Men's Passion #66 - March 2015

Indelible Imprints -

Women leaving their mark on Kuwait

IFCS AUDI 1st half

Tod’s Boutique • Kuwait: Salhiya Complex - Prestige - The Avenues

ISSUE NUMBER 66 - MARCH 2015

JUST A THOUGHT Dear Passionate readers, Celebrating Women’s International Day, MEN’S PASSION is dedicating this edition to pioneering Kuwaiti women, and to women living in Kuwait who have played a major role in the development of the country be it on the social, educational or professional level.

Previously, the common understanding was that “Behind every great man, a woman”.

In recent years, with more women taking to the forefront, the saying got reversed and became “Behind every great woman, a man”.

The reality is that no single human being, regardless of gender, can make it to the forefront without being backed and supported by at least one or a group of people.

Beyond feminism and neo-feminism, humanity is finally evolving and appreciating human attributes regardless of gender.

In this edition, we are also shedding the light on two very important social issues that have been kept quiet on until a few ladies decided to adopt the causes and bring them to our attention.

Would you believe that in the Kuwaiti law, children’s rights are not protected while honor killing is?

Today, honor killing remains a legal act under Kuwaiti law and a child abuser is not liable in court!!

While a group of determined Kuwaiti women, backed by enlightened men, are gathering to launch a campaign entitled “Abolish Article 153”, Dr. Al-Razzuqi is also fighting to be the voice of the voiceless, the defender of the helpless, calling for the introduction of a law that will protect children’s rights against abuse.

Women...

Gone are the days where they were seen as irrational, emotional, weaker beings.

Women are today seen as a major catalyst for positive, constructive change.

As women remain... the bearer of men.

In their celebration, Till next issue,

Zeina Mokaddam Managing Director

ON THE COVER: March 2015 Our March issue is dedicated to the women of Kuwait. To those women who have devoted themselves and their lives to the betterment of this proud nation.

Many of the women we spoke to represent Kuwait on the global stage, their influence extends beyond our border. Others seek to raise awareness, and improve lives, within Kuwait.

Regardless of their aim we recognised a common thread amongst these women - one of resoluteness and commitment

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amera Al-Awadhi LEGAL CONSULTANT Khaled Al-Kandari Al-Kandari Law Firm PUBLISHED BY

MANAGING DIRECTOR Zeina Mokaddam ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR Nouf Al-Hajri MANAGING EDITOR Simon Balsom

Indelible Imprints -

Women leaving their mark on Kuwait

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR Katia Abbas CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tarek Kabbani

CONTENTS INTERVIEWS 16 Latiffa Al-Barrak

Educator for the Generations 20 Lulwa Al-Mulla

Head of the Women’s Cultural

and Social Society

36 Saadiah Mufareeh

Editor, writer, critic and poet 40 Nabila Al-Ali

First KuwaitiFemale Inter national

Showjumping Judge

PR & SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYST Anju Kakkar FEATURES EDITOR Injy Refaie

42 Narjes Al-Shatti 24 Caring Hea rts

Media Committee Officer of

Margaret Al-Sayer and Rasha Al-Hamad Inter national Women’s Group

HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY Maher Al-Nouri

28 Hanadi Al-Omani

Against all Odds

PRODUCTION MANAGER Jad Nahas

32 Vera Al-Mutawa

Founder and Director of BSK

46

Maha Al-Baghli Chair of the Business and Professional Women Network and Founder of the Safira Social Responsibility Company

PH7 is a specialized publishing house based in Kuwait.

Telephone +(965) 2572 0810 Fax +(965) 2572 0860 Website www.ph7-kw.com To maintain the desired quality of our publication, your contribution and feedback are welcomed.

Please email your suggestions to zeina@ph7-kw.com For advertising, do not hesitate to contact info@ph7-kw.com For subscription, please email your details to info@ph7-kw.com PH7 wishes to state that the opinions expressed in MEN’S PASSION are those of the authors concerned and not necessarily those of the publisher.

BPA Worldwide Consumer Publication Audit Membership Applied for September 2014.

THE LUXE REVIEW 50 Artists – In Their Own Words

Mohammed Al-Kouh

72 Porsche sets new standard

with regional premieres

52 Christophe Chorao

Managing Director for the

Middle East at Ulysse Nardin

74 Qatar Motor Show

Surprise premiere of the new

Audi Q7

56

76 Rolls-Royce Bespoke

Commissioning a Rolls-Royce

is one of life’s unforgettable moments

It’s About Time With Marco Tedeschi, Creative Manager and Middle East & Africa Regional Director at Hublot

58 Hublot Slalom

At Cheval Blanc Courchevel

80 AUTO1 brings new focus to

V-KOOL at Auto Moto 2015

59 Zenith

Academy Christophe Colomb

Hurricane Grand Voyage II

81 Ashkanani Powers to Victory

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

Middle East in Doha

60 OMEGA Seamaster

A new limited edition model

inspired by James Bond

82 BMW multiple award winner in 2014

Quality, sustainability, innovation

61 OMEGA

New Campaign 62 Panerai

Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950

Tourbillon GMT Ceramica – 48mm 63 Panerai

Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono

Flyback Automatic Ceramica 64 Dr Tareq Burezq

Porsche aficionado, founder

of Asnan Tower 66 Porsche Centre Kuwait

E-Mobility showcase at

Concours d’Elegance 68 Their Latest Trick

Audi’s new Roadster 71 Aerodynamically Optimised

The McLaren 675LT Stays True

To The Icon

84 The New League

Hogan’s progressive vision of

classic varsity style 86 Louis Vuitton Men

Spring 2015 88 Cor neliani

A family business based on

tradition, quality and modernity 90

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa receives 41 awards at Horeca’s Salon Culinaire 2015

92 Kuwait Yacht Show 2015

Wrap 96 Events

Latiffa Al-Barrak

L

Educator for the Generations

atiffa Al-Barrak, an educator like no other: she was the third Kuwaiti teacher in Kuwait and the first kindergarten teacher in the country. She embarked on her long educational journey in 1943, and stayed in the field of education for 34 years. She still feels nostalgic for the profession even after these years. She believes in the style of education that she was raised with, reading and self-education. A university degree is a mere entry pass to the real job of life. MEN’S PASSION met Latiffa in view of her renowned dedication as she truly sets an unparalleled image of hard work and honest initiatives.

How can you describe the early days of modern education in Kuwait?

My father travelled at the time of the opening of the girls’ schools in Kuwait; he enrolled me in Al Wosta School. My dear grandma had already taught me how to read the Holy Quran.

When I started school, I already knew how to read. When I was fifteen, I started my career as a teacher.

