Ms OCTOBER 20, 2013
ISSUE NO. 70
Autumn formals
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Babysitting as a business
Daycares in Pakistan
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inside mother superior —
Herbal teas and pregnancy
domestic goddess —
Add some achaar
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The Dragon
Section In-Charge: Batool Zehra Sub-Editor: Amna Hashmi
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Ms
the buzz
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Revolutionizing Babysitting: Daycares in Pakistan by Rahat Kamal
Ms.T sheds light on some prominent daycare centres in Pakistan and how they are facilitating the female workforce They are the ‘9 - 5 moms’ for children; they feed them, play with them, wash them, discipline them and hold them during the greater part of the day, while their real mothers are busy toiling away to earn a living. As the morning rush hour gains momentum, so do the knocks on these caregivers’ doors with more and more working mothers dropping off their children for the day. The caregivers welcome each child with open arms and until that evening, play the role of mother to these children. These are the workers at local daycare centres in Pakistan, who look after our children everyday so that we may have the opportunity to build sound careers for ourselves. Over the past decade, women in Pakistan have become players in the professional world, almost at par with their male counterparts. In order to facilitate them, a number of daycare centres have sprung up
but quit because of these domestic responsibilities and so we lost several high potential workers. This is what encouraged me to start THAF,” she adds. Daycares play an important role in expediting women’s careers by allowing them to work without worry. In fact, Raeda shares that their clientele includes not just working mothers but some students as well, whose studies were disrupted due to marriage and pregnancy. “Some of the mothers who come to us are finishing medical, dentistry, MBAs etc.” she claims. “Life for women should not stop once they become mothers. Our mission is to provide a home away from home for their children so the mothers can build better, happier real homes. It is a great thing!” Raeda attributes the growing dependence on daycare centres to the rising ambitions of Pakistani women who now aspire to do much more in life than be homemakers. She also believes that family structures in Pakistan have changed, creating the need for babysitters other than a child’s grandparents and maids. “Nowadays, the nuclear family style is becoming increasingly popular as young couples don’t like to live with their parents so they need to find other babysitters. Not to mention, even grandmothers no longer just sit at home – they have their own schedules or aren’t willing or healthy enough to take up the responsibility of tending to little children. That is where THAFDC comes in,” she explains. With the child-friendly and clean environment and other services on offer, more and more parents are resorting to daycares for their children. For Rafea Rizwan, being able to send her two young daughters to a daycare is a blessing as her fulltime job at one of Paksitan’s leading TV channels does not allow her to look after them during the day. “My husband and I don’t feel comfortable leaving our daughters with the maids so we don’t employ any,” she admits. “But at the daycare, I know my daughters are well looked after. Even if they are sick, be it nappy rashes or fever or just regular toddler tantrums, the daycare has proved itself time and again, caring for the children as any family member would.” Apart from the regular, 9-5 packages, some daycare centres have started providing services by the hour to allow women to complete everyday chores like
The rise of daycare centres indicates a shift in the mentality of people, who now realise the importance of women’s contributions to Pakistan’s economy across the country which allow these working women to fulfill their ambitions without being tied down by their maternal responsibilities. One such example is the Tiny Hands and Feet Daycare Centre (THAFDC) which is located in an upscale area of Karachi and owned and operated by three women, along with a trained staff and on-site nurse. The owners have educational backgrounds in psychology, linguistics and teaching which, according to Director Rahmat Latif, gives the daycare a “thorough understanding of the children’s needs, attitudes and behaviours.” According to Rahmat, the main aim behind THAFDC is to assist mothers to have a better, happier life by allowing them to pursue their careers or just follow their interests. Raeda Latif, one of THAFDC’s founding members, came up with the idea during her own time working in the financial sector when she noticed that the Human Resources department at her company would often forgo some suitable candidates because they were women with or about to have children. “I saw that they would weigh a female candidate’s suitability according to how long she would be able to work after her marriage and baby,” reveals Raeda. “I came across many women who truly wanted to work
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Charges: Tiny Hands & Feet Daycare Centre: Monthly charges – 9am to 5pm package: Rs14,000 Monthly charges – 12pm to 5pm package: Rs5,000 Daily charges: Rs1,000 p/day Hourly charges: Rs300 p/hr
Playhouse Children: Monthly charges – 9am to 6pm package: Rs12,000 Daily charges – 9am to 2pm: Rs150 p/hr Daily charges – 2pm to 6pm: Rs200 p/hr Daily charges – 6pm to 9pm: Rs250 p/hr
Daycare Centre, Women Developement Department, Government of Sindh: Monthly charges – 9am to 5pm package: Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 (depending on age of child)
shopping, groceries or cooking without having to juggle them with their children. In fact, at Playhouse Childcare, the number of mothers availing these hourly packages is much higher than those leaving their children for the entire day. This way, parents can drop of their children as the need arises, on a day-to-day basis. “Our hourly packages provides mothers with a feasible and secure option wherein the children can be left in a friendly and hygienic environment to play with other children, whilst the mothers are free to shop, hit the salon, grab a coffee etc and pick up their child on their way home,” explains Farah Ali, director of Playhouse. In order to keep the children busy and prevent tantrums, Playhouse conducts activities like arts and crafts, hip hop dance, yoga and aerobics, giving them an educational and fulfiling experience. “Once the activities are over, the children are fed, washed and put to sleep. They may even complete some homework should they have any,” shares Farah. In order to meet the growing demands of their female employees and curtail employee turnover, some prominent organizations like Engro Corporation and Unilever now offer private daycare facilities on the office premises, allowing female workers to do their jobs whilst keeping their children close to them. Nida Fatima, an assistant manager at Unilever highlights the benefits of on-site daycares, saying “I feel physically close to my baby at all times of the day. Her live video-feed is available for me to keep tabs whenever I want. This gives me mental peace and boosts my productivity at work as I as I’m not worried the whole time.” The needs of working women and their children have also encouraged the government to provide subsidised daycare centres to those who cannot afford private help. The Government of Sindh has recently opened a daycare facility in PECHS, Karachi which caters to the less
