 2016 in cooperation with the General Directorate of Education in North Al Batinah for schools in North Al Batinah region targeting more than 106,317 students. The idea of the award is to create an integrated educational evaluation system to encourage schools to achieve outstanding educational performance. Orpic’s investment in education is part of its value in reinforcing the leading performance and

serving Oman with pride. The award aims to: • Motivate schools to achieve higher educational performance • Raise the spirit of educational competition between schools in all fields and in a complementary way • Contribute in strengthening the quality of educational performance • Achieve educational partnership between the school and local community institutions. • Increase the performance level of students • Achieve the highest rates of educational competition between schools to reach creditable results at local and international level. Orpic Cup Football is played by hundreds and millions of people around the world. It is more than just a game. It is a strong medium that breaks down social boundaries like nothing else in the world and connects people from different cultures together. “Orpic Cup” is a football initiative launched in cooperation with the General Directorate of Sports Affairs in North Al Batinah targeting the third and fourth place winners of “Promote Your Team” contest for 12 local teams in the governorate. This initiative aims to strengthen the relationship with the local teams, create sports competitive atmosphere for youth, encourage talents, and provide indirect support to the community through local teams. Orpic Regatta Heritage is an essential part of the national identity and handing it to the future generation is our collective responsibility. Therefore, Orpic organised a regatta for traditional boats in collaboration with the General Directorate of Sports Affairs in North Al Batinah. The race witnessed a wide participation from boat owners across various categories. A family festival accompanied the Regatta including a number of activities like traditional and modern beach games, children competitions, traditional musical bands and maritime exhibition of fishing tools used by Omanis in ancient times. Social Initiatives and Investments In addition to the major CSR initiatives and projects investments and part of its effort in fulfilling the duty of good corporate citizenship, Orpic invests in funding social initiatives to improve the quality of life in communities around us. The following chart indicate the field distribution of the investment by the mid of 2017.

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Sports and Athletics From Olympic competitors to trail-blazing sports figures, Oman has a lot to be proud of when it comes to athleticism. Here we highlight a group of Omanis and expatriates who are shaping athletics not only in the Sultanate, but also in the region. We talk to the Middle East’s first all-female sailing team, the coach who helped build the career of the country’s greatest footballer, the man who introduced volleyball to the region, a cricket star grooming Oman’s national team for greatness, and an Olympic runner. What they all share, besides physical prowess, is a huge sense of national pride, and a humility that is one of the Sultanate’s most beautiful attributes.

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Saud Bahwan Group: In Harmony with Society

t Saud Bahwan Group (SBG), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are initiated to positively impact people and society. SBG’s interpretation of being a good corporate citizen goes beyond contribution of resources. It entails dis-

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playing a high level of sensitivity to the operating environment, while giving back to the society in numerous ways. Chairman, Mohammed Saud Bahwan is a strong believer in supporting socially relevent causes and assisting the less fortunate in society. The Group has continued to rigorously adhere to his unique brand of socially responsible policies and practices, for many decades. Under his leadership, several projects have been developed across Oman including homes for the needy, Oman’s first Institute for the Blind, Centre for Children with Special Needs, Child Care Centre, National Heart Centre, Oncology Wards and Day Care Centre, National Diabetic and Endocrine Centre, Children’s Public Library and the Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque.

Apart from this, SBG is extremely conscious of national goals. The vital national priority of Omanisation is a prime commitment for the Group. In its unique manner, SBG has focused not merely on employing Omanis, but making them the beneficiaries of comprehensive training and learning programmes. Many innovative schemes further enhance their work ethics, generating high performance standards and

fulfilling careers. Also in line with national priorities, Saud Bahwan Group has encouraged the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises by constantly awarding annual contracts and high value jobs in a variety of areas, which include logistics, civil engineering and associated activities, tools and equipment, packaging material, maintenance & housekeeping – to name just a few. The Group also sponsors and enthusiastically supports several national level events, such as the Muscat Festival, which showcases the culture and heritage of the country. And is actively involved in many other projects. Saud Bahwan Group believes in the interconnectedness of the success of the company and a strong society. This corporate philosophy serves to further its socially responsible policies and practices.

Oman’s First All-Women Sailing Team

eet Ibtisam Al Salmi, Marwa Al Khaifi and Tamdhur Al Balushi. The trio is part of Oman’s first all women sailing team, which will be taking part in the Sailing Arabia tournament. The tournament will begin in Muscat on February 13 and end in Dubai on March 1, after making stops at Sohar, Khasab, Doha and Abu Dhabi. Thirty teams, each comprising eight members, are expected to take part in the race. Ibtisam and her teammates are part of Oman’s first ever all-women sailing team. “Right now, our priority is to have more women in our team so

that we are ready for next month’s race,” said Ibtisam, who has been part of Oman Sail since 2011. “We are trying to inspire more women to take up sailing as a sport because Oman still does not have a strong culture of women as sailors. “I joined Oman Sail after finishing my studies at Oman Tourism College and went sailing on an off chance one day,” added the 26-year-old. “I loved it so much that I wanted to make a career out of it.” While Ibtisam has been part of Oman Sail for a long time, her teammates only joined a couple of years ago. Marwa Al Khaifi, who is 32 years old, was a professional handball player for seven years and had even won the National Cup, while 22-year-old Tamdhur Al Balushi was an accomplished horse rider who won a GCC Silver Medal in 2015. “We all like to be outdoors,” said Ibtisam, speaking on behalf of the trio. “For us, sailing on the sea and facing the challenges of nature and the competition of the race is not dangerous but an adven-

ture. We enjoy it every single day. “It’s good to have such a great team around you. We’re all like one family and we support each other all the time.” Although the training that Ibtisam, Marwa and Tamdhur undergo is extremely strenuous, it is the passion for the sea that burns within them, inspiring them to train with such dedication. They are currently at the Musannah Race Week, which runs from January 15 to 21. The event is organised by Oman Sail, which has brought coaches from several nations to train their sailors. “We train from 9am to 6pm and then we have a debriefing and sessions where we discuss our tactics for the race and how we can do better next time,” revealed Ibtisam. “After that, we have our stretching exercises because when we are on the boat, we are in a position where we are constantly hanging off the edge of the boat to balance it. It is something very painful for our thighs, back and stomach,

but I wouldn’t give this up for anything because it is my passion and I love it. It’s impossible to put into words what we feel and we all want to do this for as long as possible.” “My parents were very surprised when I told them I wanted to take up sailing full-time because this is a very extreme profession and something completely different from what many women do in Oman. The culture of women taking up sailing has not quite set in here yet,” she added. “But now, every day, after training, my parents ask me what I did that day and how I learnt from it.” The three dream of representing the Sultanate at the Olympics. “To wear the shirt with the national symbol of Oman is a matter of great pride for all of us,” said Ibtisam. “It is an honour to represent our country at the Olympics and we are sure we will get there one day. Many of my friends are always curious about what I do. I want to take them there with me, not just as supporters, but as teammates.” —GautamViswanathan

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Shihab Al Riyami Brings Volleyball to Oman

tall man with a warm demeanour and an energetic aura walked towards us and introduced himself as Shihab Al Riyami, the first international volleyball instructor in Oman. Al Riyami is an internationally certified volleyball coach, who has been training students at the Sultan Qaboos University for the last 15 years. What makes Al Riyami different from the other coaches is the fact that he takes the word professional very seriously and has dedicated a huge chunk of his life to the development of the sport in the nation. “I’ve taken 25 courses in volleyball worldwide and have travelled to different countries, including the GCC, China, United States, Sri Lanka, and many more.” Talking about the potential of volleyball in Oman, Al Riyami said Oman is still a young country and there is a long way to go. “However, volleyball is the second biggest sport in the country after football, he added. “Volleyball is the second most popular game in Oman after football because it is low-cost, and uses easier equipment.” The main problem, according to Al Riyami, is the lack of volleyball coaches in the country. “We have only seven to eight (professional) coaches.” Most coaches in Oman aren’t certified, trained or professional. Al Riyami became Oman’s first international volleyball instructor in 2008 and is also the second trained volleyball instructor in Asia. But he has taken it upon himself to give the country a few well qualified coaches so that the 160 players in the country can be converted to a few thousands, who are all receiving the training they deserve. “I’m also going to conduct courses for

coaches to give them a licence. Now I’m a member of the general committee for the Sultan Qaboos Sports Academy. We are trying to build fundamentals and infrastructure for qualified coaches. It is going to be a local coaching and educational programme. Al Riyami has already written two books on volleyball and is currently working on his third book. His first book was about problems the sport faces in Oman for which he met hundreds of people and took 75 interviews. “The first book was about the obstacles and challenges facing volleyball in Oman; comparing it with Bahrain and Qatar, and focusing on themes, such as government vision, media, clubs, and players’ knowledge.”

The second book is about a coach education programme on which he has worked ardently for over five years. Being experienced himself and having undertaken so many courses across the world, Al Riyami can well understand the significance of a full-fledged coach training programme in the Sultanate. The third book that he is currently working on is a little more scientific and is related to fitness, oxygen consumption by players, and looks at practice and game time oxygen levels that can enhance performance. With someone so dedicated and motivated, and who has given his heart and soul to the game, looks like volleyball will have a great future in the Sultanate. — Shruthi Nair

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Coach Duleep Mendis’ Passion for Omani Cricket

nside his softly-lit Oman Cricket Board (OCB) workplace, tucked in the busy Ruwi neighbourhood, Duleep Louis Rohan Duleep Mendis or commonly known as Duleep Mendis is a relaxed man. “We tell them, we don’t have anything at stake. We will go with a positive mind. The pressure will be on the big teams instead,” Mendis told Times of Oman while describing the stress on strong teams when facing unseeded nations in high-voltage cricket games, such as the World Cup. Just a few months ago in Dublin when Oman batsman Zeeshan Siddiqui hit a Namibian bowler for four over long-off, it not only ended the chase but secured Oman a berth in the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India in March, 2016. The victory also se-

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cured the Gulf nation a T20 international status for the next four years. The team is now gearing up for the big cricket event. Thanks to the former Sri Lankan captain and the current Oman cricket coach Duleep Mendis, honing local cricketers’ skills is ultimately paying off. “After this memorable win, we wanted ICC (International Cricket Council) to come forward and help us arrange some cricket games at higher level in preparation for the world cup. We played some games in the UAE in which the boys gained lots of experience,” says the short, grey-haired and broad-shouldered coach, with recurrent smiles. “But I do not want my players to peak early. It has to be a gradual process because the tournament is still months away,” he added quickly. While the team has just returned from the UAE, the players will be training in Muscat till December 19 and then the team will fly to India’s Rajkot for another 10 days where they will play six matches (T20) “to adapt the conditions”. Back in Oman, the cricket board plans to train its players till the end of January 2016 before heading to India for more cricket. “From India we will go to Bangladesh for Asia Cup T20 qualifiers and then we will come back to India for the World T20 tourney. There will be lots of cricket to be played in run up to the ICC T20 event,” the 63-year-old coach says. Between the interview Mendis’ phone rings and there is a brief chat over

a struggling bowler with the caller. As he drops the handset, Mendis immediately talks about the bowlers and hiring new coaches on brief stints with the team. “We’ve got a fast bowling coach, a fielding coach and a spin bowling coach who will be with us in India. There will be a physical training coach too. They will do short stints of about two weeks each,” he says. Mendis was himself a specialist batsman who captained Sri Lanka to their first Test series victory in 1985. Apart from his brief career (1982-89) in the international cricket, he also successfully managed the winning Sri Lankan team in 1996 ICC ODI world cup. “Besides cricket, one needs to be mentally tough. I am trying to develop the same attitude in our players who have their confidence soaring since the historic win in Scotland,” he says. The players are being prepared for both night and day conditions even as the ICC hasn’t yet released the entire schedule. “We still don’t know if it’s going to be a day-night affair. The ICC hasn’t given us the list of venues and the timings. But we are preparing them for any condition,” he says, adding “the bulk of the team will be same though there might be one or two changes.” Mendis seeks more help from Oman sports ministry saying “The government has gone an extra mile to help perk up cricket in the country. We see more funds coming in.” Work on infrastructure and better

facilities to promote cricket, he says, has already begun. Before Oman went to play in Scotland, the players trained on a single green ground. Mendis says there is another turf facility at Barka (a coastal city in northern Oman) coming up. At Al Amerat green ground, ten turf wickets, side wickets and nearly twelve side nets are coming up, he says. “In the main ground, the flood lights have been fixed as well. By the end of next year we will be fully equipped,” he adds. Duleep Mendis’ brain child of National Youth Development Teams is also looking for expansion into other provinces. “That plan is working well for us. Players are participating in the tournament and they are doing well in the A Division. The new team comprises of 75 percent Omani boys and 25 expats. They are doing well in this season. That team is fully sponsored by Oman cricket just to encourage youth,” he says. “Since the cricket is mostly played in Muscat,” he adds, “We have only one youth development centre here. However, we’re developing Sohar and Salalah youth development centres simultaneously.” Come Asia Cup T20 and T20 World tournament, Team Oman will ride on the experience of Duleep Mendis and as has been happening intermittently who knows if the minnows really through surprises against the stalwarts of the game. — Baba Umar