At that time, Kuwait hired teachers from abroad. The first Kuwaiti teacher was the educator, Mariam Abdul Malik Al Saleh; three years later the late Sarah Al Tawheed started her educational career.

Then the late Fatima Saleh Al-Mutawa and I joined in 1943.

Many people expressed their objection to this, but I had my mother’s and my grandmother’s support. You see, my late grandmother was liberal. I had a target to invest my knowledge and provide financial support to my family. The first school I taught at was Al Wosta School.

I later moved to Al Sharqiya School after which I shifted to Jabriya kindergarten . It is noteworthy and rather essential mention that the late Sheikh Abdullah Al Jaber was the first consider the issue of girls education in Kuwait, in addition Sheikh Eisa Bin Youssef.

Al to to to

At that time, schools in Kuwait must have been different from now. How were they?

We had no schools to accommodate children as we could not afford that. We used to temporarily rent houses and use them as classrooms. My colleague, Fatimah Al Saleh and I shared a single classroom as we had no spaces to teach in a separate classroom. In 1957, I got married to the late Captain Suleiman Al Omar. He was the first passport control officer at that time; a street in Al Nazha Area was named after him.

Tell us about your job at the kindergarten school.

I was the first kindergarten school teacher in Kuwait. After marriage, I moved from my family home, and I had to choose a school that was nearby. Then, only Al Jabriya kindergarten was available. I applied to the Ministry of Education, but they required certain certification. So, they requested that I undergo certain exams. I luckily was able to pass them with excellence as I was an avid reader of pedagogy and psychology; and culture is a crucial element to kindergarten teachers. Later, for two years I worked at the Ministry of Education, then as Vice Principal at Sharqiya school, and after that Nuzha school until retirement.

How do you feel knowing that Al Nuzha School was named after you ‘Latiffa Mohamed Al-Barrak Girls School’?

This was a distinct recognition from all the officers of the Ministry of Education. I worked at this school as a supervisor since 1973 until retirement. Teachers still visit me on special occasions.

I remember I was the first to take over the school from the engineer, directly after the building works and completion was finalized in 1972. At first, we only had a few Kuwaiti students, and the majority of students were Palestinian.

How did your family support you on this?

I was raised among educated and cultivated family members.

So, I will always be grateful for their support at the time I needed it the most. I saw my late husband as an honest and true example of earnestness, hard work and perseverance. I can say one thing about him: he was very dedicated to his job.

You have celebrated many achievements during your career, how did you see that influence your household?

I was keen on raising my children on the same principles and grounds that I was raised with. Education was pivotal in our lives although from my perspective, a university degree is only a passport to get to a job. Then, it is your turn to educate yourself.

As concerns my children, and their children, they currently occupy considerably important jobs; Dr. Salwa is a Consultant Dentist working at a private company; Dr. Sharifa is a consultant in Pharmacy; Dr. Abdul Aziz has a PhD in computer engineering and he is currently a professor in Kuwait university and he was the cultural attaché at the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington; Mohamed has his own private business and he used to function as CEO at Kuwait Finance House; Khaled also runs his own company and he was a CEO at Zain; Abeer is Sr. Executive

Adminstration & Corporate Services and Administrative Affairs at EQUATE and she is currently studying for her PhD in the UK; Omar has run his own business since the early days of his career; and Nagham is a Sales Manager at Kuwait Petroleum Company.

As part of the meeting, we met one of Latiffa Al- Barrak’s daughters, Abeer Suleiman Al-Omar, assistant CEO for Services and Administrative Affairs at EQUATE. We asked her what she learned the most from her dear mother. She answered as follows: My mother taught me to feel content and satisfied with myself. She is spontaneous and makes sure she is always socializing and her friends do not only come from a single social class. Her keen interest lies in a person’s manners regardless of the background. She believes that culture and university degrees are tools for us to arm ourselves with in this life. She raised us to treat people equally and without any sense of injustice. She is an enthusiastic traveler, and she ensured that we benefitted from it. We toured the world in search of culture, civilization and world history. We in turn have taught our children to do the same.

My mother always has this human touch in her life. She had a strong conviction that she should show respect to everybody.

This has left its mark on me especially in my communication with subordinates in the company.