fortunate, charging a fee of Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 per month, depending on the age of the child. Dr. Sadia Farnaz, manager of the Women Development Department of Sindh says the centre aims at “women for whom not working is simply not an option,” providing them support and ensuring they do not retire. Another similar daycare has been setup on the University of Karachi campus to facilitate female teachers and students alike, with two additional centres being planned for Karachi and four more in interior Sindh. “Our main endeavour is to stop Pakistani women from quitting their jobs upon motherhood as they are the backbone of the economy,” says Dr Farnaz. “If they are adequately supported, they will be able to move ahead and make a difference for themselves and the nation.” The rise of daycare centres indicates a shift in the mentality of people, who now realise the importance of women’s contributions to Pakistan’s economy. It is our duty as good citizens to encourage this change and push our women to become more than homemakers. The women of the world have moved ahead and so should we.
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en vogue
Fall
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Style Guide Ahsan Hussain’s latest formals are a collection of bright colours and delicate embroidery, perfect for the autumn wedding season Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair & Makeup: Saba Ansari @ Sab’s Salon Designers: Ahsan Hussain Photogtaphy & Styling: Abid Saleem Models: Sadaf Kanwal
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
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mother superior
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Herbal tea during pregnancy – is it safe? Ms T weighs in on the popular beverage and whether it is fit for consumption during pregnancy It is said that there are few hours in the day more enjoyable than those spent with a warm cup of tea during a lazy afternoon. In Pakistan, we take this up a notch as our tea breaks are not limited to the afternoons alone. Tea for us is like the elixir of life which we must consume anytime, anywhere to support ourselves through the day. Keeping this national love affair with the beverage in mind, imagine what would happen if we had to stop drinking tea for some time, particularly if we are expecting and the pregnancy hormones and cravings are kicking in. We’d go crazy right? Well, lucky for us, we need not worry! Herbal tea is a form of tea which is gaining increasing popularity across the world, owing to the countless benefits its ingredients have to offer. Herbal tea comprises of various herbs, spices and other plants immersed in hot water. These contain chemicals which are known to produce favourable effects on the human body. Ginger tea, for instance, contains an active chemical called Zingerone which calms nausea. Similarly, green tea is believed to contain anti-oxidants that cleanse the body. Unfortuanely, there is still some confusion regarding the suitability of herbal tea in times of pregnancy, with little research about its effects on a developing foetus. Many supporters of alternative medicine say herbal tea is a great way to support pregnancy because it contains snutrients such as calcium, magnesium and iron. In addition to this, herbal tea is free from the evils of caffeine, which according to Dr Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz (‘You: Having a Baby’) can cross the placenta and increase risk of miscarrying.
The problem is the lack of evidence in support of herbal tea and its impact, if any, on a developing foetus. There is not enough research done on the subject, despite some varied reports of problems Most commercial brands of herbal teas are considered safe for consumption, the only exception being unbranded packets or teas with excess amounts of herbs in them. To tap into this market, some international brands have also launched special lines of ‘pregnancy teas’ comprised of herbs considered good for the prenatal period. Red raspberries, for instance, prevent pregnancy-related complications like preterm labour and postpartum bleeding and also reduce labour hours. Similarly, peppermint tea is used worldwide to counter morning sickness and nausea. Chamomile is rich in calcium and copes not only with insomnia but also inflammation of joints. In her book ‘What to Expect When Expecting,’ Heidi Murkoff recommends ginger in any form during pregnancy, be it ginger tea or food containing it. “As long as the ingredients of the tea, the herbs, are known, accepted and eaten as safe foods, there should be nothing to worry about,” says local gynaecologist Azra Ahsen. “Just make sure they are not random or toxic. Best to stick to everyday herbs that one has been consuming as part of their diet before pregnancy, such as ginger or peppermint tea.” The problem is the lack of evidence in support of herbal tea and its impact, if any, on a developing foetus. There is not enough research done on the subject, despite some varied reports of problems caused by green tea during the first and second trimesters and the research that has been done tested just a few herbs. For instance, many midwives use raspberry leaves to ease delivery but its effectiveness has never really been proven. Considering the numerous advantages of these natural ingredients, it would be safe to give most herbal tea the green light for pregnant women but gynaecologist Sumbul Sohail remains skeptical. “The thing is, even gynaecologists are not really familiar with herbs or their properties so we cannot prescribe herbal tea per se,” she admits. “Nonetheless, one should consult their gynaecologist and family doctor or a herbalist beforehand.” It must be noted that herbs are much more concentrated in tea than in food so it is important to regulate one’s intake. Excessive amounts of anything can cause health problems, pregnancy or no pregnancy. Hence, if you do choose to drink herbal tea, make sure it is in moderation and your doctor knows beforehand. Also, be sure to check the ingredients listed on the tea packages and steer clear of anything that sounds unsafe or unfamiliar. And if you are brewing your own tea at home, never include any plant that you are less than 100% sure about.