Coach ‘Budgie’: The Man Behind Omani Football Hero Ali Al Habsi

man that soon, became the definition of eccentricity (for us), no sooner he walked inside our office premises singing, Johnny B. Goode, out and loud in a star-like stride. He walked straight to our office and greeted me warmly with words of endearment. “Tell me, love. What do you want to know about Ali?”, he asked. Ali Al Habsi, was out of town and he was representing him, being his mentor for long. But that day more than Habsi it was this bald old man’s demeanour and story that fascinated us thoroughly. John Burridge, or Budgie as he is popularly known as, began his long and successful career when he was just 15. He joined a club in his hometown, Workington. Within two years he got an opportunity to play his first Premier League in 1969. His journey ever since has been rocky and curvy with numerous ups and downs but they were always worthwhile. Today he has to his credit having played 771 league games, 28 clubs, and most of all the love and adoration of thousands of personalities. Budgie always stood out from the rest for various reasons, ranging from his performance on field that brought him into the Blackpool Hall of Fame, his neverseen-before warm up routines before matches including somersaults, handstands, and single-handed push-ups, or just his larger-than-life personality. And it was his sheer love and dedication for the game that gained him name, fame, and laurels that lasted for nearly 30 years. But somewhere in those 30 years, his love for the game gradually turned into an obsession, which he realised when one day he was sitting on a bench with Kevin Keegan at a game against Arsenal when he suddenly broke down in tears and said, “I just want to play”. He had re-

alised that it was time to pack his boots and gloves and bid adieu to the field that had given him the buzz and the rush for the biggest chunk of his life. In fact, football had become his life. He has been luckier than the others as he holds the record of being the oldest player to play a Premier League game at 43, and play some more until 46. After going through a tough time coping with the void that the absence of football had created in his life, he got back on track having realised that he couldn’t let go of football completely. He found a job as a goalkeeping coach with one of his former managers, Ian Porterfield in the late 90s. And it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Oman was blessed with Budgie on its raw, unclaimed soil. Right from the time he came, he was on the lookout — for talent, for attitude, and for trainees. Soon he came across a young boy who he thought had immense potential and he worked hard to train him. He finally sent him to England to play for the Premier League and even paid for his travel and accommodation. He also

helped him meet the right people and get into the right clubs and he was none other than the Asian Football Legend, Ali Al Habsi. Later Budgie was instrumental in nurturing talented player like Mohammed Huwaidi, another goalkeeper who is doing very well for the Oman National Football team. Budgie, over the course of his giving years, managed to discover talent and give them all their well-deserved opportunities selflessly such as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the first Indian to ever play in the Europa League, and coached other English national goalkeepers such as Tim Flowers, Nigel Martyn, and Paul Robinson. While he is no longer associated with Oman Football Association since 2014, his watchful eyes are always on the hunt, even while he’s chilling by the terrace in his house in Oman that overlooks the Indian Ocean or when he’s at the beach playing with his Omani buddies. Having spent more than two decades in this nation that he calls home, Budgie is currently on a break in the Philippines but he will be back soon as he thinks his job in Oman isn’t over yet. — Shruthi Nair

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even months ago, all our eyes were glued to our television sets, eagerly waiting for Oman’s Olympic torchbearer to erupt into his lightning sprint. He crouched patiently but intently with the best athletes from other parts of the world. Barakat Al Harthi had already surpassed all our expectations when he was ranked third with an extremely competitive timing of 10.22 seconds in the Rio Olympics, which was far better than his performance at the 2012 London Olympics. His journey, which began when he was just 15 years old, hasn’t been a bed of roses. Having been brought up in a remote village in Sharqiyah, Al Harthi hadn’t been exposed to different cultures and mindsets, but on realising his capabilities his coach decided to send him to Europe. After coping with the culture shock and struggling with the communication gap, he started appreciating the competition and the opportunities that he had been provided. He used it to his benefit optimally. He soon started participating in so many regional and international races that he can’t even remember how many medals he has won till date. Even his road to Rio last year wasn’t an easy one. From his flights getting delayed, to his luggage with his training kit getting misplaced, to not getting enough time to prepare because of the weather; the universe had decided to pose challenges for this determined sprinter. But he soared against all odds to come out as a true winner making the Sultanate proud. But was that it for Barakat? He is no one-hit-wonder. Soon after the Olympics he came back to Oman and started his training right away and just a month later bagged a gold medal in the 60 metre sprint race in Vietnam during the Asian Beach Games. Life for him hasn’t

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Barakat Al Harthi’s Olympic Achievements changed much after the Olympics as he has decided that he won’t let anything affect him until he wins the big medal. “My ultimate goal is for Oman to win a medal at the Olympics. It could be me winning it for my country or someone else. But I just want the medal to come home.” He has started training harder and longer ever since he got back from Rio. “I train six days a week, at least twice

each day mostly at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.” He has been maintaining a strict diet and workout regime and isn’t letting anything hinder his progress. Currently, Al Harthi is preparing for the World Championship in London while keeping the 2020 Olympics in mind. Quietly but diligently, he continues to strive hard to reach his goal and add more medals to his cupboard and more silver linings in Oman’s proud cloud. — Shruthi Nair

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Academics & Education Education is perhaps the single most important investment a country can make in its future, and teachers in Oman are paving the way for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaders, creators, and thinkers. The value placed on education is clear in the Sultanateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy of free primary education for nationals, as well as in the proliferation of international schools offering rigorous training for expatriate students. However, the classroom is only one of the places where learning and development happen. In this chapter we highlight the diversity of educators in Oman. Read stories of an artist, athlete, Islamic scholar, and life-long learner as we celebrate those inspiring future generations in the Sultanate.

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Artist Rawan Al Mahrooqi Teaches Omani Girls to Dream Bigger

ver since she was a little girl, Rawan Al Mahrooqi had a passion for two things in life: art and the liberation of women. For the last 17 years, Rawan has observed life around her and is now speaking out through art. Her latest pieces, which are illustrations, have received more ‘likes’, comments and user interaction than any of her other artwork.

Rawan’s Instagram page, rawan757, is more like a professional portfolio of some 200 posts. Her last six posts are illustrated reactions to what she considers to be a regular occurrence in the daily life of Arab women. At age 24, Rawan began teaching at a local government school. Initially, she taught an all-girls class of sixth graders. Today, she teaches art to a co-ed class of first grade students. Through her professional experience, she has seen the level of enthusiasm change as children grow older. “Teaching a class of sixth grade girls needed some getting used to. I think the hardest part, as an art teacher and woman, was that they didn’t, and couldn’t, express themselves,” she explains. “One of the things I really love about young kids is that they don’t really know the difference between genders. They don’t think ‘she’s a girl and I’m a boy’. Whenever we have classes on what they want to be in the future, and a girl says she wants to be a firefighter, I am like, ‘Yes! You can be that!” Rawan tries to encourage girls

to not feel different, and that they can accomplish anything, regardless of their sex.” When asked who the girl in her illustrations was, she said, “That’s me. I wouldn’t call her my alter-ego, she’s me flat out. She’s me, and she’s a lot of other girls.” All the ideas depicted in her illustrations have been on her mind for years. “I’ve gotten a lot of messages, such as ‘keep doing it’. It’s always a big deal when someone says I’ve inspired them,” she adds. Rawan plans on creating more intense awareness pieces regarding women, though not any time soon. According to Rawan, she feels that her simple illustrations have been so popular because they are light pieces and easy to digest. “I like to keep it simple and straight to the point. There’s no room for misunderstanding when it’s simple. The message is usually the hardest part, because I don’t always know how to put it in words, but the message is always more important than the messenger. We just want to be happy,” she said. — Khadija Alzadjali

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Awatif Malik Abdullah Al Harthy is a Role-Model for Life-Long Learning

t 31, Awatif Malik Abdullah Al Harthy has achieved what many others can only dream of. Though married and having three children, Al Harthy still managed to obtain three degrees, along with many other exemplary achievements on the way. She just got her masters degree in Executive Business Administration from Waljat College of Applied Sciences (WCAS) in Oman, stood first in her ma-

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jor, and obtained a gold medal for it. “I now have three degrees, my first degree was in English Language and Literature from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in 2006, then I obtained my post-graduate diploma in Translation in 2010 again from SQU, and finally Executive MBA in 2015 from WCAS” This young and ambitious lady has been working for about a decade now since her graduation in 2006. She was the first staff to join Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB), thus assisted Dr. Abdullah Al Futaisi in his noble mission of establishing OMSB. “Dr. Abdullah Al Futaisi was the first one to pave my career. H.E. established the entire organization and I was there with him; assisting him. He was an example of hard work and enthusiasm. He supported me to pursue my studies and was always a source of encouragement and aspiration” Al Harthy said. Her biggest inspiration in life is her father. “My father is an inspiring exam-

ple. He is the one who fostered my mind. He made me the woman that I am today. Since my childhood, he encouraged me to read and read as much as I could. He supported throughout the course of my life. He values education and has always urged me and my siblings that seeking for education is a war that we have to win. He embraced me with guidance, advice, and love.” To make him proud of me, I feel obliged to pursue a PhD soon. When asked what had motivated her to study all these years, she said, “The environment in which I was raised in helped me. I, thus, enjoy studying. For me, a degree is not about obtaining a certificate. People are mistaken that you need a certificate to secure a job or career advancement. Instead, I personally believe that knowledge should be sought for self-improvement. Knowledge makes you open-minded, and able to look at things from different perspectives” And when asked about Omani female society, Al Harthy thinks that it has un-

dergone tremendous changes for the better. “Our culture has changed. Women are given the chance to study, work, get involve in business, and contribute to many aspects of the society, etc. They do things they wouldn’t have even thought of in the past.” She advises young people to be thirsty for knowledge. “Anyone can obtain a certificate, but not everyone can acquire knowledge and be openminded.” Another thing that Al Harthy wants to highlight is the importance of consistency and time management, “My schedule is so busy usually. I have so many obligations and responsibilities. Yet, I manage to study and carry out my duties. I take my education seriously, I have my social life, help my little ones study, I even spare some leisure time to amuse myself.” She concludes, “Reading is the key to success. The more you read and work sincerely, the better you feel about yourself.” — Deeba Hasan

Zaher Al Abdissalam Shares His Love of Islam and the Arabic Language in Africa

eing in the great land of Africa has a vibe of its own; it invites you to do good and be part of the act of charity, said Zaher Al Abdissalam, an IT graduate and Imam, who has a passion for the Arabic language beyond compare. And, he loves to share his knowledge with children and those who admire the language in Africa. Zaher’s journey was part of Al Istiqama Association and Educational Institute, which is a charity organisation that was launched in the early 90s in East Africa. One of its branches is situated on the island of Zanzibar, where teaching Islamic studies and the language of Arabic took place. The institute sees students from all walks of life coming together in search of a better understanding of the religion and its culture. Students flock to these classes from Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, too. In 2004, Zaher was offered a golden opportunity to travel to Africa to teach. As the young man prepared for his 11th grade summer break, he packed his bags and headed to Tanga and Pangani in Tanzania, where he taught his passion for two months. In 2006, he was enrolled in IT at a local university before travelling again to Uganda for another month. After completing his degree in 2011, he left for Zanzibar Island and stayed there for two years with the Istiqama Association, where he continued to teach his favourite language, Islam and Shariyat, and basic computer science. Because of the historic ties between Oman and Zanzibar, the culture factor is great, with elements from Omani traditions. But that was not the only reason that made Zaher’s experience unforgettable.

He was stunned by the eagerness to learn in the students he taught. His classes ended up becoming a miniature community of their own, where they shared cultural knowledge, social issues, and Islamic stories. After deciding to settle in the land of gold, Zaher and his colleagues embarked on another journey outside the institute. They launched an educational programme during their own free time where they would visit mosques around town and hold sermons. Each person had two mosques per week to teach at. Zaher would also hold a class for women during the day and another one for men after the Maghrib prayer. “What makes Zanzibar so special is that the life there is simple,”

said Zaher, adding that “I am a fan of the simple life.” He continued expressing his decision to travel and help those in need of education. “When the opportunity came to teach Arabic and Islamic studies, I seized it quickly as it is a fanatical passion for me,” said Zaher . “When there’s an opportunity to give back, you certainly take it. This journey was a golden opportunity for me — I have benefited the most and learned from the students and the African culture.” Today, Zaher has his own business in the language field, and participates in mosques to deliver sermons and in other activities. He has plans to travel back to Africa for more short-term educational trips in the future. — Salim Al Afifi

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Talal Taimur Al Said Offers Children in Oman Life Lessons and Basketball Dreams

T alal Taimur Al Said, the head coach of Next Generation Sports (NSG), a basketball training academy, is someone who has been fuelling aspirations among Omani youngsters to achieve greater heights in this sport. Next Generation Sports Oman is a comprehensive youth basketball programme that aims to train children in basketball, not just as a sport but also to impart life skills through this initiative. “Our aim is to create an environment where children can learn this sport and also enhance other skills, such as discipline and a healthier lifestyle,” said Talal Taimur Al Said. For this keen basketball player and coach, the love for the game developed right in his childhood. “I used to study at the National Private School and was a part of the school soccer team but once, due to some mistake, I left this sport and picked up basketball,” reminisced the coach, who later went to a boarding school in South Africa. “It was in South Africa where I learnt that a sport is much more than simply running around in the field. Physical education classes there were more focused and that’s how I developed a keen interest, too,” Talal said. In South Africa, he studied a threeyear course in sports management and worked as a coach in different schools and universities. Later, he started his own academy, Mahikeng Basketball Academy. In 2001-2002, he played for the Melbourne University in Australia and coached at the International School of South Africa in 2010-2014.However, despite all the success he achieved in different parts of the world, Talal had an unfulfilled dream. Being a certified level 2 FIBA Asia coach, he wanted to share his expertise in his own country. “I always wanted to come back to Oman, my home country, and do something for the children here in basketball,” Talal said. Armed with experience and expertise, the idea of starting a sports academy took shape with his friend Qais Khalid Al Kha-

bouri, also helping. They named it Next Generation Sports. “At NGS, we focus on shaping tomorrow’s leaders through sports based player development, placement and league activities for children in the age group of 7 to 18 years. Apart from its basketball programme, the NSG also provides fitness training for youth. “We also go through exercise and stretching routines, along with building stamina and offering weight loss programme,” said Talal. Highlighting the importance of sports Talal said he feels that it teaches to work as a member of a team, makes one adept at anger management, and also helps deal with other behavioural issues. “When it comes to children I feel that it is inappropriate to punish bad behaviour. Instead, it is important to show them the right way. As a coach, it is our duty to keep them motivated and teach them to play fair,” said the coach. “A good shot at the game can increase your self-esteem and will help you gain more confidence,” added Talal. While the first training session at the Sultan School came to a close in December last year, Next Generation Sports has started a new session at Alruwad International School in Al Khoudh. “We take children between the ages of 5 and 18 years while the timings are from 9am to 2pm. Our whole intention is to add fun even as children pick up the fundamentals of basketball,” said the coach who was till recently working with the National Youth team and the ministry’s sports programme in Muscat. While currently, Next Generation Sports is only focusing on basketball, Talal has plans to branch out to other sports, such as tennis and football, in the years to come. — Swati Dasgupta

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Health and Wellness The health of the people reflects the health of the nation, which is why there are so many Omanis and expatriates focused on the wellbeing of those residing in the Sultanate. These care-givers focus on body and mind, treatment and prevention, dedicating their efforts to help others live their best lives. We talk to a member of the royal family who opened the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first center for treating depression, a young inventor who turned his sights to helping the immobile move again, a fitness instructor who has become a local celebrity, and a man offering natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Their stories show that the minds and bodies of the residents of Oman are in good hands.