16 17

‫ماذا عن وظيفتك في رياض األطفال؟‬ ‫مدرسة في مجال رياض األطفال في الكويت‪ ،‬بعد زواجي انتقلت‬ ‫أنا أول‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫من منزل أسرتي وكان ال بد أن اختار مدرسة قريبة من بيتي وفي ذلك‬ ‫ً‬ ‫متوفرا إال روضة الجابرية‪ .‬تقدمت بطلب لوزارة التربية‬ ‫الوقت لم يكن‬ ‫لكن كان ذلك يتطلب شهادات معينة فطلبوا مني الخضوع الختبارات‬ ‫معينة وتمكنت من أن اجتيازها بتفوق خاصة أنني من محبي القراءة في‬ ‫التربية وعلم النفس وألن الثقافة أمر مهم للمربيات‪ .‬ومن ثم انتقلت‬ ‫للعمل في وزارة التربية لمدة سنتين ومن ثم وكيلة ناظرة في الشرقية‪،‬‬ ‫ثم خديجة ثم النزهة حتى التقاعد‪.‬‬ ‫ماذا يمثل لك تسمية مدرسة النزهة باسمك “مدرسة لطيفة محمد‬ ‫البراك للبنات”؟‬ ‫هذا تكريم مميز من جميع المسؤولين في وزارة التربية‪ ،‬فقد عملت‬ ‫في هذه المدرسة ناظرة منذ ‪ 1973‬حتى التقاعد سنة ‪ ،1978‬والتزال‬ ‫المدرسات يزرنني في المناسبات‪ .‬واستذكر أنني أنا أول من استلمت‬ ‫المدرسة من المهندس مباشرة وذلك في ‪ .1972‬وضمت المدرسة في‬ ‫ً‬ ‫جدا من الكويتيات والنسبة األكبر من الوافدات من‬ ‫البداية نسبة قليلة‬ ‫الجنسية الفسلطينية‪.‬‬ ‫ما هو دور أسرتك في هذا المجال؟‬ ‫نشأت في بيئة متعلمة مثقفة لذلك ال أستطيع أن أتغاضى عن دور‬ ‫أسرتي في تقديم الدعم الالزم‪ .‬ولقد تعلمت من زوجي رحمه الله الجد‬ ‫ً‬ ‫مخلصا في‬ ‫واالجتهاد والمثابرة على العمل والصدق واألمانة‪ .‬ولقد كان‬ ‫عمله لدرجة كبيرة‪.‬‬ ‫مسيرتك المهنية حافلة باإلنجازات‪ ،‬كيف انعكس ذلك على أسرتك؟‬ ‫حرصت أن تكون تربية أبنائي على مبادئ وأسس تربيت أنا عليها‪ ،‬ولذلك‬ ‫كان للعلم دور كبير في حياتنا على الرغم من أنني أؤمن أن الشهادة‬ ‫الجامعية هي جواز مرور إلى العمل واألهم منها هو تثقيف النفس‪ .‬أما‬ ‫بالنسبة ألبنائي وبناتي وحتى ابنائهم وبناتهم لديهم مراكز مهمة في‬ ‫حياتهم المهنية‪ .‬الدكتورة سلوى مستشارة أسنان تعمل في القطاع‬ ‫الخاص‪ ،‬الدكتورة شريفة وهي مستشارة في مجال الصيدلة‪ ،‬الدكتور‬ ‫ً‬ ‫حاليا دكتور في جامعة الكويت‬ ‫عبد العزيز تخصص هندسة كمبيوتر وهو‬ ‫وكان رئيس الملحق الثقافي في السفارة الكويتية في واشنطن‪ ،‬محمد‬ ‫لديه عمله الخاص وفي السابق كان المدير التنفيذي في بيت التمويل‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا عمله الخاص وكان المدير التنفيذي في شركة زين‪ ،‬عبير‬ ‫خالد لديه‬ ‫مساعد الرئيس التنفيذي للشؤون اإلدارية والخدمات في ‪EQUATE‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وحاليا تقدم شهادة الدكتوراة في بريطانيا‪ ،‬عمر لديه عمله الخاص من‬ ‫بداية حياته ‪ ،‬ونغم مديرة مبيعات في مؤسسة البترول‪.‬‬ ‫وعلى هامش اللقاء التقينا مع أحدى بنات المربية الفاضلة لطيفة البراك‪،‬‬ ‫عبير سليمان العمر‪ ،‬مساعد الرئيس التنفيذي للشؤون اإلدارية والخدمات‬ ‫في ‪ ،EQUATE‬وسألناها ماذا اكستبت من والدتها‪ ،‬وكان الجواب‪:‬‬ ‫تعلمت من والدتي القناعة والرضى مع النفس‪ ،‬والدتي بسيطة‬ ‫وتحرص على حضور جميع المناسبات‪ .‬لديها أصدقاء من مختلف‬ ‫الفئات االجتماعية‪ ،‬وأكثر ما يهمها أخالق اإلنسان الذي تتعرف عليه‬ ‫وال يهم ما هو مستواه االجتماعي‪ .‬تؤمن أن الثقافة والشهادة الجامعية‬ ‫هي وسيلة في الحياة‪ .‬تربينا على عدم التفرقة والتعامل مع الناس‬ ‫بمساواة‪ .‬والدتي تحب السفر وكانت تستمثره فينا‪ ،‬حيث كنا نقوم‬ ‫برحالت إلى دول العالم لنستكشف تاريخ وحضارة وثقافة البالد‪ ،‬ونحن‬ ‫ً‬ ‫نظرا ألهميته‪.‬‬ ‫بدورنا استثمرنا هذا األمر في أبنائنا‬ ‫وللجانب اإلنساني دور كبير في حياة والدتي‪ ،‬فهي تحترم الجميع‬ ‫بقناعة تامة‪ .‬وهذا بدوره انعكس على تعاملي مع الموظفين والذين‬ ‫أراسهم في الشركة‪.‬‬

‫لطيفة البراك‬ ‫مربية األجيال‬

‫المربية الفاضلة لطيفة البراك‪ ،‬ثالث مد ّرسة كويتية في الكويت وأول مدرسة في رياض األطفال‪ .‬بدأت رحلتها المهنية في‬ ‫تمل من رحلة التعليم‪ ،‬حيث إنها تحن إلى هذه المهنة بعد مرور سنوات عديدة‪ .‬تؤمن‬ ‫سنة ‪ 1943‬واستمرت ‪ 34‬عام ًا‪ .‬لم ّ‬ ‫أن الثقافة نابعة من البيئة التي تعيش فيها والقراءة وتثقيف النفس وأن الشهادة الجامعية هي جواز مرور للدخول إلى‬ ‫معترك الحياة المهنية‪ .‬التقت مجلة ‪ MEN’S PASSION‬مع المربية الفاضلة لطيفة البراك ألنها قدوة في مجالها‪ ،‬وألنها‬ ‫مثال يحتذى به للعمل واإلخالص‪ ،‬وكان الحوار التالي‪.‬‬

‫ماذا تستذكرين عن بداية التعليم في الكويت؟‬ ‫سافر الوالد وقت افتتاح مدارس البنات في الكويت‪ ،‬وسجلني في‬ ‫مدرسة الوسطى‪ ،‬وقد سبق أن علمتني جدتي قراءة القرآن الكريم‬ ‫فعندما التحقت بالمدرسة كنت اعرف القراءة‪ .‬وعندما بلغت سن‬ ‫الخامسة عشرة من عمري دخلت مجال التعليم‪ ،‬ألنه في ذلك الوقت‬ ‫مدرسة كويتية‬ ‫كانت الكويت تستقطب مدرسات من الخارج وكانت أول‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هي المربية الفاضلة مريم عبد الملك الصالح وبعد ثالث سنوات‬ ‫انضم ت سارة التوحيد رحمها الله إلى التعليم‪ ،‬ومن ثم أنا وفاطمة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫صالح المطوع رحمها الله وذلك في سنة ‪ .1943‬وعلى الرغم من‬ ‫المعارضة الشديدة من العديد من الناس إال أن جدتي ووالدتي كانتا‬ ‫تشجعاني على العمل خاصة أن جدتي رحمها الله كانت متحررة‪ ،‬وكان‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ماديا‪ .‬وبدأت التعليم في‬ ‫هدفي هو استثمار علمي ومساندة أسرتي‬

‫‪18 19‬‬

‫مدرسة الوسطى وانتقلت إلى مدرسة الشرقية ومن ثم حضانة الجابرية‪.‬‬ ‫وال بد أن نستذكر أن المرحوم الشيخ عبدالله الجابر هو أول من ّ‬ ‫فك ر في‬ ‫تعليم البنات والشيخ يوسف بن عيسى كذلك‪.‬‬ ‫كيف كانت مدارس الكويت في ذلك الوقت؟‬ ‫لم يكن هناك مدارس الستتقبال الطالب لعدم وجود امكانيات تسمح‬ ‫بذلك‪ ،‬كان يتم استئجار المنازل وتحويلها إلى فصول دراسية‪ .‬كنا‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫دراسيا‬ ‫فصال‬ ‫نتشارك أنا وزميلتي المربية الفاضلة فاطمة الصالح‬ ‫ً‬ ‫واحدا لتقديم الدروس لعدم توفر أماكن‪ .‬ومن ثم تزوجت سنة ‪ 1957‬من‬ ‫النوخذة سليمان العمر رحمه الله‪ ،‬وكان هو أول موظف جوازات في ذلك‬ ‫الوقت حيث تم تسمية أحد شوارع منطقة النزهة باسمه‪.‬‬

Lulwa Al-Mulla

Head of the Women’s Cultural and Social Society Celebrating 52 years of local and international accomplishments

K

uwaiti women are renowned for the successes they have achieved. The Women’s Cultural and Social Society has always been a source of illumination and enlightenment for the Kuwaiti women’s attainment of their rights. History shall not forget nor overlook the society’s achievements during 52 years of unconditional dedication, giving and earnest work.

