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DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 198
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Gulf Financial Insider
Contents December 2021
Issue 198
08 20 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.
06 08 12
Expats can now send remittances via BenefitPay! Is your health the new wealth? - Julius Baer ASB – Behind American School of Bahrain’s Early Childhood Education
19 20
Ferrari 812 GTS — A mighty work of art powered
by a herd of horses
New Range Rover launched at BIC
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Comment... A picture is worth a thousand words. Here's last month’s most 'Liked' #theoldbahrain picture posted to our social media.
Publisher & Editor in Chief
Nicholas C. Cooksey
Editorial
Angela Acosta Elyzabeth Ramirez
Editorial Contributors
Nicholas Cortes
Sales & Business Development
Charlie Cooksey
Layout Designs
Dhanraj S
Admin & Finance
Nikesh Pola
Photography
Angelo Jose A
Distribution Mohammed Yousif Aramex Al Ayam
For advertising contact Charlie Cooksey +973 3652 0004 charlie@gulf-insider.com
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P.O. Box 26810, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1700 4575 Fax: +973 1772 1722 Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain. Registered with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Bahrain BD2 | KSA SR20 | Kuwait KD1.75 | Oman RO2 | Qatar QR20 | UAE DHS20
Complimentary Copy
The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine
1964 v 2021: View of Shaikh Isa Ave from junction at Isa Al-Kabeer Ave - American Mission Hospital situated left of photo. Notice cars driving on left of road in older photo.
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Gulf Insider December 2021
5
Money & Business
EXPATS CAN NOW SEND REMITTANCES VIA
BENEFITPAY!
BENEFIT launches a new remittance service for BenefitPay customers.
T
he Kingdom’s leading regional player in electronic financial transactions; BENEFIT has announced the launch of a remittance service as part of its BenefitPay service, which will enable all users of the app to make international money transfers. The new service will enable users to enjoy faster, cheaper and valueadded remittance services that are provided through various leading service providers in the Kingdom via one platform, as it will be initially commenced in cooperation with 6
Gulf Insider December 2021
Bahrain Finance Company, while other institutions will be added in the near future. BENEFIT’s Chief Executive, Abdulwahed Al Janahi, commented, “We are delighted to onboard this service, which reflects BENEFIT’s strategic goal of continuously expanding our solutions to multiple communities, and offering our consumers with cutting-edge digital solutions. This service will undoubtedly benefit a great proportion of society and we’re honoured to play a role in ensuring our consumers can perform their payments
safely and securely. The remittance service operates as a marketplace for all licensed remittance service providers in the Kingdom of Bahrain. We are coordinating with all the authorised remittance institutions to be part of this comprehensive platform.” Deepak Nair, CEO, Bahrain Financing Company (BFC) stated, “We are thrilled to be part of this journey, and as the first service provider in Bahrain to join the platform, which is characterised by ease of use, speed and transparency, and provides international communities with increased convenience. As BFC, we
Money & Business
Abdulwahed Al Janahi
The new service will enable users to enjoy faster, cheaper and valueadded remittance services that are provided through various leading service providers in the Kingdom.
Deepak Nair have always been a frontrunner within the remittance industry, as we were also the first transfer and exchange company to introduce the digital on-boarding feature on its remittance app and website. This announcement further amplifies our efforts to provide more for our consumers.” It is worth noting that BENEFIT’s new digital remittance service comes in the context of facilitating sending money abroad. The new service aims to disrupt the industry by offering an innovative solution for seamlessly transfer money. With this service, users can choose the amount they want to send and where, and get several affordable, fast and secure options from local top trusted providers. Transfers can be made to bank accounts defined within banks abroad, or by receiving the transferred amount directly at the offices of the receiving institution. This service is in line with the National Electronic Wallet Payment System, BenefitPay’s expansion of offerings in response to its users’ need for high-quality services. Today, more than 750,000 registered users benefit from the app, which provides services that range between money transfers, bill payments and various purchases in a fast, convenient and safe manner.”
For more information, visit www.benefit.bh.
Gulf Insider December 2021
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People & Culture
IS YOUR HEALTH THE NEW WEALTH? Dr. Damien NG, Next Generation Research Analyst at Swiss Wealth Manager, Julius Baer talks about the importance of investing in your health and well-being.