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Inventor Omar Al Jabri Helps People Move Again

nspired by Iron man, Omani inventor Omar Al Jabri has crafted a robotic arm, which can help people with paralysed arms to move again. Omar’s revolutionary technology recently bagged the fourth place at Kafa’at, an initiative of the Emirates Foundation in Dubai, which hosted around 2,000 teams, along with three local awards from Caledonian College of Engineering, the Higher College of Technology in Muscat and Al Roya Youth Initiative Awards. The robotic arm consists of two pieces, a ‘master’ and a ‘slave,’ according to Al Jabri. The ‘master’ artificial arm with a built-in motor must be attached to a healthy functioning arm, likewise, the ‘slave,’ which has sensors on, is placed on the disabled arm. “When a person starts moving the healthy arms, the disabled one starts moving in parallel with the help of the sensor and a cable,” the 26-year-old inventor said, adding that he is planning to modify the arms’ connectivity to make them wireless. The award-winning invention is set to go commercial by next year at an estimated price of OMR15,000 according to Al Jabri. However, there is only one prototype so far and it can only fit a certain measure of arms. Al Jabri said he has tested his machine on 15 patients suffer-

ing from semi-paralysis in one of their arms. “The results were very positive, and some people actually started moving their paralysed arms after two months of therapy,” he said, adding that, based on his research, it is possible to recover 40 to 50 per cent of an arm’s function after one year of using the Robotic Therapeutic Arm. “The overall purpose for this project is to design an exoskeleton arm and wrist that acts as training device for the arm and wrist movement treatment, based on the three degrees of freedom, which is flexion and extension. Above all, this device must ensure the safety of the device for a stroke patient,” Al Jabri added. He explained that this project is aimed at helping therapists perform rehabilitation treatment. “I made this robot after observing an increase in the number of stroke patients and lack therapist. Besides that, there is no available equipment that is affordable

in the market for the therapist process treatment,” Al Jabri stated. There are 15 million people worldwide, who suffer a stroke each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue. According to the WHO, a stroke is the second leading cause of death for people aged above 60 years, and the fifth leading cause for death among people aged 15 to 59 years. “Recovering the arm of a stroke patient is important as the hand is a major part in the body, which is used for daily activities, such as eating, bathing and changing clothes,” Al Jabri said. “Therefore, a scheduled therapy programme will speed up the recovery process, along with a therapy session, which must be held with proper guidance.” — Hasan Shaban Al Lawati

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Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said Fights Depression in Oman

or Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, founder of the Whispers of Serenity Clinic, when someone opens up about their mental health problems, it is half the battle won. Voicing her thoughts in unison with this year’s World Health Day that focuses on depression, Sayyida urges people to break the silence on the illness. And when it comes to helping people struggling with mental health related concerns, she is always at the forefront. “Those who suffer from mental health problems should know that they are not alone, as everybody goes through this at some point in life. It is important to speak out, instead of feeling bad about it,” is a loud and strong message that Sayyida promotes to encourage people to break the stigma and seek help and the correct treatment. “This year, World Health Day decided to focus on depression and emphasised the core motto, ‘Let’s Talk’, as it is very important to talk about depression. In 2012, at Whispers of Serenity Clinic, we had a programme called Let’s Talk that also encouraged people to share. Unless you share, others will never know what is going on inside of you and can never be able to help or support you in the right way,” said Sayyida, raising concerns about the rising cases of mental health issues in Oman. Having studied in Jordan, and later at international universities such as Harvard University, she went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Australia and later had a chance to work with refugees at the North Perth Migrant Resource Centre, counselling refugees and immigrants in Perth. Recalling what drew her inter-

est to mental health issues, Sayyida said that her interests in this field began in childhood and later, after studying psychology, and she hoped to open a mental health clinic. “When I used to meet people, they would ask me, ‘Do you have your own clinic?’, ‘Can we come and see you later?’ This gave me the idea of starting my own clinic, where I could help more people,” she added. After working in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital for 11 years, Sayyida decided to start a clinic of her own, called Whispers of Serenity. “I wanted to spread more awareness through media and through my clinic, as my goal was to extensively spread the word on mental health,” she said. Whispers of Serenity Clinic, located in Azaiba, is a place where a more holistic approach is taken towards mental health. From therapies and counselling, to the treatment provided to patients, Sayyida ensures that timely help reaches out to those who really need assistance. Discussing the challenges in dealing with mental health issues in Oman, Sayyida said that the obstacles are not only found in Oman, but also throughout the world. “The issues here in Oman are that we need more awareness about it. From psychologist, psychiatrist, psycho therapist and counsellors, there are many people now in this field who are dealing with mental health concerns,” said Sayyida, while raising doubts about whether everyone is qualified enough to deal with the sensitivities of dealing with mental issues. “People who have studied psychology should be the ones who should be taking up the cases. Those who have done short courses should not be dealing with this at all. Psychology is totally a different thing, so we have to differentiate between who actually is authorised to talk about this and who isn’t. Help and treatment should come from the right person, because we are dealing with minds. What we need is more awareness from the right people,” Sayyida added, urging more people to volunteer for this cause. Currently, she is associated with a number of social initiatives and community services, making sure that when it comes to mental health and related despair, no one is left alone. — Swati Dasgupta

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Marissa Pontila is a Local Fitness Celebrity Who Helps People Dance Their Way Healthy

ractising Zumba with Marissa Pontila doesn’t just help in improving fitness while having a lot of fun doing the moves, but it could also lead to supporting a cause or helping others. A well-known Zumba instructor in Oman, Pontila has been holding regular events, such as the Zumbathon and Party in Pink Zumbathon in order to support for causes that she truly believes in. “A Zumbathon is a special Zumba extended length event that usually helps support a cause. Different Zumba instructors will teach at the event, which is typically from two to three hours in length,” she explained. “Another one is called Party in Pink Zumbathon and is a global move-

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ment dedicated to raising funds for the fight against breast cancer.” In fact, Pontila has been a pioneer in organising such events and showing the world how you can follow your passion and spread it among others while doing good for the community. “I was one of the committee member of The First Zumbathon Oman in 2014 and organised the first Party in Pink Zumbathon 2016,” she said. Pontila is a certified personal trainer, who has been living in Oman for the last 28 years. As a result of teaching Zumba to various people over the years and earning a name for herself in the field, she realised that it is extremely important to give back to the community, which has helped her succeed in life. “I’ve been teaching for a long time here and I’m very blessed and doing well and people appreciate what I am doing. All this success and grace is because of all the people who believe in me and supported me all these years and honestly believed sharing the love with society is very important. This is the way of thanking and returning back.” She has closely been involved with various NGOs and local initiatives that make an effort to help the needy. “I’m supporting charities, such as the OCA, those related to diabetes, Down’s Syndrome, International Market Place, Changed 4 life at PDO Club, and many more.” In addition to this, Pontila also makes sure that she holds at least one charity event every year at her gym. “I organise a small charity event at our gym every year.” Pontila is extremely passionate about Zumba and tries to introduce as many people as she can to it, so that they can lead healthier lifestyles. “I have helped a lot of locals and expats, inspiring them and changed their lives because of Zumba and I know they knew it in their heart,” she says. “I don’t have anything to give to the charity other than my energy. This is what I was brought up to do since I was little.” — Shruthi Nair

Mohammad Kunhi Offers Oman Natural Healing

M ohammad Kunhi, locally renowned for making herbal medicines, came to Oman 27 years ago. The middle-aged man from Kerala started as an apprentice to Haji Murad, selling herbal medicines at a shop in Muttrah Souq. Kunhi caters mostly to Omanis, Asians, and Africans, but he believes that people in general prefer traditional herbal medicines, as they are

safe and have no side effects. “We receive some 30 to 35 customers or patients every day. Most of the common illnesses that people come to us for are (high or low) blood pressure, diabetes, rheumatism, and strokes,” said Kunhi. Kunhi warned that even though his medicines are safe, certain kinds of food or spices should be avoided while taking them. “Following a simple dietary regime is just as important as taking these traditional medicines at the prescribed times in the correct dosage. The course varies for each medicine,” added Kunhi. Talking about the different medications he prepares, Kunhi explained how eight types of essential leaves are mixed and boiled together at a high temperature to prepare a medicine for diabetes. “It is important to remember that

these concoctions do not cure the condition but reduce their severity, as in the case of diabetes, where the patient’s high level of sugar is controlled,” said Kunhi. Kunhi uses only natural ingredients to prepare the herbal medications. For instance, Arqi Zamda, a white pebblelike substance, is boiled until it is completely dissolved; it is used for treating gastric problems. For hypertension patients, Kunhi uses leaves that have been specially prepared. For paralysis and stroke, which are most common among the elderly, Ishaab Mat-hun, a powdered herb, is mixed and heated with seven oils. Meanwhile, a black seed, Habba Sawda, mixed with pure honey, is considered beneficial for cancer patients. “All these are mentioned in the Arabic book of medicine,” stated Kunhi. Kunhi also has medicines for rheumatism, di-

arrhoea, liver disease, and heart disease. Some of the other medicines for various ailments are Murat or Manimani, Shubir, Luban Mur, and Arwa (Arabic names). To prepare these medicines, traditional utensils are used and strictly monitored, according to Kunhi. A majmar, for instance, is a steel dish with holes at the bottom and a long handle and is used for burning coals; it can be heated on a stove or hot plate. A moka is a vessel used for pounding solid substances into a powdered compound, and the Sufria mal turab, made of clay, is used for cooking, boiling, and heating. Mohammad Kunhi, who is now well trained in making herbal medicines, takes pleasure in the fact that despite advancements in modern medicine, people still have faith in natural medicines. — Muntasir Shaaban Saleh Al Farsy

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Children and Young Adults Oman is home to some extraordinary children, from aspiring footballers who donate their time cleaning up beaches to the young scholars in the Takatuf program who are studying to become global ambassadors for the country. The local culture of charity and peace has left its mark on expatriate children as well. Young artists create galleries of paintings to send to the United Nations as a call for peace, while one young musical prodigy uses his growing fame, and the profits from it, to support charities both in Oman and abroad. The spirit of selfless giving that these young residents exhibit is something we can all be proud of.

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The Takatuf Scholarship Programme and Oman’s Next Generation of Leaders

n an effort to develop as the next generation of leaders in the Sultanate, several students from across the country have enrolled in the Takatuf Scholarship Programme to hone their academic and leadership skills and compete for securing an international scholarship abroad. Organised by Takatuf Oman LLC, the programme is split into two areas. The preparatory programme gathers tenth graders to undergo an intensive programme designed to develop the core competencies needed for success today. Upon completion, they will be recognised

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as Takatuf Scholars and would have acquired skills that are vital for their university years. Out of these Takatuf Scholars, some are selected to study for six years in one of the most prestigious universities in the world and complete an undergraduate programme in which they will be recognised as Takatuf International Scholars. The programme joins academia with real world experiences, which are designed to prepare the students for personal and professional success. “Other than school, pledging my efforts to the Takatuf Scholars Programme was the first serious commitment I’ve ever made and I’m quite glad it was,” said Aziza Al Kalbani, a Takatuf Scholar in 2015. “This programme introduced me to many things I needed to know as a 21st century learner and it was very likely that I would’ve learned them a bit too late otherwise,” she added. Maryam Mukhaini, a Takatuf Scholar in 2015, said working with different people helped build confidence and develop communication skills, so vital today. “Working in these classes gave us the spark for discussions and debate in a critical way. Working with different people built our personal confidence and

developed our communication skills; we learned how to collaborate and as a result, built stronger relationships and respect between us,” said Mukhaini. For some students, the programme helped in developing their time management skills, which allowed them to accomplish a set number of goals effectively and efficiently. “I acquired certain crucial skills in the programme, which I will be able to utilise throughout my life and I grew as an individual by enriching my thinking processes,” said Muhammad Al Azizi, a Takatuf Scholar in 2015. He also added, “I also learned to use my time in certain ways to help me accomplish tasks efficiently and effectively. Improving these skills allowed me to get closer to reaching the goals I’ve set for myself.” Part of the programme is a workshop simulating real world situations, such as the recent climate change conference in Paris. Student had to demonstrate their negotiation skills; a vital skill needed today. “A large part of the Winter Workshop was participating in a simulation related to a global conference (COP21) that took place in Paris. We were divided into groups and each group represented the perspective of a party that participated in the conference,” explained Muhammad Al Abdul Salam, also a Takatuf Scholar in 2015. “My group represented the United States’ point of view, while other groups represented the views of the Maldives, India and Shell Global. There were many negotiations among us and we finally agreed to reduce the carbon dioxide by 30 per cent in India. We decided that the United States and Shell Global will be the sponsors of this project by providing financial support,” he added. “Some readers may ask why it is important to discuss such a global issue; well, I learned from this experience that educating young Omanis about the problems, which are facing our world can increase the significance of Oman’s opinion in global events,” said Al Abdul Salam. Takatuf Oman LLC is set to honour the Takatuf Scholar 2015 in a recognition ceremony on May 15 under the patronage of Dr. Muna Al Jardani, undersecretary of the Ministry of Manpower for Technical Education and Vocational Training. — Tariq Ziad Al Haremi

Aziza Said Al- Kalbani

Maryam Al Mukhaini

Muhammad Al Azizi

Mohammed Al Abdul Salam

An Acclaimed, Ooredoo-Sponsored Short Film

hen it comes to nurturing Omani talent and inspiring them to reach greater heights, Ooredoo is always at the forefront; providing them with platforms to

showcase their skills. The most recent and noteworthy example of this was Ooredoo’s sponsorship of an Omani production which went on to bring pride to the nation by winning at a regional television show, held in Saudi Arabia. Empowering Omani youth with opportunity, the Ooredoo-sponsored ‘Olympics of Civilizations’ short film won third best production in the MBC 1 edutainment show Qomrah 2. The all-Omani Ki-Bros Productions was chosen from among 24,000 idea-makers and 4,280 filmmakers who

participated in the competition. The top three films were selected by a special judging panel during the Qomrah 2 award ceremony in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ki-Bros Productions is an all Omani team of film production specialists based in Muscat. ‘Olympics of Civilizations’ was written, filmed and produced in the Sultanate with the full support of Ooredoo. The team has earned a strong reputation for attention to detail in the stories they depict and their technical prowess, since opening its doors.

Qomrah 2 is a television show designed to encourage individuals and production teams to create edutainment media content. It tackles different aspects of society and has content entered for a chance to have their film showcased during Ramadan to more than 20 million viewers worldwide, on MBC1 and social media platforms. Each episode features an entry and a number of fans to vote, with three winners selected based on an independent jury as well as the viewers’ votes at the end of the holy month.