The Society exceeded all expectations in worldwide humanitarian aid. MEN’S PASSION met Chairperson Lulwa Al Mulla for the following interview.

Can you give us a historical insight on the establishment of the Women’s Cultural and Social Society?

The society was founded in 1963, and became the first women’s society founded by the first graduates of Kuwait.

This was at a time when the nation possessed an atmosphere of openness to the world, and was becoming an advanced civil society. One with social mobility and a rich cultural ideology and sense of family, a nation which worked on the construction of a civilized democratic society. The Society got a consultative status within a special category of the United Nations in February 2004. The Society was the first public benefit association in Kuwait to receive this status, in

addition to receiving numerous awards, including a special award from the Human Rights Commission of the French Republic in 2007, and also awards from Sharjah for our volunteering work in 2008, and from the Council of Ministers of Social Affairs when they met in Oman in 2009.

What Achievements have you made since the Society was established?

The Society was, and still is, a leader in the rehabilitation and empowerment of women and defends their rights, most notably the political rights. The Society’s leadership has cooperated with the Ministry of Education in the opening chapters of the profile of illiteracy in 1987. It also provided

the teachers with free transport, and they opened the Al Bustn nursery for children. We set up special lectures and sponsored children along with activities such as teaching, sewing and cooking without any material reward for the Society.

The most important project is Wracati in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. This is a special project involving six countries, and Kuwait was the first from the Gulf. The project is mainly to increase awareness of women’s rights, and that why we created a website that includes all the information and advice to help solve legal problems such as divorce, alimony, custody.

Also, the Society established the most important nursery and the first one in Kuwait, Al Bustan Nursery for the hearing impaired.

The Society, importantly, established the project “Hope Club” in Hussein Maki Jomaa Hospital in 1987 to serve children with cancer, and also “Friends Club” in the psychiatric hospital for the care and rehabilitation of inmates.

Alzheimer’s is also one of our concerns, and we are leading awareness of this disease and how to help support others working in this field. The activities are many and varied including health and sports, cultural and social work. As well as this, the Society takes every opportunity to assist in the care of young people and to enhance their activities.

Is there cooperation with local and Gulf associations competent women?

We permanently connect the Assembly with the Kuwaiti public welfare associations, bodies and groups interested in the affairs of women. We share a lot in terms of the issues and we are jointly active in many, we believe that unity is strength. We have begun a campaign focusing on equality in the country concerning Kuwaiti women married to nonKuwaiti’s. We have begun a campaign focusing on equality in the country concerning Kuwaiti women married to nonKuwaiti’s. To achieve that, we are currently working with nine charitable associations in the run up to International Women’s Day on March 8th.

We are also members of the Arab Women’s Union and I was the President of the Assembly Vice-Chairperson of the General Women Union in the Gulf region.

activities at the time of these activities gave great influence in shaping students’ character. This is what is missing in our curriculum today unfortunately.

As for my family, they are respected and valued volunteers themselves, and with this encouragement from everyone I was able to continue. My daughter is also a member of the Assembly with me.

How would you describe Kuwaiti women today?

Kuwaiti women have a strong character based on herself and her family depends on them. They have earned this status through the circumstances at the time and the emergence of the community when Kuwaiti men would travel for work in trading and pearl diving.

Women bear all the burdens at home, and raising children remains largely for us. Kuwaiti women sought career early, taking with them a passion for science and knowledge.

Today they occupy high positions and assume the most difficult tasks and constantly seek to improve their performance. The proportion of students excelling in the university is almost higher than the percentage of students - this the best proof of perseverance and ambition. But lacking fairness in the application of the laws, there remains unfair discrimination in many of the issues that we can not listed here. We hope that the implementation of Article 29 of the Kuwaiti Constitution, which calls for justice, equality and non-discrimination on grounds of se will support us.

What is the role of the Society today?

The Society was and still is an important role model in the community as a leader in civil action, and priorities of the association is to defend all women and family issues and to demand the removal of all forms of discrimination against them. Efforts are still demanding the passage of full rights, acknowledgment of their right to work and the judicial career development of personal status and the arrival of women for senior positions in law.

To what extent were receiving support from your family in your area in the Assembly?

An increase in decision-making positions, and their right to adequate housing and solving the problems of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaiti, and also the treatment of children of Kuwaiti citizens and we must seriously consider the issue of access to the mother’s nationality. Their sons suffer most from the lack of trust and lack of stability and security due to the requirement to renew their residency every six months.

I joined the association and I was Secretary-General since 1992. Volunteering is fun and useful for understanding how one can benefit the community, and I also regard it as a national duty. I always wish to support the Ministry of Education, and focuses on the concept of citizenship through curriculum and activities. I am of the generation that had a share in the technical schools, sports and cultural

It must be noted that the Assembly plays a fundamental role in the Kuwaiti representation of women, as they are the main party that included the official bodies in programs visits of delegations of the State of Kuwait. We represent Kuwaiti women in international organizations such as the United Nations and the Arab League and the Women’s Union of Arab Public.