B
ringing together physical and mental well-being
Our personal well-being is closely intertwined with the state of our health. For this reason, sages of the ancient world have long taught about the importance of the art of living a balanced lifestyle that combines fitness and health with emotional well-being and relationships. Despite the passing of time since such knowledge was discovered, healthy living remains as relevant as ever for the present-day world. Due to the increasing demands of the modern way of life, however, chronic diseases and other health conditions have been on the rise.
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Gulf Insider December 2021
An increase in office-work environments and the frequent use of smartphones and computers, add to the growing prevalence of inactivity, not helped by the easy availability of processed foods rich in sugar, salt, saturated fats, and calories, while more stress and anxiety arising from the frantic rush of everyday life, ultimately takes its toll on our mental well-being. “More people are turning to healthier lifestyles to keep their immune systems strong.” Indeed, physical and mental wellbeing constitute two important components of overall health. Not only can individuals be debilitated
by chronic physical conditions, such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity due to unhealthy diets and the lack of movement, mental health issues that may be either related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other general considerations can also affect them. Therefore, COVID-19 has prompted a growing number of people to turn to healthier lifestyle habits to keep their immune systems strong while boosting their psychological morale during these extraordinary times. The consequence of people living better and happier will inevitably have profound implications for our society and economy.
People & Culture
Greater consumption of salt and sugar worldwide
Dr. Damien Ng
In recent years, excessive consumption of salt and sugar has come to the attention of public health authorities and the medical professionalsfor the growing incidence of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and even some types of cancer. In the case of sugar, inhabitants in the Gulf region have been observed to consume most sugar on a per capita basis due to the availability of soft drinks and sweet but very delicious local desserts. For instance, an average inhabitant of Bahrain consumes around 250 grams of sugar on a daily basis. This is significantly more than in other countries,such as 130 grams
in the United States.Nevertheless, the American Heart Association recommends that women should not consume more than 25 grams of added sugar a day; and men 36 grams. After all, too much sugar is widely associated with higher incidence of diabetes and obesity over the longer term. For instance, national prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia and the UAE exceeds 16 percent. Naturally, it also means that blood-sugar monitoring systems, oral and other types of medication, and insulin injections will be one of the major foci of the region’s medical care. “Individuals with stronger family ties may enjoy a greater degree of emotional and tangible support.”
Gulf Insider December 2021
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People & Culture
Mental health is increasingly becoming a priority
“Winners of the theme hail from a mix of consumer and defensive sectors.”
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Gulf Insider December 2021
The plight of a growing number of people suffering from emotional stress during the COVID-19 pandemic has increasingly drawn the attention of healthcare professionals to the need of tackling mental well-being. The lockdown measures and the resulting economic slowdown have adversely affected many people’s mental health. While it is understandable that many people experienced nervousness and the fear of contracting the virus during the global health threat, public health measures like social distancing, working from home, temporary unemployment and the homeschooling of children made many feel more anxious and isolated due to a lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues. Nevertheless, anxiety and other mental disorders were already prevalent prior to the outbreak of the global health crisis. According to the WHO, national prevalence of anxiety disorders in Australia, the Netherlands, and the US surpasses 6 percent. By contrast, it is around 4 percent in Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, and the UAE. This phenomenon appears to suggest that in cultures where family ties remain strong, there may be a greater degree of emotional and tangible support.
“Winners of the theme hail from a mix of consumer and defensive sectors.”
Investing in health From an investment perspective, we maintain a constructive view on the long-term investment opportunities relating to healthy living, due to the growing awareness about the importance of reinforcing our immune systems to keep diseases at bay. This is particularly important against the backdrop of the persistently rising incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity across the world. Winners of the theme hail from a mix of consumer and defensive sectors. Given the broad scope of industries involved in the theme, the winners come from a mix of cyclical and defensive sectors. In particular, companies engaged in the retail and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the manufacture of organic food and beverages, athletic footwear, wearables and sports equipment, beauty and personal-care products, as well as healthcare relating to cardiovascular, diabetes and kidney malfunction, plus musculoskeletal and mental disorders.
School search made easy...
People & Culture
BEHIND AMERICAN SCHOOL OF BAHRAIN’S
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Gulf Insider meets Sandra Al-Ajmi, Early Childhood Lead Teacher at American School of Bahrain.