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A Call for Peace from Child Artists in Oman

cores of neatly-dressed children waving multiple flags and calling for peace in the world gathered at the Muscat Grand Mall lobby for a peace event. On Monday evening, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs opened the ‘Call of Peace’ event that saw the first public exhibition of more than 150 paintings drawn by more than 60 expat students in the Sultanate. The paintings will travel across the world with the help of the United Nations (U.N.), which will carry the message of peace from the Sultanate. Talking to the media, Alawi said, “This is a message to all nations, who are keen to have peace. It’s also a message for world leaders, who have the power to stop wars and spread peace instead of blood.” He further said Oman will continue to propagate peace under the framework of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said ’s message. For 15-year-old Lauren Murehy of Ireland, one of the contributing artists, she believes that peace can be achieved if we balance earth and politics. “That’s

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what I’ve drawn,” she said. “Peace means freedom and that’s what I have been experiencing in Oman,” explained Nafeesa, 14, a student from Bangladesh. “My country is disturbed, but we all can live in peace and learn from Oman.” Noted Pakistani artist Ibrahim Gailani, one of the brains behind the peace project told TOO that the paintings are scheduled to go to the UNESCO office in Paris first. “From there the paintings will be moved to the UN office in New York,” he said. Monday’s event was emotionally charged. Many were seen crying as the curtains were lifted from the paintings. There were paintings calling for peace in Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. Others sought quick action on reconciliation. A picture of shaking hands with the globe in the backdrop was another attraction. A painting drawn by a Syrian youngster drew most of the attention. It shows a watery eye with the Syrian flag tucked inside. The contributors were brought to meet the joyous crowd against the backdrop of Omani bagpipers’ sounds. A traditional Omani dance hailed the Sultanate to the beat of peace songs, such as “Let’s unite for peace, neither war no fears.” “As long as it evokes the emotion of remembering other children, who may be facing conflict in other places. That really is the message,” Gailani said. Oman-based Ahmed Fareed, the father of an Afghan child artist, was especially impressed. “I really appreciate this move. This is a step forward towards peace. We know how much peace is important for our country. This kind of event does not happen in Afghanistan,” he said. The project was initiated by noted Omani songwriter and intellectual Saleh Al Fahad through the Values Centre involving the participation of a large number of children from different communities in the Sultanate and which represent several countries. “We need sponsors to make it an annual effort and expand the participation,” Gailani added, pointing out that this is an expensive project to carry out. On the occasion, a documentary showcasing Oman’s vision for world peace and efforts in settling international crisis was also released. Al Fahad explained that Oman is known for its peace efforts, and in sending a pictorial message across the globe, they want to communicate Oman’s support for world peace. “Following the same idea, the children have poured their feelings and talent into the captivating paintings on the issues and crisis of the world.” — Baba Uma

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Following a Football Hero on a Mission of Charity

ootball not only involves physical training and honing skills, but also mental training and discipline, and children at the Al Habsi Football School (AHFS) are also taught about their roles in the community and society. In coordination with Saraya Bandar Jissah, children from the football school came together with other children, parents and representatives from the Al Ahli Football Club to clean a beach in Qantab. “Not every child, who trains in football becomes a football player; so, it is impor-

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tant to teach them about the vital role that they have to play in service to the community,” said an official representative of AHFS. Some 110 children from the school participated in the beach clean-up, along with some Qantab residents and children, including Ali Al Habsi, the Oman national team’s captain and Reading FC’s goalkeeper in the English Championship. “Football is not only about physical prowess, but also mental strength. Children must also be trained to use their mind and serve their community and society in a positive way,” Al Habsi said. In all, about 200 people took part in the initiative on that day. “We are planning for more social responsibility programmes that the children can participate in and we welcome any suggestions and ideas for what to do next.” AHFS was established in January 2016 with 136 children participating in the football programme. They currently use the Sultan’s School football ground for their training and welcome those, who are born between 2002 and 2009, to sign up. — Tariq Ziad Al Haremi

A Young Musical Prodigy Dedicated to Giving Back

n 2014, he donated OMR1,000 to the Oman Cancer Association (OCA); an amount he had collected after raising funds through his musical concerts. That was his first experience of working for a cause and since then there has been no looking back for Santrupth Vedanthi, the 16-year-old student of Indian School Muscat and a talented musician, who recently performed at the ‘Trinity Live in Concert’ organised in Muscat to raise awareness and funds for the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disability. Vedanthi makes sure to use his talent for something good and meaningful in life and has donated a considerable part of the money that he earns through concerts for such causes. Recently, he donated the proceeds that he earned through the sale of his album Amogha Milana to the cause of cancer awareness in Muscat and for Manonandana, a school for the mentally challenged in Bangalore, India. “I also donated to a cancer institute in Bangalore called Karunashraya, where I was invited to perform in front of the patients. The proceeds of my next album Palasampada, which is likely to be released in August, will also go to cancer patients.” Sharing his thoughts on what motivates him to work for a cause from such a young age, Vedanthi reminisced about a childhood incident that steered him towards this direction. “One of my schoolmates was battling with cancer and seeing his plight I felt I must do something about it. The plight of cancer patients, their families running out of resources, and the lack of awareness about cancer made me more determined,” he said. Vedanthi is not only an ace percussionist, his dexterity also lies in playing five other instruments, including acoustic drums, mridangam, khajan, and chenda. He started his musical journey at the tender age of three and, within a few years, he shared the stage with renowned composers and musicians such as A. R.

Rahman, Sivamani, Gino Banks, Bikram Ghosh, Dilip Doshi, and Arunkumar. Trained by B.A. Sukumar, India’s top drummers, he later completed a fiveweek scholarship programme at the USbased Berklee College of Music (BCM) in Boston and worked closely with James Murphy and Victor Wooten. Oman being his second home, he is part of the local band Red Khanjar. “I am the only Indian in this fivemember band. The band’s strength lies in their ability to mix genres and perform in English, Hindi, and Arabic,” he said. As an acknowledgement to their talent, Vedanthi and the band’s lead singer Haitham were invited to perform during Oman’s 46th National Day celebrations by an impressed Omani students’ council team at their Ohio University campus in the United States. A compassionate individual, Vedanthi wants to utilise his musical talent to help serve the community by raising funds for a variety of causes, something that he imbibed from his father. “I get a feeling of satisfaction from all these good deeds that I do and will make sure I will move on with this idea. I am ready to work overtime to carve out a niche for myself in the world of music and do a world of good.” — Swati Dasgupta

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Arts and Culture Oman has a rich and vibrant culture, from the food to the fine art galleries. In this chapter, we focus on those who are creating, capturing, and celebrating local heritage in a multitude of ways. One of Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prolific artists creates more than his own works, uniting the artistic community and fostering new talent as well. An expatriate photographer was so inspired by the beauty of the cultural events, villages, and people of the Sultanate, that he decided to dedicate himself to capturing it all through his lens. Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first celebrity chef has been around the region and the world representing his country, but his heart, and his recipes, never stray far from home. And a passion for history and camels lead one amazing Omani to embark on a personal quest to bring honor to the ancient ways of his ancestors.

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Muna Noor – Proud Omani Innovator and Community Supporter

ince 1971, Muna Noor has upheld its commitment to the Omani economy. With hundreds of staff across four factories and multiple retail outlets throughout Oman, the company is recognized as a pioneer and leader in plastic pipe manufacturing and innovative project partner throughout a variety of industries. Through its dedication to people, systems and technology, Muna Noor leads the way in providing value to customers and stakeholders by delivering high qual-

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ity, state-of-the-art piping products in a safe environment and unsurpassed customer service. As an ISO 9001:2008 and Omani Quality Mark certified company, Muna Noor’s primary obligation is to continuously deliver high end products and services to clients that reflect the company’s pioneering position in the market. As well as adhering to and complying with environmental laws, Muna Noor maintains acceptable standards to limit the adverse effects of its operations on the environment through waste segregation and minimisation, and employee awareness. Muna Noor is a major user of energy and extractor of raw materials, meaning that it is imperative that the efficiency of facilities and business operations are maximized. Employees’ well-being at work is paramount to Muna Noor’s success, which is why effective processes are in place to enable a good working environment that focuses on high standard work practices in health and safety, noise suppression, in addition to varied and well planned work operations. The company’s personnel policies encompass all that is required of a responsible employer in Oman, such as

being inclusive, offering comprehensive training and development opportunities as well as encouraging positive team spirit. Amongst Muna Noor’s primary quality focuses is sustainability, which is instilled in the plastic pipe products the company manufactures as they come with a guarantee of several lifetimes expectancies, making them the ideal product for long standing projects. As holders of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Industrial Excellence, Muna Noor continues to consult with clients as to the most suitable product for their project with environmental aspects being key. Muna Noor is a proud collaborator of Petroleum Development Oman, Haya Water, Public Authority for Electricity & Water, Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, with products accredited by UL, FM and BSI according to all relevant regulatory requirements. The company continues to support Oman’s efforts on the collection and recycling of plastic pipe systems whilst employing stringent recycling practices at manufacturing, store and office sites where practicable. Over the years, Muna Noor has played a part within the country’s welfare orientated community groups by contributing to programmes for social wellbeing, locally and internationally. For instance, since 2015, the company has been the proud platinum sponsor of the current Gulf Conference Champions (GCC) – Muscat Rugby Football Club (MRFC), which was formed in 1971 under the patronage of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. MRFC also has a highly competitive Veterans team that also saw success in GCC tournaments such as the Sharjah Tens, Bahrain Midnight Tens and Dubai Sevens. Rounding off the club’s playing strength are the hugely successful junior group of Muscat Pirates, which Muna Noor also keenly supports to promote the budding sports careers of over 100 young players. Additionally, Muna Noor has helped Nizwa Football Club, FC Kerala (local Indian football team of expats) and Bawshar Hockey Team in Oman to buy player kits.

With regards social welfare projects, Muna Noor has recently donated over 40 computer printers to the Al Rahma Association for Motherhood and Childhood to help less fortunate families in the Omani society across all governorates of the Sultanate. Supported by the societal development committee at Wilayat Alseeb, the association delivers necessary financial and non-financial support and 24/7 help in all climate circumstances. Muna Noor has also been able to donate new plastic pipe systems to several local mosque building projects on a free of charge basis. In 2016, Muna Noor built a new kennel facility at Omani Paws Animal Rescue so that they can provide a comfortable and safe environment for hundreds of stray dogs and cats whilst they wait to be placed in their forever homes. The Muna Noor brand remains synonymous with superior pipe manufacturing in Oman as the company’s products are being installed throughout the Middle East and internationally within modern, unconventional and economic pipe laying applications across dredging, desalination, water and sewage, irrigation, oil and gas, telecoms, industrial, mining, construction and infrastructure sectors. Muna Noor will continue to deliver large-scale and bespoke HDPE, uPVC, DWC and Multi-layer HDPE pipes, fittings, plastic fabrication, lining for steel pipe, traditional and electro fusion welding solutions, complete irrigation systems, SCADA control systems and a multiplicity of valves and controls for water. Muna Noor’s future looks very promising for the Omani economy and the community projects it supports, as the company will continue to expand its teams and product capabilities whilst developing more great partnerships. Keep up-to-date with Muna Noor’s news and developments at www.munanoor.com.

Oman’s Celebrity Chef, Issa Al Lamki, Preserves History

man’s first celebrity chef, Issa Al Lamki, who has had a dynamic career spanning more than two-decades, continues deriving pride and pleasure in wearing the Omani mussar (headdress) and representing Omani cuisine across the globe. “I’m proud to be an Omani chef representing the Sultanate across the world.” And, apart from his culinary artistry, Chef Al Lamki also puts his mind to other issues that he is passionate about. He closely works with the Association

for the Blind and is part of food charity events that are conducted for the Association of the Disabled. Being the brand ambassador for A’saffa Chicken, he makes it a point to attend all their corporate social responsibility initiatives, especially those that include helping and providing for the poor and needy. To spread the art and knowledge of cooking among all those who want to hone their culinary skills, Chef Al Lamki has recently opened a restaurant called Hitam, with a huge kitchen that can accommodate students. “Training people is my dream. I want people to learn and come out of the box. The reason why my kitchen is so big is to train people right here. Whoever wants to learn cooking is most welcome to come to my restaurant and my kitchen,” said the humble celebrity chef. He started his career in 1995 at the Gulf Hotel (now Crowne Plaza), and has worked in different restaurants and hotels in many countries, serving the Prince of Saudi Arabia, Al Waleed bin Talal, as well as His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. “Working for His Majesty Sultan Qa-

boos bin Said was completely different. It was like you are working for the country,” he said. It was in 2009, while he was working at the palace, that he got his first big break on Oman TV. “I got my confidence from my director Said Moosa. He is the founder of Issa Al Lamki. He offered me a show on Oman TV during Ramadan in 2009. That was my starting point.” From there, Chef Al Lamki was invited by Bahrain TV to be the Omani representative on their show, “GCC Kitchen”, which featured chefs from different GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations, presenting their countries’ cuisine on the widely watched cooking program. Chef Al Lamki went on to represent Oman in many other nations too, where people haven’t even heard the name of the Sultanate. People from Italy and Paris and many other countries have now started recognising the nation by its rich food and, of course, the Omani hospitality that Chef Al Lamki takes with him to each of these nations. “That’s exactly why I wear the traditional Omani mussar and cook authentic Omani food.” — Shruthi Nair

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Ramesh: An Outside Eye Capturing the Essence of Oman

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amesh, an Oman-based photographer from India, was inspired to pick up a camera by the richness of Oman’s culture and heritage, and his desire to capture it. From something as simple as a portrait or street scenes to challenging images of camel races, which required the perfect sense of timing, for Ramesh, the art of taking pictures is about documenting the beauty of the world as it truly is. Reminiscing about how he started his photography journey in Oman, Ramesh said that in the year 2011 he had gone to Bidiyah in Al Sharqiyah on a trip. There he witnessed Oman’s culture and heritage from close quarters and was completely wooed by it. He soon decided to learn photography as he wanted to capture those timeless scenes in his camera. “I joined one of Muscat’s leading photography groups in town called FSO Muscat. There I started learning photography techniques and all the tips and tricks on how to stand out from a crowd,” said Ramesh. He honed his skills by mastering the technicalities of photography and then joined a team of photographers from Bidiyah and Jalan Bani Bu Ali, where he focused his lens on the beauty of Arabian camels and horses. Since then, the talented photographer has visited various other parts of Oman to capture the best shot. Some of the places he visited include Sur, where he got to know all about fishermen and their industry, as well as Mussanah and Barka, where he shot the famous bullfights. One of the most challenging aspects of his craft is timing. “We have to shoot in a single take; if we miss that, we will have to wait till next year,” said Ramesh. Today, Ramesh’s photography has become widely known in Oman. He has become the go-to photographer for cultural events in and around Bidiyah, as well as other parts of the country. His most memorable moment to-date was when one of his photographs was selected for National Geographic magazine’s Daily Dozen. His work has also been recognised by the Ministry of Tourism for best photography. — Salem Afifi

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Hassan Meer Unites the Fine Artists of Oman

or Hassan Meer, art has always been more than just canvas, paint, and brush. It’s more about exploring the artistic freedom, relentless perseverance, and love for this medium of expression. It is also a way to connect with art and artists of the world. “I always wanted to make an established space to host art events, but not just the ones restricted to art with paint and brush. I wanted to bring contemporary art space and put all the creative people together. That was when Stal Gallery was born,” said artist Hassan Meer who is known for taking his creative streaks beyond brushstrokes. After being part of many special workshops and international art exhibitions Hassan Meer decided to dedicate his time to develop the young emerging art of Oman. “I realised that there are many talented people in Oman, but unfortunately most had this notion that art

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is only done on a canvas with paint. Now the whole concept of art has changed and it’s not limited to only brush and paint. Art is all about expression, whichever medium you choose,” said the artist. About the recently held Young Emerging Artist Prize Hassan said that the main intention of the event is to hunt new talent and encourage those artists whose work isn’t restricted to sketches and paintings. From digital painting and sculpting to mixed media and audio-visual installations, the exhibits incorporate art in various forms. “Today’s Omani youth are endowed with immense talent and idea and this kind of recognition gives them a platform to showcase their work,” he said. The main focus is on artists under 35 and preferably the ones who are new in this field or are fresh graduates in music, sound, fashion, and more. “Our aim is to

exhibit any thought or idea and it could be any medium,” he added. After doing several experimental jobs in the field of art during his early days Hassan graduated from the university in 2001 where he learnt different techniques of art. “When I came to Oman there was nothing in terms of contemporary art. I did workshops and exhibitions. Over the years I got lot of international offers too,” he said. Highlighting the need to widen the spectrum of art, Hassan Meer says that canvas painting is limited in two dimensional space, but art is also about visual art, videography, conceptual photography, sound, light, virtual reality, and more. “Artists these days are more into expression and all are judged on the same platform,” he added. Talking about the current trends in art, Hassan said that as he travels extensively he is aware of the global changes.