20 21

‫وفد اإلغاثة من الجمعية في زيارة لمخيمات الالجئين الكوسوفيين‬ ‫هل هناك تعاون مع جمعيات محلية وخليجية مختصة بالمرأة؟‬ ‫الجمعية بتواصل دائم مع جمعيات النفع العام الكويتية والهيئات‬ ‫والمجموعات المهتمة بشئون المرأة‪ .‬حيث نشترك في الكثير من‬ ‫القضايا ونقوم بأنشطة مشتركة‪ .‬فنحن نؤمن بأنه في االتحاد قوة‪.‬‬ ‫نحن اآلن من خالل حملة «انصاف ابناء المواطنة المتزوجة من غير‬ ‫كويتي» ونعمل مع ‪ 9‬جمعيات نفع عام كويتية ولنا في يوم المرأة‬ ‫العالمي نشاط موحد سنقيمه في الجمعية وهذا خير مثال للتعاون‪.‬‬ ‫والجمعية عضو في المجموعة االستشارية لمنظمات المجتمع‬ ‫المدني في هيئة األمم المتحدة للمرأة للدول العربية‪.‬كذلك نحن أعضاء‬ ‫في االتحاد النسائي العربي وكانت رئيسة الجمعية نائبة الرئيسة االتحاد‬ ‫النسائي العام في منطقة الخليج‪.‬‬ ‫إلى أي مدى تتلقين الدعم من أسرتك في مجال عملك في الجمعية؟‬ ‫لقد التحقت بالجمعية وكنت األمين العام منذ ‪ ،1992‬فالعمل‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا‬ ‫التطوعي ممتع ومفيد وفيه تحقيق للذات وفائدة للمجتمع وهو‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ودائما أتمنى أن تتبنى وزارة التربية وتركز على مفهموم‬ ‫واجب وطني‪.‬‬ ‫المواطنة من خالل المناهج واألنشطة‪ .‬فأنا من الجيل الذي كان له‬ ‫نصيب في المدارس باألنشطة الفنية والرياضية والثقافية آنذاك‬ ‫وكان لهذه األنشطة التأثير الكبير في صقل شخصية الطلبة‪ .‬وهذا ما‬ ‫نفتقده اآلن في مناهجنا الدراسية لألسف الشديد‪.‬أما أسرتي فهي تقدر‬ ‫وتحترم العمل التطوعي ولو ما هذا التشجيع من الجميع لما استطعت‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا عضوة في الجمعية معي ‪.‬‬ ‫االستمرار‪ .‬ابنتي‬ ‫كيف تصفين المرأة الكويتية اليوم؟‬ ‫تتمتع المرأة الكويتية بشخصية قوية تعتمد على نفسها وتعتمد‬ ‫أسرتها عليها‪ ،‬فقد كسبت هذه الصفة من ظروف نشأة المجتمع‬ ‫ً‬ ‫سعيا للرزق والتجارة‬ ‫حينذاك عندما كان رب األسرة يغيب لفترة طويلة‬

‫والغوص على اللؤلؤ‪ .‬فكانت المرأة تتحمل جميع األعباء في ادارة‬ ‫المنزل وتربية األوالد‪ .‬وحصلت المرأة الكويتية على فرص التعليم‬ ‫ً‬ ‫جدا مما جعلها شغوفة للعلم والمعرفة‪ .‬وها هي تتبوأ‬ ‫بوقت مبكر‬ ‫على المناصب وتتحمل أصعب المهام وتؤدي مهماتها خير آداء‪ .‬ونسبة‬ ‫الطالبات المتفوقات في الجامعة يكاد يكون أعلى من نسبة الطلبة‬ ‫وهذا خير دليل على مثابرتها وطموحها‪ .‬ولكن ينقصنا االنصاف في‬ ‫تطبيق القوانين فهناك تميز غير منصف في كثير من القضايا التي‬ ‫ال يسعنا هنا سردها‪ .‬ونتمنى أن تتطبق مادة ‪ 29‬من الدستور الكويتي‬ ‫التي تنادي بالعدل والمساواة وعدم التمييز بسبب الجنس‪.‬‬ ‫ما هو دور الجمعية اليوم؟‬ ‫كان وما زال دور الجمعية مهم في المجتمع كرائدة في منظمات العمل‬ ‫المدني‪ ،‬ومن أولويات الجمعية هو الدفاع عن جميع قضايا المرأة‬ ‫واألسرة والمطالبة بإزالة كل أشكال التمييز ضدها‪ .‬وال تزال الجهود‬ ‫قائمة للمطالبة بإقرار حقوقها كاملة‪ ،‬كإقرار حقها في العمل بسلك‬ ‫القضاء وتطوير قوانين األحوال الشخصية ووصول المرأة للمناصب‬ ‫العليا‪ ،‬وزيادة نسبتها في مواقع صنع القرار‪ ،‬وحقها في السكن‬ ‫المناسب وحل المشاكل التي تعاني منها المرأة الكويتية المتزوجة من‬ ‫غير كويتي مثل معاملة األبناء كمعاملة المواطنين الكويتيين‬ ‫والنظر بجدية في مسألة حصولهم على جنسية األم‪ ،‬هي وأبنائها‬ ‫يعانون أشد المعاناة من عدم الطمأنينة وعدم االستقرار واآلمان بسبب‬ ‫تجديد اقامتهم كل ستة أشهر‪.‬‬ ‫والبد اإلشارة على أن الجمعية تلعب الدور األساسي في تمثيل المرأة‬ ‫الكويتية‪ ،‬حيث أنها هي الجهة الرئيسية التي تضمنها الجهات الرسمية‬ ‫في برامج زيارات الوفود لدولة الكويت‪ ،‬كما أنها تمثل المرأة في‬ ‫المنظمات الدولية مثل األمم المتحدة وجامعة الدول العربية واالتحاد‬ ‫النسائي العربي العام‪.‬‬

‫لولوة المال‬

‫رئيسة الجمعية الثقافية االجتماعية النسائية‬ ‫‪ 52‬عام ًا من االنجازات المحلية والعالمية‬

‫اشتهرت المرأة الكويتية بالنجاحات التي حققتها‪ ،‬ولطالما كانت الجمعية الثقافية االجتماعية النسائية هي الشعلة‬ ‫المضيئة لحصول المرأة الكويتية على حقوقها كافة‪ .‬والتاريخ كفيل بأن يذكر انجازات الجمعية على مدار ‪ 52‬عام ًا من‬ ‫العطاء واالخالص والعمل‪ .‬ولم تكتف الجمعية عند هذا القدر بل كانت رائدة في األعمال االنسانية في جميع دول العالم‪.‬‬ ‫لنتعرف أكثر على دور الجمعية‪ ،‬التقت مجلة ‪ MEN’S PASSION‬مع رئيسة الجمعية لولوة المال‪ ،‬وكان الحوار التالي‪.‬‬