by Our correspondent
domestic goddess 7
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Recipe
Achaar Gosht Have some meat left over from Eid? Worry not! Try my recipe for exquisite Achaar Gosht that will have you licking your fingers and craving for more. I guarantee you will love it!
Method • Add the oil, onions and garlic paste to a large wok and sauté until the onions become golden-brown. • Add the mutton, salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder and water to the wok and cook at low flame until the water has evaporated, the mutton is soft and the oil separates from the mixture. Pour in more water if the mutton is hard. • Allow the meat to cook for a while, until it acquires a nice brown colour. • Add green chillies and yogurt to the wok and continue cooking over medium flame until the water evaporates completely. • In another frying pan, roast the black onion, fenugreek, cumin and fennel seeds completely and add them to the mutton, • In a small bowl, mash a few pieces of mango pickle and achaar masala together and add it to the wok. • Mix the ingredients well and turn off the flame. • Garnish the dish with coriander, ginger and green chillies and serve hot.
Arooj Waqar runs a Facebook cooking page called ‘Mona’s Kitchen’ and aspires to convert her passion for cooking into a career
Ingredients:
Mutton 1 kg
Yogurt 1 cup
Black onion Cumin seeds seeds (Kalonji) (Zeera) 1 tbsp 1 tbsp
Oil 6 tbsp
Onions (chopped) 3
Fenugreek seeds (Meethrai) 1 tbsp
Fennel (Saunf) 1 tbsp
Garlic paste 1 tbsp
Green chilli 2- 3
Salt (to taste) Red chilli powder (to taste)
Coriander powder 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves for garnishing
Water 1-2 cups
hottie of the week 8
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 20, 2013
Status Born
Unknown Kabul, Afghanistan
Birthday
September 12th, 1983
Hamid Rahimi
Face
85%
Body
90%
Who is he? Ladies, it’s time to let your imagination wander to the boxing gyms of Hamburg, Germany, where the washboard abs and crafty biceps of Hamid Rahimi await! Seriously, if you relish the idea of the strong and silent type, toiling away hours at the gym to achieve that perfectly chiseled and toned body, then feast thine eyes because Rahimi is the one for you. This smashing and dashing Afghani boxer fled Kabul for Germany in 1992 in the wake of the Afghan civil war. Little did he know that Germany would bring him closer to his true calling, i.e. martial arts, albeit in an unusual way. The then 11-year-old Rahimi was being bullied by three of his classmates and Rahimi, who did not speak German then, retaliated with boxing. He emerged successful, realizing that he could earn recognition through his fists and so began his love and talent for martial arts. Now at 30, Rahimi has won 21 out of his first 22 matches and bagged some prestigious boxing championships, such as the World Boxing Union (WBU) in February 2012, a title he has defended to date. Most importantly, he has smashed his way into our hearts with his chiseled Hazara features, sixpack and ability to fight anything and anyone. It really is no wonder that he is called ‘The Dragon!’
Talent
85%
Why we love him Contrary to the big, burly and brute image presented by boxers in general, Rahimi is a real treat for the eyes. He has an uncanny ability to look as great flexing his muscles during a fight in the boxing ring as he does when he is suited and booted, meeting his fans and giving television interviews. He is equal parts tough and soft, good and bad. Rahimi’s strong, seemingly unbreakable jaw contrasts with his rosy pink cheeks but are enough to make us want to enter the boxing ring with him (just not to fight!) What is truly inspirational about Rahimi is his strength – not physical but emotional. He is extremely determined and focused in everything he does, be it training, winning championships or simply opening up gyms in his hometown. He hopes to become the world champion in several international boxing leagues and even gave up managing his family’s restaurant to focus on this goal. He believes that the world belongs to the courageous and pushes himself to remain steadfast in every fight of his life, both in and out of the boxing ring.
What you didn’t know about him In 1998, Rahimi shifted to Thailand to spend a few months training at a Thai boxing master class where he was isolated from the rest of the world but learned some of his best fight moves. He chose the title of ‘The Dragon’ as it is an adaptable creature who can cope with water, wind and fire. The title is symbolic of Rahimi’s ability to cope with any boxer or situation within the boxing ring. His birth name is Hamidullah Rahimi.
Total Package
87%