“What we are doing now is what is in trends. This form of art has given so many possibilities to an artist and not just to those who can draw and paint,” he said. “I was part of an important exhibition in Japan that was called “Arab Express”, which had the best art from the Arab world. There were neither any painting, nor were they interested in seeing landscapes. Such paintings are just a reality portrayed in two dimensional spaces, but isn’t an expression,” said Hassan. Highlighting the challenges that artists face in Oman, Hassan Meer says that Oman never lacked in terms of talent, but a proper platform was needed to showcase their work, which fortunately is happening now. And where Oman’s recognition in the global art scene is concerned, Hassan feels that though Oman is yet to be on the frontline, he is hopeful for that they will be, in the years to come. — Swati Dasgupta

Ahmed Al Mahrouqi’s Camelback History Lesson

ifty-three-year-old Ahmed Al Mahrouqi has an undying love for camels but his story doesn’t end here. He has taken his affection to another level as he wants the people of Oman to understand the importance of their culture and heritage. The ships of the desert have always been an integral part of Oman, used for the purposes of food, transport, wars, and even as man’s companion. Unfortunately, people fail to realise their relevance and importance now because of the convenient lifestyles that we have grown to live, but Al Mahrouqi not only understands it, but has also orchestrated a way to promote the appreciation of these heritage animals by conducting road trips using camels.With an aim to promote tourism and remind people of Oman’s golden era of camel caravans, Ahmed decided to go on his first road trip on a camel. He had to train and familiarise himself first with the ways and behaviours of the camel. This was an experience in itself, and in the process, he feels he actually started speaking their language. For instance, he realised that camels often reacted to certain sounds and words such as ‘khhrrr’, which means sit. After three months of training, understanding, and building the mental strength to do it, Ahmed Al Mahrouqi set out on a trip from Bidiyah to Nakhal in 2013, accompanied by two camels, necessary supplies, and some jazz music. The successful journey did manage to bring Ahmed Al Mahrouqi and his quirkily noble intention to everybody’s notice. Apart from promoting Omani camels and heritage tourism, the trip also highlighted vital messages such as traffic safety awareness and security and safety in Oman.

Soon Ahmed planned his second trip, a more challenging journey from the Royal Palace in Muscat to Salalah, a distance of about 1,000 kilometres, which he covered in a month. The trip usually takes only an hour by flight or 11 hours by road to get to Salalah, but Ahmed wanted to emphasise the fact that sometimes it’s okay to not be in a hurry and take things slow, giving you the time and opportunity to ponder, think, and spend time with yourself. On his third trip he crossed the border to Abu Dhabi. The trip did settled some important questions in his mind as to whether it was possible for people of the 21st century to comfortably get a taste of how their ancestors used to lead their lives. For him, it was an affirmative answer. His trip also reinforced the longstanding importance of camels as a part of Oman’s culture and livelihood. More importantly, he felt that the expedition helped him to understand his country and history in a more personal way, and he hopes that in sharing his story, it will inspire others to reconnect with their roots in creative ways as well. — Shruthi Nair

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Business, Big and Small There is a true entrepreneurial spirit in Oman, along with a sense of social responsibility, which makes for a robust business climate. In this chapter, we meet one of the Arab worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful business women, who is grateful to live in a country that has provided her with the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder, and who now provides new opportunities to other future female business leaders. Another visionary organization empowered an entire village of women to start their own businesses under the umbrella of the Sidab Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group. Another of the GCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful business personalities has now set his sights on investing in the ventures of young Omanis. And one such young man has used his engineering background to create a functional new take on a classic fashion item. These thoughtful, innovative, collaborative business people are building a local and global reputation of excellence for the Sultanate.

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s the mission of The Zubair Corporation is to play a key role in the sustainable socio-economic development of Oman, it is of pivotal importance to invest in one of the most strategic and vital segments of any economy – Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Helping to enable better equipped and sustainable small enterprises would contribute to a healthier economy, stronger and more diverse local supply chains, and empowered manpower, all allowing for a better landscape that all sizes of businesses to thrive in. The Zubair Corporation established Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) in June 2013 to be a guiding and supporting arm for developing the culture of entrepreneurship in Oman and supporting young Omanis who aspire to

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Zubair Small Enterprises Centre: A Beacon for Omani Entrepreneurs achieve business success. Since establishment, the Centre has developed into a service hub providing support and motivation for the talented ambitious and entrepreneurial minds. It has also moved beyond traditional mentorship models towards one of partnership, collaboration and team work with its members. Zubair SEC’s commitment towards the development of Oman is not a choice, but a strong belief, and a pledge to remain committed to supporting young Omanis, helping them to achieve their goals, while contributing towards economic diversification and prosperity for the coming generations. To achieve its goal of supporting and stimulating small enterprises, Zubair SEC has built an integrated comprehensive support ecosystem, providing distinguished services: Zubair Sec Direct Support Programme (DSP) The primary goal of the Zubair SEC Direct Support Programme is to enhance positive competitiveness among its members and give them an adding boost. The Programme rewards members who prove their commitment towards success and demonstrate dedication by practically applying the consultancy and advice provided to them by the Centre. Members’ projects and businesses should also demonstrate proper strategic

planning and accurate feasibility studies that reflect their eagerness to apply best business administration measures with the assistance of Zubair SEC. Every year, Zubair SEC selects a number of members to join the Programme and benefit from the provided special consultancy, guidance, and financial grant to support their projects. Many of Zubair SEC’s members joined with simple yet promising beginnings; a seed that has been nurtured and mentored over the past few years until it grew, flourished and started sharing remarkable outcomes. Guided by the strong belief that experience is one of the best ways to knowledge, Zubair SEC team has been keen on learning by practice and building accumulated knowledge, year on year, to support and enable entrepreneurs and start up owners. This is how Zubair SEC has developed, diversified, and integrated its services, to become an advisory destination for many ambitious entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses. Working with members over the past years has helped the team better understand the many challenges facing entrepreneurs during the various stages of their business growth. Zubair SEC’s advisors became more aware of the impor-

tance of extending business development support to members to ensure the continuity and sustainability of their new businesses. This was the driving factor behind the launch of one of Zubair SEC’s initiative “Tajseer” – the Arabic word for “Bridging”, which aims at connecting small businesses and large companies in the Sultanate and facilitating collaboration towards building business synergies. Business Development Opportunities – “Tajseer” Acknowledging the responsibility of large companies in the development of SMEs as a vital aspect in the economic development of small businesses in Oman, Zubair SEC works to minimize the gap between its members and large enterprises across different sectors. Zubair SEC provides members with introduction services and cooperation opportunities with larger companies, while also working closely with its members to equip them to be up to the market requirements and challenges. The Centre has facilitated a number of contracts and agreements for many of its members with leading companies within and outside The Zubair Group companies. This new initiative, adding to the existing “Tajribati” and the “Direct Support Programme” initiatives, proves that Zubair SEC team does not only work on developing members’ performance, but also on continuously developing the entire ecosystem of support and services. The names of many members of Zubair SEC are now very well known in the market, and newer members are striving with full passion to achieve similar excellence through their own determination and the guidance and mentorship provided by the Centre. “Zubair SEC – in line with The Zubair Corporation’s social impact strategy - renews its commitment to provide all possible support and effort towards the development and sustainability of the SME sector in Oman. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all individuals and organisations that extended support and encouragement to our members, believing that what we do has a pivotal value for the nation as a whole and reflects positively on the future of Oman”, says representatives of Zubair SEC team. For more information please visit www.zubairsec.org

Qais Al Khonji is Investing Back in Oman’s Future

hen you are a businessman and have achieved a certain wealth, you contribute to the society. One way of contributing is by funding small projects without expecting a return. It is like giving back,” said Qais Al Khonji, a dynamic Omani businessman who has been nominated as one of the top 10 entrepreneurs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for 2017. Al Khonji, along with a few others, is in the process of establishing something called the Angel Investor’s society. “It is where you invest without expecting a return, that’s why it is called an angel,” he explained. “It’s a new concept as people

are against the idea of investing in a company with minimal returns. Investing for the purpose of helping young people is still quite new.” Al Khonji is also a board member of Sharakah, a fund that supports local projects. “Business people who have invested in this fund do so to fund Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The number of clients has increased. Today, we have reached a level where we fund about 20 projects,” he explained. Sharakah is a fund created by Royal Decree in 1998. I have been involved since 2012…giving advice to students when it comes to funding.” Many students only think of joining a public or private company and not about starting their own ventures. “I’ve been getting calls from colleges and universities to speak to students about my journey.” So, Al Khonji began regularly speaking with students and aspiring young entrepreneurs to encourage them to start their own businesses. “That’s a very posi-

tive feedback. Because I believe my story has reached a lot of people.” He added, “Another way I’ve been encouraging entrepreneurship is through education. I think it will be a good step for students to learn on a school level what a business is.” Al Khonji is certainly an inspiration to many to start their own business from scratch and go through the ups and downs to establish a successful venture. This is perhaps why he has been nominated for prestigious business awards, such as the latest one from Gulf Business magazine. “They approached me, along with 30 other people, because two years ago I won an international award in the United Kingdom. The writers of the Gulf Business article conducted their own research and nominated me and then it was left open to public vote.” He is the only Omani on the list of Top 10 entrepreneurs in the GCC in 2017, and earned his place not only for his business acumen, but also for his work promoting new Arab business leaders of the future. —Shruthi Nair

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For the Women of Sidab, Business Empowers a Village

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his one-story whitewashed house is not your typical travel destination. Located in the traditional neighbourhood of Sidab, the house is home to more than 20 female entrepreneurs who make their living by selling handmade bags, purses, wallets and bottle covers. Sidab is a small village nestled in the heart of Muscat city, located a few minutes from Al Alam Palace, and this small building there has transformed over the years from a business workshop into a remarkable tourist attraction. As the temperature has cooled and tourism season has begun in Oman, more visitors flock to the handicraft shop to buy locally made souvenirs.

This is thanks in part to a new marketing strategy for which a number of social media journalists were invited to visit the ‘Women of Sidab’, a project that provides women with workshops. This marketing strategy has already attracted more visitors and the women said they have been receiving additional orders, even from the United Arab Emirates. Salma Al Wahaibi, a tailor who joined the group when it was established in 2014, said that the female-only group is like a family. “We visit each other if one gets sick, married or loses a relative,” the mother of three said. Like many others, Salma works daily from 8am to 2pm sewing traditional bags. The house consists of five rooms, including one for cutting fabrics, another for tailoring and one for crafting fronds. The fourth room is a studio where tourists can be photographed while wearing

traditional Omani dress, while the fifth room is where the products can be purchased. Al Wahaibi said that most of the tourists are Germans, French and British. “Sometimes we receive up to 20 tourists per day, and have had orders for more than 6,000 bags and wallets,” she added. Muna Al Zadjali, one the founders of the project, said that they display and sell their handicrafts at hotels and duty free shops in local airports. “The profit goes to pay the women in our group and to buy new tools,” she explained, adding that the group has trained and employed more than 100 women since 2004, most of them from Sidab village. “Some left after getting married or shifted to a new house far from the village,” she added, but there are always more, eager for the opportunity to work for themselves. —Hasan Shaban Al Lawati

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Powerful Businesswomen and Advocate: Haifa Al Khaifi

attribute this [success] to my parents and sister, who provided me with a robust grounding of humility, respect, and hard work, underpinned by a resilient spiritual well-being,” said Haifa Al Khaifi, who was recently ranked 45th in Forbes Middle East’s list of ‘The 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen. “I also attribute it to my children for their unwavering support, and to the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said (may God protect him), who has provided for the advancement of women in Oman through favourable constructs and legislative infrastructure, ensuring equal opportunity [for women] to make an impact in the country and beyond.” Al Khaifi, who has been working at the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) since 1995, currently holds the position of finance director. She says that she is humbled to be on the prestigious list. “I first wanted to rationalise what being on the ‘Forbes 100 most powerful Arab women’ actually meant. I found out that Forbes narrows the list down to 100 from a group of 300 women from 13 countries. “Subsequently, they rank based on company size, position, and sphere of impact. Having understood the criteria, I was truly humbled to be one of seven Omani women to have made it to the Forbes list.” After achieving this milestone, this inspiring Omani says that she wants to help highlight the acheivments of other Omani women. “I wish to recognise some truly brilliant women who fight against the odds on a daily basis, for some extraordinary achievements that may perhaps not be compartmentalised into a set of metrics. I am equally inspired by these women.” For her, being a working woman in