‫تاريخ تأسيس الجمعية الثقافية االجتماعية النسائية‪.‬‬ ‫تأسست الجمعية في سنة ‪ ،1963‬وهي أول جمعية عام نسائية على يد‬ ‫كوكبة من أوائل الخريجات حيث كانت الكويت تعيش أجواء انفتاح على‬ ‫العالم متقدمة بمجتمع مدني وحراك اجتماعي وثقافي غني بفكر أهله‬ ‫الذين عملوا على بناء مجتمع ديمقراطي متحضر‪ .‬والجمعية حصلت‬ ‫على الصفة االستشارية «الفئة الخاصة» لدى األمم المتحدة في فبراير‬ ‫‪ .2004‬وبذلك تكون الجمعية أول جمعية نفع عام في الكويت تحصل‬ ‫على هذا الصفة باإلضافة إلى حصولها على جوائز عديدة منها جائزة‬ ‫خاصة من لجنة حقوق اإلنسان في الجمهورية الفرنسية عام ‪.2007‬‬ ‫وجائزة الشارقة للعمل التطوعي ‪ .2008‬وجائزة المشروعات الرائدة من‬ ‫من مجلس وزراء الشؤون االجتماعية بدول مجلس التعاون الخليجي في‬ ‫عمان ‪.2009‬‬ ‫منذ تاريخ تأسيس الجميعة‪ ،‬ما هي أبرز اإلنجازات التي تم تحقيقها؟‬ ‫الجمعية كانت وما زالت رائدة في تأهيل وتمكين المرأة والدفاع عن‬ ‫حقوقها وأبرزها كانت الحقوق السياسية وكانت الجمعية الريادة في‬ ‫المساهمة مع وزارة التربية في فتح فصول لمحة األمية عام ‪.1987‬‬

‫‪22 23‬‬

‫كما كانت توفر للمدرسات المواصالت واستقبال أطفالهن في حضانة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫مجانا واقامة محاضرات خاصة برعاية الطفل‬ ‫البستان التابعة للجمعية‬ ‫وأنشطة أخرى كتعليم الخياطة والطهي من دون أي مقابل مادي‪.‬‬ ‫وتعمل الجمعية بالوقت الحاضر بأهم مشروع «ورقتي» بالتعاون مع‬ ‫برنامج األمم المتحدة اإلنمائي‪ ،‬وهو مشروع في ست دول عربية‬ ‫والكويت أول دولة خليجية حيث يساهم هذا المشروع برفع الوعي‬ ‫القانوني للمرأة من خالل توفير مادة مبسطة سهلة االستخدام تنشر‬ ‫من خالل المواقع اإللكترونية والنشرات والكتيبات وكل ما يتعلق‬ ‫بمشاكل المرأة القانونية وسبل حلها كالطالق والنفقة والحضانة‬ ‫وغيرها‪ .‬والجمعية أنشأت أهم الحضانات وكانت الوحيدة في الكويت‬ ‫وهي حضانة البستان لضعاف السمع‪ .‬وأهم المشاريع «نادي األمل»‬ ‫في مستشفى حسين مكي جمعة عام ‪ 1987‬لخدمة األطفال المصابين‬ ‫بالسرطان‪ .‬و»نادي األصدقاء» في مستشفى الطب النفسي للعناية‬ ‫وتأهيل النزيالت‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا من المشاريع الرائدة للتوعية بهذا المرض‬ ‫مشروع الزهايمر‬ ‫وكيفية مساعدة المراعيين للمرضى‪ .‬فأنشطة الجمعية كثيرة ومتنوعة‬ ‫منها الصحية والرياضية والثقافية واالجتماعية‪ .‬وكذلك رعاية الجمعية‬ ‫لفئة الشباب واحتواء أنشطتهم‪ .‬وال يسعنا هنا أن نذكرها ألنها تحتاج‬ ‫إلى صفحات أكثر وأنا اخترت أبرزها‪.‬‬

Caring Hearts

M

Margaret Al-Sayer and Rasha Al-Hamad

EN’S PASSION met with the enigmatic Founding Director of Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice (BACCH) Mrs. Margaret Al-Sayer and CEO Mrs. Rasha Al-Hamad. BACCH is one of the largest children’s hospice in the world and the only one in the Middle East.

The building’s welcoming shape and transcendent aura immediately drew us in. It is fair to say that Kuwait and the lives of the beautiful residents of Kuwait have forever been touched in a most humane way, and that this is due to the visionary drive and devotion of Margaret and her team.

Margaret Al-Sayer:

ability to express themselves through the language of play.

BACCH and KACCH (the Kuwait Association for Children in Hospital, founded in 1989) would not have been established without your vision and that of your husband, Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer. How did you think of bringing the concept of palliative care to Kuwait?

In 1989 KACCH was formed. The Ministry of Health arranged a conference headed by a child psychologist from Britain, Dr. Jim Kuykendall. The theme of the conference was ‘Children’s Perceptions of Death and Dying’. During the conference a mother asked us if we could treat her 4-year-old boy Abdullah at home, since he had been sent home from his treatments in London; his rare cancer untreatable.

When my youngest son fell ill in 1988, I realized that hospitals came across as daunting places for children. So I, along with Dr. Hilal, friends and volunteers worked to turn the children’s ward into a comfortable and child-friendly environment. Over time we discovered that certain types of play activities helped children cope better with their conditions by giving them the

We put together a medical dream team including Dr. Hilal, a cancer specialist, a child life specialist, nurses, nutritionists and physiotherapists, and we started treating Abdullah at home for 6 to 8 months. We were able to give Abdullah and his family some relief as we treated him for his pain, before he passed away.

This experience was a huge step for KACCH in wanting to provide similar care to other children in Kuwait who have a life-threatening illness, and through Dr. Jim we learned about hospice care. We invited experts from Edinburgh in 2005, and they helped us set up workshops to educate and train us. We learnt that what we were doing all along was known as palliative care; this is medical care that relieves pain, symptoms and stress caused by serious illnesses, improving patients' quality of life. We wanted to also provide bereavement counseling for the families. Finally in 2011 BACCH was established and became fully operational in 2013.

Rasha Al-Hamad:

This building seems like a very soothing and serene structure. Who designed it?

Tell us a little about the volunteers who help you.

We are very fortunate to have had Alia Abdul Rahman AlGhunaim, a young architect, design the structure as part of her thesis, with the Ferris wheel and a magic carpet incorporated in it. The best contractors and consultants came together to interpret Alia’s concept and ensured the creation of a space wholly catering towards children’s needs.

As part of our palliative care concept Alia designed 10 chalets as well, where children with families could come for a break knowing they would have the full support of our hospice staff.

How has BACCH touched the lives of children?

Palliative care has been a concept that has been around for just over 20 years now, and BACCH is in the forefront for this type of care in the region. We have created a space, where children will want to come to; not have to come to, and we treat them at home as well. Children are wonderful, bright and intelligent and try to maximize life once their pain is managed, and that’s where we come in. We are adding value to their lives.