J
ust recently, we had a chat with Lead Teacher Sandra who joined ASB after a 12-year tenure at The Learning Tree. With over 30 years of educational experience, Sandra has also served as principal, vice-principal, and has taught at the middle school, high school, and university levels.
Can you walk us through a day in your life at ASB? What does it look like? My day begins at seven o’clock. I go through my emails and make sure that I’ve attended to parents’ and teachers’ concerns. From 7:30, I then head outside to welcome the kids and greet the parents. After that, I usually go into a meeting with other senior leadership team members to discuss learning support, budget, daily needs and all the administrative things that need to get done. 12
Gulf Insider December 2021
If I’m not in that meeting, I am going from class to class guiding and mentoring some of the teachers. I also would usually have technology check ins and parent interviews and assessments with students coming in for next year. That goes throughout the entire day. By the end of the day, at around five, I’m checking out resources and books and getting ready for the following day. So, it becomes a cycle. As for the students – their day begins with a 10-minute warm-up, a soft entrance into the classroom where the teachers take attendance, there’s music and dancing, and sometimes there are videos playing to get the kids engaged.
What makes you so passionate about early childhood education? This is a really good question for me because I am certified and have taught high school and middle school. I’ve also been a principal and an early childhood
coordinator for special needs students. I’ve taught teachers at the university level as well. So, why would I come back to early childhood? All of those funneled back to the early childhood years which is the window of opportunity. What you do in those formative years will affect how everything else spreads out. That for me became the most challenging thing in the world. I started looking at the details and thought ‘How can I see that this is going to pull the potential out of each child?’ So, I looked at the ECE program as finding that niche and what works for each child because every single child learns in a different way. I want to make sure we are addressing all those learning needs. If we are just teaching one way, then we’re missing probably 50% of a child’s potential. There are so many ways to reach a child and that became fascinating for me. I just had to learn more, and I had to take that under my umbrella.
People & Culture
What you do in those formative years will affect how everything else spreads out.
What have been the highlights of your career so far as the lead teacher in ECE? That’s an easy one. The highlights are having the opportunity and chance to see something build that I created from scratch. When we walked in here, there was concrete floors and walls. It was a clear canvas with nothing on it. It was so exciting. Esol Education has been so supportive and gave us that freedom to build something spectacular and unique. I took the best of everything that I’ve learned over the years and blended it into a program that is unique for anyone in Bahrain. We’re starting to see cutting edge technology in the classroom and that’s the way we want to continue.
What has been the most significant changepost-COVID?
more so on the emotional and social side of the child. We have students who were home for a long time. What happened is we’ve almost put them in a bubble and wrapped them with bubble wrap. They haven’t been able to grow and develop at a normal rate. The first thing I realized when we began in Septemberlast year is that many have been out for a year and running about six months behind developmentally, they were delayed. We addressed that and brought them up to where they need to be, which has been our goal. Post-COVID, I see that we have more consideration toward our safety and precautions, however, I think it’s important to give them as normal an experience as possible because they haven’t had that for a while. They have to learn to laugh, classroom rules, social etiquette, and the like, all over again.
COVID-19 did a lot of destruction – Gulf Insider December 2021
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People & Culture
What’s special about ASB’s ECEcurriculum?
Our goal is to grow at a steady pace that we can accommodate all the students effectively.
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Gulf Insider December 2021
I think what’s special about us is that we have managed to take the best of the best. We took the creative curriculum, which is the exploratory, child inquiry-based curriculum which takes a child on an adventure, and combined that with the common core program. The standards are high, but we do it in a way that is fun and unique for us. Despite the busy schedule, everything in ECE is designed with the child in mind. We take into consideration what is age appropriate for each child. We have 45-minute intervals for the older classes and 30-minute intervals for preschool. I don’t want to see the kids sitting on a chair for more than 45 minutes – they have to go out be it to PE, arts, music, gym, playground, lunch room. Even when they are in the classroom, I want to see them moving around, reading, on the floor, and having a good time. For me, it’s important that the kids’ schedule is maintained in a way that everybody gets the most benefit out of the environment. We are a positive reinforcement school. Everything here is redirecting and teaching them self-help skills, conflict resolution, and how to make better choices. So, I’m really proud to say that this is the type of environment that we have.