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Oman has been a great experience because of the equal opportunities available in the country for both men and women. “It is a privilege to be a working woman in Oman. Organisations here are professional and respectful of the contribution that women bring to the table. They provide for equal opportunities for women, with progressive and inclusive policies. There are myriad opportunities for women and very limited glass ceilings. In the few instances that there are barriers, there are adequate escalation measures in place to ensure that these are addressed accordingly.” However, she adds that there is a minority who have created additional challenges for working women. “In any society, there is bound to be a minority that may not necessarily be embracers of such favourable changes for women, which may encourage independence, even though it ultimately translates into a robust contribution towards furthering the strategic achievement of a country. One has to empathetically accept that every changing society has liberals and conservatives, and each group will show varying receptivity to change, particularly in relation to attitudes and values that are innate,” she explained. “I have encountered minimal adverse views from this minority of conservatives; however, they have embraced positive reasoning when it has been presented to them in an unemotional and respectful manner.” As a female business leader, she feels it is her responsibility to ensure there are opportunities within her organization for other capable women. “Appreciating the types of unique challenges and demands faced by fellow women in the workplace and society at large, women in key leadership roles should ideally facilitate the fair representation of women’s needs in an organisation,” she said. “This may be in the form of driving policies that result in equitable chances for women to succeed in the workplace or to drive specific management training and career development [programmes] that caters towards closing gaps that are typical to women.” Being a role model to women not only in Oman but across the Arab world and beyond, Al Khaifi has a simple, powerful message. “My plea would most definitely be for women to continue to support one another.” — Deeba Hasan

Entrepreneurial Inventor, Hamad Al Amri

n Omani has invented wooden frames for sunglasses, which can float on water. The inspiration for the creation came when Hamad Al Amri saw his little sister’s wooden comb float on water as they were swimming together. That moment led to the creation of a company, which is now selling designer waterproof sunshades in the same price range as a Ray-Ban. The new brand’s owner said he is dedicating 10 per cent of the company’s profit to helping people with vision problems. Featuring seven models, Al Amri started selling the glasses in June 2016 after spending more than three months designing the handmade product. The 27-year-old engineer is also a diver, who lost many glasses while practising his hobby along the Sultanate’s coastline, eventually leading him to find a

fashionable and floatable solution. With the support of his friend Ibrahim Al Sulaitni, the young adventurer started his promising project ‘Kashmah’ in November 2015. Kashmah is a word of Indian origin, which is used by locals in different Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Oman and means ‘glasses.’ He said the glasses are made in Hong Kong and assured they are completely waterproof. “We learnt how to start a small business project by requesting funds from the small business authority,” said Al Amri, a Sultan Qaboos University graduate who was the head of the fine arts group in the college. “Art and engineering work well together. I have developed a great sense of design and often get asked by my friends to share my opinion.” Kashmah products can be purchased online at the Kashmah website, as well as at at the Totem shop in Al Qurum. Models of sunglasses currently available include Ebony Branch, Zebra Stripes, Black Bamboo and Ancient Ebony, as well as medical glasses, called Sleepy Eyes and Camel Eyes. “The response to our sunshades so far is just amazing. This encourages us to work harder.” — Hasan Shaban Al Lawati

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Giving Back Charity is a key value for companies and individuals living in the Sultanate. Every large business has CSR initiatives through which they give back to the country, while private citizens contribute in their own ways. A tragic accident inspired one young man to lead the effort to take care of the orphans of Wadi Andam. An expatriate housewife has dedicated her life to helping others, from labourers on the streets of Oman to women and children in Yemen. A group of women in the capital took it upon themselves to form the first all-female volunteer organization to assist the poor. And one deeply compassionate man has spent the last few decades advocating for the disabled and showing the world what they are capable of. These people, and the many others like them, reflect the generous heart of Oman.

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Maryam Essa Al Zadjali, Founder and Chairperson

Dar Al Atta’a: An Oasis of Hope for the Underprivileged

ar Al Atta’a Association was founded in 2002 by a group of friends who are pas-

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sionate about giving to the community and supporting it positively. The Association aims to provide the necessary assistance and services to members of the community through its vision of “A better life for everyone” and its mission is: “Improving the lives of the underprivileged, and activating the process of giving through a positive and constructive partnership with donors and those in need.” And its values: “Transparency, Quality and Speed of Delivery” and the association acts as a link between supporters and those in need. In 2006, the Association was officially recognised by the Ministry of Social

Development by Ministerial Decree No. 21/2006, which was then based on the following programmes: Family Welfare Programme Providing assistance and services to underprivileged families through the construction and maintenance of homes, providing monthly food supply, electrical appliances and furniture, medical equipment for individuals and health institutions, rental of accommodation for underprivileged families, water and electricity delivery. School sponsorship programme Providing uniforms and school bags for

the underprivileged students as well as daily meals; providing partial and full grants to underprivileged students who are part of the institutions of higher education and preparing classrooms to the required standards. Islamic values p rogramme Zakat, sadaqah, iftar meals in the mosques, distribution of food parcels for underprivileged families and clothes on the occasion of Eid. In 2007, the Association included the “Let’s Read’’ initiative to its list; an initiative that promotes reading for children through a mobile library – ‘My Library’. Currently, there are two buses visiting

different schools to reach as many students possible. The programme also organises a story writing competition for school children to improve writing skills. The Association developed its first administrative strategy in 2012 which included all the social and economic data in order to develop its work in line with the mobility of the society and also to set its vision and mission. It also improved the method of managing its programmes by adding more sustainable programmes through the Empowerment Programme, which empowers underprivileged families and offers them training and employment, as well as supporting them in creating their businesses thus generating an income for them. It also established a marketing and media department to prepare campaigns and fundraising activities to fund the As-

sociation’s programmes and also to promote its programmes and objectives. The Association also attracts many volunteers and creates opportunities for them in a safe and healthy environment. In 2015, the Association bought a commercial building as the first investment project to finance its charitable programmes. The Association also recognised the youth capabilities and capacities of the ‘Ibtisamati’ group, a team dedicated to providing oral and dental health care services to the underprivileged. In 2016, the Association included ‘Sawa Nabni’ team which aims to help families in the areas of maintenance and construction and provide household supplies such as electrical appliances. This year, the “Ishraqa Amal” team, a family assistance group and the “Yusr Group” dedicated to the release of prisoners and

their assistance in debt repayment, have joined together as support groups for charitable work in the Sultanate. We issued the first issue of Al Atta’a magazine, a quarterly magazine that aims to spread the culture of volunteering. The magazine sheds light on all the activities and initiatives led by individuals and corporations in the community, locally and internationally. The Association has also conducted several successful campaigns abroad in cooperation with the Oman Charitable Organisation, including a campaign for Palestine, a campaign for Syria, two campaigns for Yemen and is now preparing a special campaign to help the Rohingya in Bangladesh. The success of Dar Al Atta’a Association and its present position as one of the leading NGOs in the Sul-

tanate of Oman is based on several elements: the alignment in vision of the board members and the recruitment of cadre capable of implementing the decisions and plans of the Association and the continuous support of companies and individuals. The Association is also proud to be one of the first associations to have developed its governance and advanced electronic system in the processing of daily work. We have tried to summarise our journey of 15 years in these lines in hope that you feel our passion through our initiatives and achievements. We are always thankful and grateful for the support we receive from individuals and institutions at all levels. We always strive to achieve better and give back to our community and to our beloved Oman.

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Khalid Al Hasani is an Advocate for Orphans

t was a personal tragedy that encouraged Khalid to choose the path of volunteering. Khalid bin Khusaif bin Said Al Hasani, who works as an Investment Relation Coordinator in Omran, was distraught when his uncle and family died in an accident, leaving behind their

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children. That was when he decided to do something for the orphans of Wadi Andam, a small village located in the Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah of Oman. Khalid, who has been working for Omran since 2006, is a strong believer in charitable programmes and giving back to the community. “It’s a community in Wadi Andam, where, along with other members of the team, I help support the orphans,” Khalid said, talking about his involvement in the Wadi Andam initiative. In 2014, Khalid started this initiative with just two people from his village. Today his team, called Stars Team, has over 160 participants and volunteers, and he is the leader. The Stars Team meets with key community members of the village and organises activities to support the orphans. The team either gives away gifts to orphans or hosts special events for

the community, as the team supports the orphans staying with their extended families. “One thing good about our initiative is that even though we focus on orphans, when we host events or sponsor a community event, we do not segregate, but make it a community affair by involving all the children in the village,” he remarked. In 2014, Khalid’s growing team of volunteers joined hands with the Omani Women’s Association in Mudhaibi, which supported their initiative. They worked together and provided shopping coupons to families with whom the orphans stayed. It was around this time that the staff of Omran approached Khalid, extending their support to his cause after hearing about his voluntary work. “Omran strongly believes in supporting and empowering local commu-

nities, as part of its social responsibility programme, while we also support our employees’ voluntary initiatives to build a responsible working environment that reflects our company’s values of ‘Knowhow, Respect and Beyond,” Badriya Al Siyabi, CSR Manager of Omran, noted. “We helped Khalid to raise funds by organising a food festival and a garage sale at our head office, where employees contributed by selling local cuisines, and some household items and products. That money was given to Khalid’s project.” “In 2015, our initiative was noticed by other charity teams in and around Wadi Andam, and they started contributing, too, by giving children vouchers for entertainment programmes,” Khalid said, as he discussed the expansion and future of the effort. “In 2016, we took a step forward and started organising events for women and children, not just for orphans.” — Swati Dasgupta

Tariq Al Khabouri Sees Abilities, Not Disablilities

or Tariq Al Khabouri, humanity and charity always come first. Starting his first initiative for the disabled in the late 1980s, he has never looked back. He hopes to one day see the disabled being treated as normal, active and productive members of society. One of his earliest fundraising initiatives for the disabled was to launch a magazine and generate money to buy wheelchairs. “Back in the 1980s, many people didn’t have a clue on how to raise funds, so I suggested that we take out a magazine, and everybody was skeptical if companies would pay for the advertisements or not. I officially joined the magazine in 1986 under the presidency of Sheikh Saud Al Rawahy, he was the former-president of the Oman Athletic and Football Associations.” “This magazine got approved in 1986, and we collected OMR6,000 from advertisements and that was like a ‘wonder of the world’”, he explained. With that money, Al Rawahy and the rest of the committee members bought wheel chairs for the handicapped. A few years later, in 1991, Al Khabouri joined the association with the Welfare for the Handicapped Association. “In 1991, I met with Barka Al Bakry and she asked me to join the association, it was the first officially recognised association for handicapped children. When I took over as a treasurer I only had OMR1,000 and then we started doing small fundraising programmes to meet our financial commitments, such as rent and electricity, and other expenses.” New ideas kept flowing to him and one day when Al Khabouri was sitting at the association, he thought of an idea. “I sat and wondered, these kids mostly suffer from Down’s Syndrome and are men-

tally challenged. I thought if we give them colours, what will they do?: He asked one of the NGO workers from New Zealand. Her name was Sherry and she said that we didn’t have enough money to do that. So, the first expense I paid was OMR30, we bought the colours and materials and the children held them and drew and coloured, and then we held a small exhibition displaying [and selling] these artworks, and our biggest buyers were the Zubair Corporation, Mohsin Haider Darwish, Bank Al Ahli (which is now Bank Muscat), KPMG, and Tawoos.” The next challenge came when the association decided to build a facility of their own. “We had this huge task to improve the handicap school centre in

Quriyat, because we didn’t have a place to keep the kids, the centre started under a tree in the late 80s, so Al Bakry spoke to me and we met His Highness Sayyid Barghash Al Said, who was the deputy governor of the capital.” He got right to work finding sponsors for the facility. “We were grateful to Al Hassan, Oman Cement Company, and Sadolin Paints; these companies provided us with the building materials for free, and then we met this fine gentlemen named Juman Al Ashour; his company is Abu Hani, he sent his construction team to us and they built the centre.” Al Khabouri’s charity and networking abilities earned him a reputation in

Oman, which lead to a German woman, who was not sure as to how she should organise extreme sports activities in Oman, approaching him. “I assisted them with the organisation [of the event] and it was from Muscat to Sharqiyah Sands, all the participants came from Germany and larger Europe. So, when this event was over she asked if we could do something on disabled diving, and I had no clue how that would be.” Al Khabouri gave the idea much thought and then met with Dr Ali Al Sunaidy, who was then the minister of sports. “He called me after three months and gave me the green light, and then for the first time in the Gulf, according to the International Association for Handicapped Divers, we did a project where we took physically challenged children into the open water.” The participants were delighted. “They were all very happy, it was an entertainment for them, and also a physical exercise, so from 2009 till today, except in 2015 because of the weather problems, we organised this [event] four times in Muscat and three times in Sohar, we also went to Nizwa and Salalah. Everywhere we have gone and done this activity, people have been overjoyed. This is also very helpful for the disabled [as it aids] with movement of their muscles.” Al Khabouri appealed to local swimming and diving instructors to come and assist with such activities. “It’s not easy organising these events alone, and we have instructors coming from abroad every time we organise these events, so I would appeal to local instructors to come and volunteer.” After decades of experience working to bring Omanis together to help the disabled, Al Khabouri thinks that all the welfare associations and NGOs need to come together under one umbrella and work alongside each other. “It is my request to the Ministry of Social Development to help bring together these voluntary organisations; maybe they can have monthly meetings and see the progress, propose projects and work to build Oman.” All these years later, his dream remains the same: to see the disabled being treated as active members of society. “The main thing is that they should be considered as normal people, their parking spaces should be respected and they need to be respected as productive people.” —Deeba Hasan

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Muscat’s All-Female Charity Group Helps the Needy

olunteering purifies the heart and makes society and its members feel more attached to one another,” said Huda Al Foori, the founder and active member of Fatayat Al Atta, one of Muscat’s femaleonly volunteering team. Huda realises the importance of volunteering in today’s society, and wishes

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to encourage her fellow female compatriots to participate in a new adventure that would bring long-term happiness and open minds to a whole new level of appreciating those in need of help. “Giving back to society is like donating a part of you and rejoicing in the beauty of others,” said Huda. In 2011, Huda established her volunteering group Fatayat Al Atta (which translates to ‘women who offer help to others’) that includes a number of women from all over the Sultanate, belonging to different backgrounds and from varied age groups. She put together a team of hardworking volunteers, who love to offer a helping hand to others, expecting nothing in return; they have been active ever since the launch. The team has helped a number of families stand on their feet and become a part of society; they began extending

their help to families that were stuck in difficult situations, as well as orphans who have no money, by helping them have a better life. “Our goal is to help turn families from being needy to becoming valuable members of their community, where they will be able to serve themselves and contribute to the service of those who are in the same situation,” said Huda. Some of the activities that the group focuses on include studying needy families and providing necessities, and seeing if the family has a member that can be trained or given the necessary tools to become the provider of their family. And, the team works together with other volunteering groups to help supervise and organise events or campaigns throughout the year, such as visiting patients and sick children during holidays and showering them with gifts that make their cir-

cumstances more bearable. Other activities, such as breakfast campaigns during Ramadan; and collaborations with the Higher College of Technology’s team can be found on their list. Seeking the best for the benefit of all is truly Huda’s motto; she founded the team in the hope to develop strong female-led volunteer personnel that can become a motivating factor in raising awareness about volunteering as an effective element in the community. “Voluntary work is important in creating a cohesive and compassionate society,” she said, adding that “We as an Omani society welcome and relate to the idea of helping others.” The team has succeeded in its adventure of providing for families. The best part is that these once needy families are now working with Huda’s team to help other poor families. — Salim Al Afifi