We encourage volunteer assistance on many levels as we need help in managing the place and in teaching. We are, however, extremely careful on accepting volunteer help. We need to ensure volunteers are trained and are capable of dealing with the care of these children, as the children are our only priority.

We are a non-profit organization. We are open to children irrespective of ethnicity, race or religion. We function independently yet in conjunction with assistance from the Ministry of Health. Our profound thanks to all the generous donations from individuals and corporations, as we have no funding from the government.

How have Kuwaiti women progressed in your opinion?

Historically Kuwaiti women have always been strong and independent in their communities. Men would go abroad to work and women were trusted to take up the responsibility of managing their homes and children. In terms of education, Kuwait was one of the first in the Gulf region to equally educate men and women. The women in Kuwait have been our valued supporters. They have been instrumental in our growth and, in general too, they have achieved a lot and surely continue to put in great work and efforts to fight for their rights.

You both are role models yourself. Who would you say is your role model?

Without a doubt, Margaret Al-Sayer is my role model. She has had a huge impact on me. Margaret’s vision and aspirations for pediatric palliative care in Kuwait has been an inspiration to me; both she and Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer have been my mentors in this field.

Both Margaret and Rasha left an unmistakably astounding impression on us. Their passion and compassion is reflected in their words, in their work, in the way they conduct themselves and in their endeavours to continue to provide assistance in a way that has never been offered before in Kuwait.

24 25

‫رشا الحمد‪:‬‬ ‫كيف أثر بيت عبداهلل لرعاية األطفال على حياة األطفال؟‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عاما فقط‪.‬‬ ‫الرعاية الصحية المخففة لآلالم هي مبدأ يعمل به منذ ‪20‬‬ ‫واليوم يعتبر بيت عبدالله لرعاية األطفال في الطليعة في توفير هذا‬ ‫النوع من الرعاية في المنطقة‪ .‬فقد أنشأنا مساحة يرغب األطفال‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا‪ .‬األطفال رائعون‬ ‫طوعا‪ ،‬كما نعالجهم في منازلهم‬ ‫فالقدوم إليها‬ ‫حد ما إن تخف آالمهم‪،‬‬ ‫وأذكياء ويحاولون االستمتاع بوقتهم إلى أقصى ّ‬ ‫وهنا نلعب دورنا‪ .‬فنحن نضفي القيمة إلى حياتهم‪.‬‬ ‫المتطوعين الذين يساعدونكم‪.‬‬ ‫أخبرينا عن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫المتطوعين لنا على ّ‬ ‫كاف ة األصعدة‪ .‬إال أننا نقبل الحذر‬ ‫نشج ع مساعدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في قبول المتطوعين‪ ،‬حيث نتأكد ّأو ً‬ ‫ال ّأن هم مدربون وقادرون على‬ ‫التعامل مع خدمات الرعاية المقدمة لألطفال‪ ،‬فهؤالء يشكلون أولويتنا‬ ‫األولى والوحيدة‪.‬‬ ‫نحن جمعية ال تتوخى الربح ونفتح أبوابنا أمام األطفال بغض النظر عن‬ ‫انتمائهم العرقي أو الديني‪ .‬نعمل بشكل مستقل وبالتعاون في الوقت‬ ‫نفسه مع وزارة الصحة‪ .‬ونقدم جزيل الشكر للتبرعات السخية التي‬ ‫تصلنا من األفراد والحكومات بما أن جمعيتنا غير ممولة من الحكومة‪.‬‬ ‫كيف تقدمت المرأة الكويتية برأيك؟‬ ‫ً‬ ‫تاريخيا‪ ،‬لطالما كانت المرأة الكويتية متميزة‪ .‬قد يسافر الرجل للعمل‬ ‫في الخارج ويمنح زوجته كل الثقة إلدارة منزلها وتربية أطفالها والحفاظ‬ ‫على مكانتها االجتماعية‪ .‬على المستوى التعليمي‪ ،‬كانت الكويت من‬ ‫شج عت تعليم المرأة والرجل‬ ‫الدول األولى في منطقة الخليج التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لنمو‬ ‫هن من أبرز الداعمات‬ ‫بالتساوي‪ .‬ولطالما والواقع أن نساء الكويت ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الجمعية بشكل خاص‪ ،‬ولنمو الكويت بشكل عام‪ .‬وقد حققت المرأة‬ ‫الكويتية الكثير وستستمر من دون شك بالمناضلة وبذل جهود كبيرة‬ ‫من أجل الحصول على حقوقها‪.‬‬ ‫أنتما تعتبران قدوة لغيركما من النساء‪ .‬ولكن َمن هي قدوتكما؟‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في‬ ‫مارغريت الساير هي من دون‬ ‫شك قدوتي ومثلي األعلى‪ ،‬فقد أثرت ّ‬ ‫بشكل كبير‪.‬‬ ‫"لقد كانت رؤية مارغريت والتطلعات للرعاية باألطفال في الكويت‬ ‫مصدر إلهام لي‪ ،‬هي والدكتور هالل الساير الموجهين هما مرشديني‬ ‫في هذا المجال‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وبالفعل‪ ،‬تركت مارغريت ورشا ً‬ ‫وانطباعا كبيرين في أنفسنا‪ .‬وقد‬ ‫أثرا‬ ‫جلي ين في كالمهما‪ ،‬وفي عملهما‪ ،‬وفي‬ ‫ظهر شغفهما وتعاطفهما‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫سلوكهما‪ ،‬وفي سعيهما الدؤوب إلى المواظبة على تقديم الدعم‬ ‫بطريقة لم نشهدها من قبل في الكويت‪.‬‬

‫قلوب تهتم‬ ‫مارغريت الساير ورشا الحمد‬

‫يعتبر بيت عبداهلل لرعاية األطفال من أكبر المراكز لرعاية األطفال في العالم والوحيد من نوعه في الشرق األوسط‪ .‬ما‬ ‫تأسس هذا المركز على‬ ‫إن تنظر إليه‪ ،‬سرعان ما‬ ‫يشدك إلى الداخل تصميمه المعماري والطاقة اإليجابية المنبعثة منه‪ّ .‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السيدة مارغريت الساير التي تشغل اليوم منصب مديره العام‪ ،‬وترافقها على الدرب‬ ‫شخصية غامضة بطبعها هي‬ ‫يد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫غير إلى األبد وجه اإلنسانية في الكويت وحياة أطفالها‬ ‫السيدة رشا الحمد في منصب المدير التنفيذية‪ .‬وألن هذا الصرح ّ‬ ‫تلتقي بهاتين السيدتين‬ ‫الظراف بفضل نظرة مارغريت التط ّلعية وتفاني فريقها‪ ،‬رغبت مج ّلة ‪ MEN’S PASSION‬في أن‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫لمعرفة المزيد عن نشأة هذه المؤسسة ومستقبلها‪.‬‬