Another thing that’s really unique here is that we integrate everything into the program. A lot of parents are shocked that we have a huge breakout room which consists of 12 different centers, where the children have to interact and explore hands on, as well as the STEM lab which expands their vision. That is part of our curriculum and the kids love it. They’re creating a thirst for knowledge in science, math, and the core subjects.
Do you have any exciting news that you would like to share with us? We are working on our American accreditation and Middle School Association accreditation as well as our BQA rating. We’re also working on developing the fine tuning of the program that we offer with parents, where they are part of the decisionmaking process. We are expanding rapidly. From January, we’ll likely open a couple more higher classes. For ECE, we’re trying to keep an intentionally controlled and small, but we will open more classes the following year. We’ve already expanded by double already. Our goal is to grow at a steady pace that we can accommodate all the students effectively.
For more information on ASB, call +973 1721 1800 or visit www.asb.bh
People & Culture
CONCEPTUAL, COMPETENCY, AND CHARACTER LEARNING Gulf Insider talks to Beacon Private School (BPS) and takes an indepth look at who they are, their achievements, what makes them unique and their teaching style. Who are they? Beacon Private School (BPS) was founded in 2018 with a vision and mission to create a forward-looking educational program that develops independent, creative, reflective, critical thinkers and global learners. In addition to high academic goals, they have a determination to encourage global citizenship. They want their learners to not only be aware of the world around them and the issues they will face, but to feel empowered and ready to make a change. Appreciating each individual as an integral part of the learning community and is a key feature of their educational program. They promote a safe, positive learning environment that honors the voice, choice, creativity, and academic readiness of every learner in what they call a ‘Learner Agency’.
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Gulf Insider December 2021
People & Culture
International Baccalaureate (IB) World School- November 2021
November is a special month for BPS as they are now an officially authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School.
November is a special month for BPS as they are now an officially authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. This is a major milestone and significant accomplishment for BPS! Rarely has a school ever been awarded this opportunity so early in its inception. It is a testimony to the level of professionalism and experience of the faculty and leadership team at the school. New England Association for Schools and Colleges Accreditation (NEASC) In 2019, BPS applied for international accreditation at NEASC as they are globally recognized for their standards of excellence in attesting a school’s quality and integrity. In November that year, a “Foundation Standards Visit” was conducted and BPS earned an ‘Eligibility’ status from the Director of NEASC. Since then, the school has been taking steps towards the NEASC Accreditation. The second NEASC visit took place in November 2020 and a final visit is scheduled for Spring 2022.
Curriculum and Instruction The BPS administration and faculty are committed to the development of a learning ecosystem that balances the development of essential concepts, key competencies and character traits through inquiry-based learning. To meet these essential aims from Nursery through Grade 10, BPS implements the Common Ground Collaborative (CGC) as an overarching curriculum framework. The CGC promotes Conceptual Learning, Competency Learning and Character Learning; or the “3C’s of Learning”. These three types of learning interact constantly and form the ‘Triple Helix’ or ‘DNA’ of their curriculum. Therefore, all three aspects are prioritized. Post 7-weeks of inquiry modules, and to respond to the 3C’s, learners commonly reflect by using “I now understand that I am able to and I have become more”. ]A further example of how learners grow in knowledge, skills, and dispositions would be the ‘Learner Portfolio’ that compiles academic work, inquiry journey and reflections on their learning goals. These collections could include written assignments, journal
Gulf Insider December 2021
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People & Culture
They believe these weekly mindfulness practices help promote improved attention, emotional regulation, positive behavior, skillful interactions, empathy, reduced stress levels and improved resilience.
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Gulf Insider December 2021
entries, artwork, and photos of physical projects.
Yoga & Mindfulness Program BPS has been implementing a ‘Yoga & Mindfulness Program’ since 2018 to focus on enhancing learners’ personal development to thrive in this changing world. The school offers Mindful Sundays for Secondary School and Mindful Mondays for Elementary to engage in mini-mindfulness techniques such as heart and belly breathing, mindful eating, mindful journaling, body scans and much more! They believe these weekly mindfulness practices help promote improved attention, emotional regulation, positive behavior, skillful interactions, empathy, reduced stress levels and improved resilience. Flexible Classroom Learning Design The BPS classrooms are designed to
allow flexibility in teaching and learning, in a non-traditional flexible seating format. Learners therefore have choice in terms of their environment. Their daily eight-period schedule is divided into blocks of two, with three 20-minute breaks allowing learners to re-energize for the next session. They are flexible in terms of class schedules, combining classes or extending lesson times to allow for field trips, celebrations of learning, special events and cross-collaboration. Teaching and learning does not stop at the classroom door; the spacious corridors as well as indoor gardens and outdoor playgrounds are also seen as opportunities for new learning experiences.