Jacinta Machado: An Expat’s Life of Service

love helping people, and it’s my passion to try and help in whatever way possible. I feel that when one is blessed with so much, then one must give to society whenever, wherever, and whatever way possible, no matter where you are living or which country you are residing in,”

says Jacinta Machado, a wife and mother who has been involved in social services and charities in Oman. Jacinta has lived in Oman for 27 years and in those years she has not missed any opportunity to help and reach out to those in need, not just in Oman but back home in India, too. “I love helping orphans and slum children as they are the ones who need all our love and support the most,” she said, recalling the time she spent with slum children in India and distributing pencil boxes to a foundation back home. Recently, she has been actively supporting and helping Nasr Al Jadhami, the man who personally transported 55 tonnes of aid to famine-stricken Yemen during the Oman Yemen Ramadan Relief Campaign. “I volunteered to pick up food and clothes from friends and contacts, and handed it over to Mr Nasr,” she

noted. Jacinta has also tried to help those who she thought were in need of supplies, cash, or just some love and attention. “I have been distributing water, juice, biscuits, chips, and napkins to workers here, and going with friends and distributing them at random to workers along road projects and construction sites at different places. Items are donated by friends and myself.” She has also been an active member of different groups and NGOs, both in Oman as well as in India and Africa that make it a point to help those in need. “I participated in the Toys for Children Campaign for children suffering from cancer at the Royal Hospital,” she said. She has also helped in providing goody bags to blue collar workers. “I volunteered to pick up from members (of a facebook group) and friends and was solely responsible for the distribution and reporting of this awesome campaign, which received a huge

response,” she added. Her sons Randall and Ronan, following their mother’s footsteps, have also been involved in a lot of initiatives she has been a part of. “My younger son helps to load stuff into my car whenever needed and the older one helps in transporting stuff,” she said, mentioning an initiative in which she and her group managed to deliver ‘‘7 truckloads of kindness and generosity’’. “I am a big fan of Mother Teresa and, like she said, if each one serves one, then our world will surely be free of poverty, in time to come. We, in Oman, are blessed with one of the best infrastructure and facilities, thanks to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. However, there are places and people who need our assistance here, and in neighbouring countries, and it will be great if we, who are capable of helping, come forward to help whenever, wherever and whatever way possible.” — Shruthi Nair

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Ten #OmanPride Superstars Some people defy categorization. Such was the case for some of the outstanding individuals we are featuring in the final chapter of this book. The following pages are home to an Omani sports woman who took on the Antarctic, and then, professional football. They too are home to the often-invisible force behind the pristine streets of the capital city. Read about boundarybreaking models, an international cartoonist, the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first female pilot, and the most beloved expatriate artist in the Sultanate. We hope that their stories will warm your heart, inspire you, and, most of all, give you a wellearned sense of pride in naming yourself among them as a resident of Oman.

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oredoo Goodwill is the umbrella that encompasses the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community and CSR initiatives. But the standard is

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Journeying for Goodwill definitely set when it comes to their annual Goodwill Journey. Since 2005, Ooredoo has worked hard to boost the sustainable development of local communities across Oman through the Goodwill Journey; travelling the length and breadth of the country every Ramadan. The Journey is dedicated to driving development and societal progress through education, employment and empowerment. As the inspirational mission progresses across the country, volunteers set up new projects designed in consultation with the communities they are intended to support and monitor the achievements and accomplishments of ongoing initiatives.

In its 13th year, the Goodwill Journey distributed essential equipment, supplies and materials to charitable associations, organisations and groups as well as conducting vocational skills training workshops. It also continued to establish more Ooredoo incubator programmes in collaboration with the Omani Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association. These aim to empower local women through a series of intensive workshops, equipping them with essential skills training in a variety of disciplines to enhance their skillsets and provide them with a valuable opportunity to be part and parcel of the burgeoning Omani entrepreneurial community. The annual Goodwill Journey was originally inspired by the generous and

giving spirit of Ramadan. Reflecting this sentiment and carrying it forward, every year the volunteers take the opportunity to present gifts to households at each place they visit. Sharing the spirit of the Holy Month and reaching out in friendship, this year the team provided electrical appliances to families. The much loved and highly regarded Goodwill Journey is the cornerstone of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pro-active community commitment in villages, towns and cities across the Sultanate. While the Goodwill Journey itself takes place during the Holy month, its projects and initiatives are developed with a focus on the future and the creation of a positive long-term impact.

Rumaitha Al Busaidi: Omani Wonder Woman

he is the youngest Omani woman to set foot on the South Pole in Antarctica. And not just that. She managed to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in June this year. Entrepreneur, environmentalist, footballer, aquaculture specialist — Rumaitha Al Busaidi has many titles to her credit. The go-getter is extremely appreciative of the Times of Oman’s #Oman Pride campaign. “It is a forum that celebrates the success and the good stories of Oman. I would encourage more people to come and share every story that makes them proud of Oman,” she said. Rumaitha is still not done with doing Oman proud. Having graduated with an MSc. in Marine Pollution and MSc. in Aquaculture Management, she is actively working to change the landscape of business innovation and entrepreneurship in Oman, a field that seems to have lost a sense of connect with the youth. Some people believe in the stereotypical concept that wearing a hijab restricts a woman from accomplishing certain objectives and goals but Rumaitha Al Busaidi says it gave her more reason to go ahead and overcome all obstacles that came her way. She has proved that a woman can overcome any obstacle in a male dominated society and that hijab is not an excuse to restrict oneself from achieving one’s goals. “By default, we have started considering hijab as being restrictive for women, and that is absolutely false,” said Al Busaidi, Aquaculture Specialist at Al Hosn Investment Company. “If that was the case, then we wouldn’t have had women in the past fighting on the battlefield alongside men. We have women in our army and police force today,” she added.

Contributing to the society, Rumaitha worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and fisheries on a concept of Integrated Re-circulating Aquaculture model farms for farmers who cannot use the same water to cultivate their crops. “Farmers are losing land because they cannot reuse the same water to cultivate their crops since it is salty,” said Al Busaidi. “So, for them to continue to generate income, we transform their land into fish farms,” she explained. Since introducing the concept in 2012, 10 successful farms have been brought up last year with another 50 planned in the near future. Decisively shattering the myth of women being limited or restricted due to hijab and proving false any association between hijab wearing women and conservativeness, Rumaitha scaled the sum-

mit of Mount Kilimanjaro in June this year, marking the 45th National Day and the safe return of HM the Sultan. Commenting on being the youngest Omani woman to set foot on the South Pole in Antarctica, she said, “The only word I can think of is being ‘proud’. I think I proved that Omanis can do anything, especially women.” Rumaitha was also a football player in the Oman Women’s National Football team before it was terminated in 2007. The ending of this team only opened more opportunities for her, as she and a small group of other players went on the air to lobby against the cancellation of the team. A producer, who happened to watch them venting, gave them the opportunity to talk about sports and analyze football matches on air. “In the beginning, we received nega-

tive reactions from people, even threats, and our families were pressuring us to quit,” explained Al Busaidi. “After a while, people got used to it. Today, I can go on air and talk about sports. Now people support me for it,” she added. The wonder woman is now known as an award winning radio-journalist on Merge 104.8, an avid sports woman and the first female football analyst in the Arab World. She has appeared on Abu Dhabi Sports and MBC’s Sada Al Malaeb, and is an active member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. “When you commit yourself to your vision, promise and put in your energy, it pays off even better than what one could imagine,” said Rumaitha, an Omani woman who has most certainly made Oman proude. — Tariq Al Haremi

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Aya Mohammed Al Hajri: An Omani Cartoonist

ew Omani women dare to pursue a job in the animation industry, but Aya Mohammed Al Hajri, a 25-year-old Omani

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girl working with Cartoon Network as a background artist, is planning her own comic show. Inspired by comic book artist JH Williams III and comic book artist and writer Mike Mignola, this Omani woman background artist is scaling new heights in the animation industry, which is quite an achievement for Omani women. Born in Muscat, after graduating high school, Aya studied Information Technology at Higher College of Technology in Muscat. However, she realised that it was not her passion and so she dropped out after three years and took a one year animation course at Cartoon Network Animation Academy in Abu Dhabi. “After I graduated the Academy, I

was given the opportunity to intern at the Cartoon Network Studios Arabia and even though the internship was only three months, I learned a lot from everyone there and a year after the internship I got a job there as a background artist,” Aya told Times of Oman. In the academy, she focused more on doing backgrounds and storyboards. “I had a good sense for them and so I decided to put more effort and focus into those two departments,” Aya added. While talking about the challenges she faces in the animation industry, Aya said that most of the time they have strict or short deadlines and maintaining the quality while working fast. “And even though not many people pay much attention to backgrounds in

animation they do take a lot of effort to be done right and greatly affect the mood of the scene and to establish that the artist should have good knowledge of perspective, composition, and color theory among many other principles,” Aya said. However, in between her busy work schedule, Aya plans to create her own show one day that is aimed for young Arab kids which should be funny, smart, and encourage kids to pursue their passion and dreams instead of the more historical or purely educational shows that are overflowing on TV channels right now. “I have a long way ahead of me and I need to improve a lot before I can truly be on the same skill level as artists on an international level.” — Rejimon K

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Miad Al Balushi: Global Ambassador for Women

n international relations specialist at the Research Council, Miad Al Balushi has been a true ambassador of Omani women, appreciating their capabilities and using her resources to give them a platform to express themselves. Balushi’s first job after graduation was in the Ministry of Social Development, where she worked in various departments, from community clubs to international relations, facilitating collaborations between Oman and international organisations, such as the UN, organisations for child development, women’s issues, and others. “I knew there were a lot of interesting projects with regards to women’s issues, which would interest me, being a woman myself. I feel we have many equal rights in this country, and I feel we are fortunate, compared with other countries in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council),” she said. Balushi was given the responsibility to organise the Omani Women’s Symposium, which she believes was held because the authorities realised there was an absence of women in the Shura Council. “We have all these rights and opportunities, but how come not even one woman got a seat (in the elections)? In 1980, there were women (in the cabinet). We were progressive; we shouldn’t go back. However, it just seemed like there were internal issues. That’s why, the idea of the symposium came about,” Balushi pointed out.

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There were other issues that were highlighted during the symposium, including ownership of land. “Women were not allowed to get land from the government. This changed after the symposium. All the women, regardless of their background, have the right to get land from the government,” she explained. In October 2010, to celebrate their achievements, Balushi and her group came up with the idea of the Omani Women’s Campaign. “One of our programmes was Art Speaks. It was meant to give women a platform to express themselves through the medium of art. We brought together 40 girls from all the regions across Oman. We collaborated with the arts association and women’s associations in Oman. All the famous artists provided free sessions for these girls,” she said. Several renowned artists, including Hassan Meer and others, came forward to provide the girls with free art sessions as a gesture to encourage the initiative. “We gave the girls the task of painting how they viewed the status of Omani women in the next 40 years. “All the paintings were put up on auction and the money raised was given to an association for the handicapped,” Balushi recalled. Following the success and warm response to the event, October 17 is now being celebrated as Omani Women’s Day. Balushi has never felt the need to have empowerment and feminism or rant rallies for Omani women. In fact, according to her, Oman has set an example in the region when it comes to equality and equal rights. “One of the first women GCC ministers came from Oman. I admire the fact that His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is supporting women. We have women in the cabinet,” she stressed. Her efforts and initiatives to bring together women to address their issues, as well as bring together women from different parts of Oman and give them an opportunity to express themselves, has played an important role in shaping the way we look at Omani women today. — Shruthi Nair

Ali Al Zadjali: Modern Omani Fashion Designer

ot many Omani men aspire for a career in the fashion industry. If they do, they prefer designing traditional Omani attire. Ali Al Zadjali is an exception. He has created a name for himself in the Sultanate’s

fashion industry by going beyond designing traditional outfits. Starting at the early age of 18, Zadjali created his first jacket, which is now his speciality, and received a positive response from his friends, which led to the creation of his clothing line called ‘Esque by Ale.’ He then released his first collection in January 2014, which was sold out in a matter of weeks. “I created my first jacket in the middle of the night and friends liked it when they saw it. It motivated me to make it (fashion) my career path,” said Zadjali. “So as a beginner, I found myself successful early on (after releasing the first collection) and I thought maybe I have something people want,” he added.

Since January 2014, Zadjali has sold more than 200 clothing items, including men’s shirts and women’s jackets. In December of 2014, he was named as the winner of the “Young Fashion Designer Awards Oman” from among 20 designers active on the local fashion scene. “Being the only guy in the competition and in an industry dominated by women made it reassuring that I’m doing something right and that is motivating,” he said. Zadjali is now set to release his new collection, which includes shirts for men made from an advanced printed fabric, which makes it much more durable and can be worn on a daily basis. As for women, jackets will be created from lace

to give it “a glam factor.” When asked by the Times of Oman about his advice to the aspiring youth who wished to follow a career path, but usually received disapproval or negative feedback on their decision, Ali said, “Do what you want. As long as you’re respecting the country and culture, do whatever you want.” “It really doesn’t matter what other people have to say. There will always be people, who are negative about anything. I could release abayas and people will be negative, but you should not bother yourself about that. Do it if it feels right,” he elaborated. And what does Zadjali say to all the to the “haters” out there? “I’m just not someone who ever cared for criticism.” — Tariq Al Haremi

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Balqees Al Balushi: A Barrier-Breaking Fashion Model

t is not easy balancing a life of glamour and style while also focusing on education and family where some favor one over the other, but for one person, both are equally as important. Oman pride features Balqees Al Bal-

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ushi, a rising star in Oman’s fashion industry and one of the few Omani women who are brave enough to break the stereotypes and social customs to pursue her ambition. With over 23,500 Instagram followers in just over a year since she started her modeling career, she hopes to be among the top names in fashion. Al Balushi was discussing her ambitions to become a model with her friends and said that it was a coincidence that she has been offered a job by a fashion designer through one of her friends which sparked her modeling career. “The fashion designer came to my college and took a look at me then determined I was fit to be a model,” said Al Balushi. Al Balushi said that she faces several challenges since she is Omani. “Here they want models who are

more open so they use expatriates; and because our society is so conservative, they are hesitant to use Omani models,” said Al Balushi. “An Omani model has a hard time getting to the top. In every step she takes, she has to listen to negative comments from some people and the community,” she added. She said because the society is conservative and holds on to tradition they are not used to seeing an open-minded and “modern” Omani woman. “Everyone has their own dreams and ambitions; why stop them from achieving their dreams?” said Al Balushi. “If you want to guide or advise someone, talk to them properly, not insult and abuse them to do what you want,” she added saying that she has received her share of insults and abuse on her social media account.