For more information on BPS, call : 6600 0088 or visit www.beacon.edu.bh
Car Bahrain
NEW RANGE ROVER LAUNCHED AT BIC
The new Range Rover has been revealed for the first time in Bahrain, at an exclusive private preview at the Bahrain International Circuit.
E
uro Motors, the exclusive importer and distributor for luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover in Bahrain, unveiled Land Rover’s highly anticipated New Range Rover, introducing the vehicle to an enthusiastic audience during an exclusive event held on 15th of November, at the Bahrain International Circuit. The New Range Rover was displayed at the event, offering guests an exclusive look at the new luxury SUV. It was also displayed at Jewelry Arabia and Euro Motors showroom on the 16th and 17th of November. The new Range Rover continues to break new ground in the Land Rover’s line, with compelling design and greater levels of elegance, intuitive technology, exclusivity and luxury, a perfect interpretation of a modern vehicle. The fifth generation of the Land Rover flagship model has been redesigned
with beautifully upgraded exterior and interior, combined with state-ofthe-art technologies, showcasing the pioneering achievements of 50 years of evolution.
For more information, visit the Euro Motors showroom in Sitra, call
17460460, or visit https://www.landroverbahrain.com/en/. For the latest news, follow Land Rover on Facebook at Euro Motors – Land Rover Bahrain, or on Instagram at @ emlandroverbahrain.
Gulf Insider December 2021
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Car Bahrain
FERRARI 812 GTS
A MIGHTY WORK OF ART POWERED BY A HERD OF HORSES Charlie Cooksey drives the world’s most powerful convertible… in Bahrain
T
he Ferrari 812 GTS is the most powerful production spider there is, andI had the chance to drive this mighty car last month on a special Ferrari “Lifestyle
Drive”. Its amazing 6,496cc V12 engine, capable of a top speed of 340 kph, can accelerate the car from zero to 100 kph in a blistering 3 seconds – and to 200 kph in just 8.3 seconds! I first enjoyed a pre-drive coffee and chat with Ferrari Bahrain’s General
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Gulf Insider December 2021
Manager, Matthew Morgan. He’s passionate about the brand and we spent an hourdiscussing Ferrari in general, and the 812 GTS in particular. Then it came to the drive... The car was waiting for me outside the showroom and was gleaming in classic Ferrari red.It looked beautiful like a work of art, which I guess it is. It wasa perfect late Octoberday with temperatures in the mid-late 20s,so I decided to drive in convertible mode. The retractable hard top artfully opens
in just 14 seconds at speeds of up to 45 kph. I appreciated the meticulous work that went into ensuring driver and passenger comfort with the top down turbulence inside the cabin and external road noise is minimised, allowing me to comfortably talk with my co-pilot at all times, even at high speeds. This car lets the driver think he’s a far better driver than he actually is by enabling anyone to easily and confidently utilize the massive torque available with the accelerator pedal.
Car Bahrain
I would love to drive this car on a race circuit.
Thanks to smooth, progressive power delivery at all engine speeds, it delivers impressive handling. I drove to Café Lilou in Seef’s Al A’aali Mall for lunch. What would normally be a mundane journey took on a whole new meaning when in a Ferrari, and not just driving but evenparking. When I arrived outside the restaurant,I becamethe centre of attention to those sitting at pavement tables. Obviously, I wasn’t able to truly test this car’s abilities (or to be honest, mine) as I was driving on the public roads. I would love to drive this car on a race circuit.
A final note for anyone thinking of owning a Ferrari but worried about its upkeep. There’s a seven-year maintenance programme offered with the 812 GTS and other Ferraris that covers regular maintenance for the first seven years of the car’s life. This assures the car is kept at peak performance and safety over the years.
Want to find out more? Call 17 734734, visit https://www.ferrari.com/ en-BH or check out their socials at @ ferraribahrain.
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