“A hard working woman, she tries to balance her modeling life with her academic life as well as family where she is majoring in Radio and Television by day and helps around the house by night such as preparing dinner for her family or helping her younger sibling with homework. “I try to keep my photo shoots on weekends so it doesn’t interfere with my studies,” said Al Balushi. In terms of fashion wear, Al Balushi said that she will be happy to model any design as it helps her build a repertoire of fashion. Leaving aspiring models with advice, she said, “If you keep listen to negative people you will not achieve anything. You should break the barriers and be confident in yourself and your abilities. You should know the people you’re working with, especially photographers.” — Tariq Al Haremi

Kamil Al Hinai: Oman’s First Global Male Model

Did you know that the most successful male model from the Gulf is someone of Omani origin? Kamil Al Hinai is one of the very few models who made it to the heart of fashion, London, and knows what a glamour life truly tastes like. With attractive features, a well-defined physique, and a personality to match his great success, he has become an icon of inspiration to young aspiring models in Oman. Kamil was born and raised in Muscat, and worked for the Oman English radio on weekends, and Oman Air before deciding to quit everything in 1997 and instead chase his true passion – modelling. Given our culture and the nature of this

industry, this was a huge step. He tested the waters by walking for renowned designers in Dubai, then embarked on a journey of a lifetime to Europe, with an exceptionally strong determination to achieve success internationally. Kamil’s beauty is undeniably fetching. Right from his ideal height to his striking jawline, he was seen as a perfect fit for the industry. “I was told that I had an interesting look for fashion,” said the model, adding, “I really didn’t think much of it as like most teenagers, I was still discovering who I was and wasn’t 100 per cent confident in my own skin.” Kamil moved to Germany to explore the modelling scene there. It was in Germany that he perfected his catwalk skills and became acquainted with fashion and the people involved in this industry. He experimented, collaborated and worked on numerous projects with other creative minds, but as the modelling scene in Germany lacked diversity, he realised that London was the place to be since it is a fashion capital with people from all walks of life. His career blossomed shortly afterwards. Modelling has a special place in our Omani idol’s heart and he compares it to being an actor and having the luxury to express oneself and convey messages using art, photography, and runways. To him, a runway on which the model walks is a platform for expression. Kamil has walked the runways for John Galliano, Gaultier, Gavin Pierre Medford, Calvin Klein and Armani, to name a few. He starred in ad campaigns for Denison Boston in London and New York, iPads, Vaseline, Toni and Guy, as well as various magazines. He was also a judge in the second season of Oman’s Next Top Model, and was featured in Jawahir Oman in 2011, an assignment that meant a lot to him as it came from his beloved Oman. Today, Kamil is a life coach, focusing on the business side of fashion. As his career continues to soar higher and inspire youngsters in town, we cannot wait to see his next move. “It’s natural for us to be afraid of stepping out of our comfort zone, and being a model, you have to do that all the time. It’s important to realise when you are standing in the way of your own success,” says Kamil Al Hinai. — Salim Al Afifi

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Maha Al Baluchi: Oman’s First Female Pilot

omen in Oman have made a mark on land and sea by clinching prestigious positions in the Omani society while overcoming obstacles and challenges that are thrown in their way at the same time. One woman has paved the way for others in the sky: Maha Al Baluchi, the nation’s first Omani female senior first-officer working for the national carrier, Oman Air. Working her way up from flying Boeing 737s to eventually co-piloting the state-of-the-art Airbus A330, Al Baluchi has graced Oman and Omani women in the skies. “This was my first job ever and it feels great; especially that a lot of young females (could) consider me an inspiration for them,” said Al Baluchi. “I hope I can be an inspiration to women in the Arab world and not only in our beloved Oman,” she added. Travelling frequently with her family at a young age, her admiration for airline crew members grew stronger, which made her take the path of aviation, for which she successfully obtained a licence in Australia. When the Times of Oman asked her about the challenges she had faced when she decided to specialise in a male-

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dominated profession, Al Baluchi said, “I mostly faced cultural challenges and not many accepted that this job is suitable for an Omani women. When I was young my family thought that I will change my mind as I grew older.” She added, “Nevertheless, the family supported me as I started venturing in the business, especially my father, who always told me that I can be a pilot and nothing is impossible.” Unlike Al Baluchi, some women are hesitant or rather convinced that they cannot pursue their dreams for a career in a predominantly male bastion, but Al Baluchi advised that if women turn their dreams to ambition and a goal, as well as work hard on it, they will succeed and do what they have always wanted to do. Aviation, especially piloting, is not a field to be taken lightly as it requires immense concentration, pilot intuition and, of course, knowledge of how to fly a plane. Cadets undergoing training need to study about 15 books to gain theoretical knowledge about flying aircraft from navigational mapping and flight operations to meteorology and mechanics. “If you are planning to start your life in aviation, it should start with passion and love for this job and continue with hard work. There should be no other reason that gets you into aviation but your passion and love for it,” said Al Baluchi. Update: Maha Al Baluchi, was the nation’s first Omani female senior firstofficer working for Oman Air. Since the #OmanPride story was published about her, she has spoken at more than five educational institutions and has more requests still pending. — Tariq Ziad Al Haremi

“Green Men”: The Workers Who Keep Muscat Beautiful

e often see workers dressed in green uniforms while moving on Oman’s roads, but most of us fail to recognise their efforts in making Oman one of the most cleanest and beautiful countries in the world.

“They do a commendable job, regardless of whether it’s a rainy or sunny day. We can see them working hard to keep Oman’s roads beautiful,” said Mohammed Khalid, an Omani businessman in Ruwi. “Especially after the rains, their work is doubled. However, in a short span of time, they make the roads and surroundings beautiful.” There are at least 1,000 such workers employed in different sections, such as garbage collection and beautification, and they work in different camps organised by the Muscat Municipality. Commenting on the efforts of these

workers, residents of Hamriyah said they are grateful to them for their devotion. “Our city is the most affected during the rain. Even if it rains for a few minutes, Hamriyah is flooded. But within hours, the debris is cleaned by these workers. We, as residents of Hamriyah, always appreciate their efforts,” said Saji Sam, a resident of Hamriyah. “These workers do a great job. We realise their efforts only after it rains. After the rains, it is a mess here. But these workers are capable of clearing it within minutes,” local shop-owners said. According to the workers, despite

working so hard, they have to grapple with very low pay and the lack many other benefits. The workers’ morning shift begins at 6am and ends at 11am and the afternoon shift begins at 3pm and ends at 5.30pm. Raju Abraham, a cleaning worker, voiced his opinion while continuing with his work in Ruwi. “Our work may be the lowest in the job strata. It’s quite tedious. But, the support we get from Omanis and expatriates makes us happy. Even a smile from people while we do our job is a great inspiration.” — Mobin Mathew Blesson

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Mohsin Al Manji: A Designer Re-Creating Heritage

here is something about traditional fashion that’s just fascinating, from the textile used to the colours and design, and in Oman, this side of fashion is aided by the country’s rich culture, where designers incorporate cultural elements into modern pieces. Mohsin Al Manji, an Omani sandal designer, uses all these elements in his beautiful creations that are inspired from Omani culture. Al Manji was born in Muscat, but his origins are from

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A’Sharqiyah. He worked as a presenter on Majan TV before migrating to become one of Oman’s most successful male fashion designers. He was always into styling; the way he matches his outfits scream fashion. During his time at Majan TV, his passion for fashion evolved and became something greater than putting on a white dishdasha and a mussar. He had to look good at all times. It was he who decided to give designing a try and create something unique to wear for himself. Soon after, he started getting compliments from his co-workers and those around him, as they were impressed by the choice of colours and materials he used. He started with the most common fashionable item in men’s closet — sandals. Al Manji came up with the concept of designing Omani-inspired sandals, which became a success on social media and at his workplace. Given the constant demand for sandals, Al Manji decided to ditch TV and embark on a new journey, a journey full of fabric stitching and fitting. He started his sandal brand Mohsin Design (MD), a sartorial handmade

brand launched in 2013, offering exclusive attention-grabbing sandals — Na’aal, traditional accessories, female dresses, as well as men’s dishdashas. The young designer launched his brand with the aim to infuse traditional Omani ensembles with a touch of modernity and glamour, and that’s exactly what he did. He used interesting materials, such as golden threads, silver, and car-seat leather among other things.

Today, his brand caters to both men and women, designing dresses, heels, wallets, and a variety of accessories, all handmade to perfection. Al Manji draws inspiration from things that have an Omani identity and culture; he made sandals inspired by bisht, a flowing cloak made of wool, as well as sandals with Omani fortress colours, to name a few. All the pieces that he creates are dressed with a touch or a glimpse of beautiful Oman. He managed to modernise the traditional sandal without letting go of its true essence. His brand won the best project and section at Bandira, where it won the Zubair Small Enterprises Centre award. He also participated in Huwiyati Atturathiya — My Heritage Identity exhibition at the Higher College of Technology, as well as an exhibition at The Sultan’s School. The designer is now gearing up for a fashion show that will showcase his latest collection in July. We cannot wait to see what’s coming next from Al Manji, one thing you can be sure of is that it will be modern, cool, and tradition-heavy. — Salim Afifi

Ibrahim Galiani: Oman’s Most Famous (and Charitable) Expat Artist

brahim Gailani, a contemporary artist living in Muscat boarded a plane to Muscat seven years ago. He was unsure about his future, which involved taking up a corporate job at the Oman Arab Bank. Already going through a transformation internally, Oman gave Gailani the room to establish his studio and emerge out of the “Ibrahim—the Corporate Executive” shell as “Gailani—the Artist.” Today, Gailani has become a complete brand in Oman that encompasses all things art.

From “Curated by Gailani” events, to “Gailani Art Retreat” and to “Gailani Art Talks,” there is no escaping brand Gailani in Oman. For Gailani, who is also a member of the Omani Society of Fine Arts, it has been a conscious effort to bring art to the people, to offer insights to the non-artists, and use social media to spread the philosophy of art that has been the greatest success of Gailani. Whether it is an art opening of a 12-year-old student’s work, or judging 900 paintings by children for His Majesty the Sultan, to assembling street graffiti artist, Gailani is always present. It is his commitment to the art scene in Oman that has gathered a lot of respect, even from those who otherwise may not favour his modern artistic style. Perhaps it is that passion that has gotten translated into cyber space as his art website has won the 2014 Gold Award in the “Art & Culture” Category in the Sultanate of Oman. “It has been a love affair with Oman and the love and respect I have found as an artist has fuelled me to keep going,

even as I take on the 5 Art project, along with my retreat and a tough corporate job because I want to give all I have to make some difference in this beautiful land I now call home,” Gailani told TOO. Always dressed in elaborate scarves, necklaces and bracelets, with flowing grey hair, his appearance makes a statement, and that statement continues to be his spiritual philosophy and love for “being present in the now.” This passion of being “present in the now” and not taking the baggage of life forward are front and centre of Gailani’s extremely successful venture into Art Retreats. With over 500 attendees and 35 retreats spread over two years, they have become a hub of creativity in Muscat, and indeed Oman. The Gailani Art Retreats are a fullday “artistic escape” retreat that are held once a month and bring together creative souls to paint global music rhythms. Participants meditate, connect with their inner consciousness, and paint their feelings on canvas, and then share with the entire group. One doesn’t need to be a trained artist for these retreats, just willing to let creativity flow. Photographers, musician, writers, doctors and lawyers also attend to let the blockages of their world be released through art. It is a full-day retreat, where a topic of the day is discussed and explored, with initial meditation, followed by a painting, listening to world music, and then a group discussion. Gailani, who once attended an art retreat himself, said it really transformed both his art and his outlook, and hence decided to start his own retreats. Each retreat has a specific topic, and a customized music designed and arranged specially for the retreat. “Looking back, I could not have imaged the success,” Gailani said. Gailani is a self-taught contemporary artist, whose journey to art is a path embarked upon through a collage of rebellion, debate, redemption, and a search for inner strength. As a child, “I could paint better than write,” recalled Gailani, who started as early as five- year-old, but was not always encouraged for fear of being “a starving artist on the streets.”

Pressured to pursue a corporate career, Gailani stopped pursuing art altogether. Twenty years later as a top executive in the corporate world, when he found himself in extreme darkness, his life partner handed him a canvas and said, “you have a lot to say, use this to say it.” The rest is history. Gailani refers to himself as the “debating artist,” who comments on struggles of individuals and society in coming to terms with the demons we lock away. It’s a look at the steps we take on the different paths we choose. Gailani’s Sufi family roots emerge from Baghdad, Iraq. The Sufi heritage of Gailani has opened the door to what is currently being dubbed as “Spiritual Art.” One of his greatest influences is the Mexican artist Frida Khalo. Gailani’s love for her work is a deeply personal one. “Frida is my hero. Her journey of pain coupled with the vibrancy of colours and the constant self-reflection struck me to my core and has the greatest impact on the type of work I produce. In a strange way, I feel like I relive her life through her work and I find her guiding me in mine,” Gailani said. “Frida Khalo has been my biggest inspiration in art, it is her life that inspired me to re-discovery my art and love for faces, and stories around faces. Every story that she painted impacted the core of my being,” he added. He recently made a tribute painting for Frida in pop-art. “I’ve titled this painting “My Warhol Frida–My Hero, My Strength” to not only pay tribute to her as my Idol, but to also pay tribute to the Andy Warhol style of pop-art painting that I have drawn inspiration from in my recent works,” Gailani explained. “Bold,” “in your face,” “captivating,” “repulsive” are some of the words used to describe Gailani’s work. Not known for being subtle, his canvas always makes a statement. Whether you love it or hate it aesthetically, you can’t walk past one of his works and not have an opinion about it. “I always feel that art needs to evoke emotions it needs to scream out to you, it needs to touch you, it needs you to ask further questions, it needs you to demand answers,” Gailani said. “What art doesn’t need is for you to pass by with a casual glance.” — Mobin Mathew Blesson

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