‫مارغريت الساير‪:‬‬ ‫لم يكن بيت عبداهلل لرعاية األطفال والجمعية الكويتية لرعاية األطفال‬ ‫ليتأسس من دون رؤيتك‬ ‫في المستشفى (التي تأسست في عام ‪،)1989‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ورؤية زوجك الدكتور هالل الساير‪ .‬كيف ّ‬ ‫فكرتما بإدخال مفهوم الرعاية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫المخففة لآلالم إلى الكويت؟‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫عندما أصاب المرض ابني األصغر في عام ‪ ،1988‬اكتشفت أن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تشك ل مصدر خوف لألطفال‪ .‬لذلك‪ ،‬عملت مع الدكتور‬ ‫المستشفيات‬ ‫هالل وبعض األصدقاء والمتطوعين على تحويل جناح األطفال إلى بيئة‬ ‫مريحة وصديقة للطفل‪ .‬واكتشفنا مع الوقت أن بعض أنواع ّ‬ ‫الل عب‬ ‫سي ما أولئك الذين يعانون من‬ ‫وأنشطة المرح تساعد األطفال‪ ،‬وال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أمراض ال عالج لها‪ ،‬على التأقلم بشكل أفضل مع وضعهم الصحي من‬ ‫خالل منحهم القدرة على التعبير عن أنفسهم عبر لغة اللعب‪.‬‬ ‫في العام ‪ ،1989‬تأسست الجمعية الكويتية لرعاية األطفال في‬ ‫مؤتمرا ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ترأسه أخصائي في األمراض‬ ‫المستشفى‪ .‬ونظمت وزارة الصحة‬ ‫النفسية لدى األطفال من بريطانيا هو الدكتور جيم كويكيندال‪ .‬وقد دار‬ ‫نقاش في المؤتمر حول "فهم األطفال لفكرة الموت"‪ .‬خالل المؤتمر‪،‬‬ ‫سألت إحدى األمهات إن كنا نستطيع معالجة ابنها عبدالله البالغ من‬ ‫العمر أربع سنوات في منزله بعد عودته إليه من لندن حيث كان يتلقى‬ ‫العالج من دون أن يشفى من مرض السرطان من النوع النادر‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫متمي زة ومن بينها الدكتور هالل‬ ‫تضم ن مهارات‬ ‫طبيا‬ ‫فريقا‬ ‫شكلنا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫المتخصص في أمراض السرطان‪ ،‬وأخصائي آخر في حياة األطفال‪،‬‬ ‫وممرضين وممرضات‪ ،‬وأخصائيي تغذية‪ ،‬ومعالجين فيزيائيين‪ ،‬وبدأنا‬

‫‪26 27‬‬

‫بعالج عبدالله في المنزل لمدة تراوحت بين ستة وثمانية أشهر‪ .‬وقد‬ ‫تمكنا من تخفيف آالم عبدالله وعائلته فيما كنا نعالج أوجاعه قبل‬ ‫أن يفارق الحياة‪ ،‬رحمه الله‪ .‬شكلت هذه التجربة خطوة كبيرة للجمعية‬ ‫الكويتية لرعاية األطفال في المستشفى في إطار سعيها إلى تقديم‬ ‫رعاية مماثلة ألطفال آخرين في الكويت يعانون من أمراض‪ ،‬وقد تعلمنا‬ ‫مبدأ رعاية األطفال في المستشفى من خالل الدكتور جيم‪ .‬في عام‬ ‫‪ ،2005‬قمنا بدعوة خبراء من إدنبره من أجل مساعدتنا في تنظيم‬ ‫ورش عمل تهدف إلى تثقيفنا وتدريبنا‪ .‬وقد تعلمنا أن كل ما نقوم‬ ‫به يعرف بالرعاية الصحية المخففة لآلالم؛ إنها رعاية طبية تخفف‬ ‫اآلالم واألعراض والتوتر الناتج عن األمراض الخطيرة‪ ،‬وتحسن جودة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وأخيرا‬ ‫أيضا بتقديم جلسات لمواساة العائالت‪.‬‬ ‫حياة األهل‪ .‬وقد رغبنا‬ ‫شغ االً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أس سنا بيت عبدالله لرعاية األطفال الذي أصبح‬ ‫في العام ‪ّ ،2011‬‬ ‫بكامل وظائفه في العام ‪.2013‬‬ ‫يبدو هذا المبنى مريح ًا ومطمئن ًا جد ًا‪ .‬من قام بتصميمه؟‬ ‫لحسن حظنا أننا عملنا مع علياء عبدالرحمن الغنيم‪ ،‬وهي مهندسة‬ ‫شابة قامت بتصميم هذا المبنى كجزء من أطروحتها باإلضافة إلى‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فريقا من أفضل المقاولين‬ ‫وشك لنا‬ ‫الدوالب الدوار ذي البساط السحري‪.‬‬ ‫والمستشارين لتنفيذ مفهوم عليا والحرص على إنشاء مساحة تلبي‬ ‫احتياجات األطفال بالكامل‪.‬‬

‫وكجزء من مفهومنا للرعاية الصحية المخففة لآلالم‪ ،‬صممت عليا‬ ‫‪ 10‬شاليهات تستطيع العائالت حجزها لقضاء العطلة مع أطفالها‬ ‫واالستمتاع معهم في بيئة من الدعم الكامل الذي يقدمه فريق‬ ‫الرعاية لدينا‪.‬‬

Hanadi Al-Omani

H

Against all Odds

aving the willpower to always keep going, the confidence to stand for what you believe and the wisdom to see it all through, is what it takes to achieve your ambitions.

These are the values which underpinned the path of the first blind Kuwaiti lawyer Hanadi Al-Omani, who has fought for years to “see” her dreams materialize. Today, she has become a member of the Kuwaiti Lawyers Association. MEN’S PASSION met with Al-Omani to learn more about her inspiring battle.

How did your journey in the legal profession begin? Is it true that law is one of the toughest professions?

The legal profession is not easy at all. But if you have the will and believe in your potential, you can overcome the hardships. Since childhood, I have been always determined to achieve what I aim for.

My faith in God and the support I received from my father (may his soul rest in peace), my mother and their close friends empowered me to overcome the obstacles. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Law. In the past, I worked in the past as a legal researcher and then as an and administrative researcher at a special education school, before I was later assigned as Director of Al-Nour Printing Press as president of Al-Nour Printing House run by the same special education school. Today, I am member in the General Roll of practicing lawyers in Kuwait, and I have received my practicing license from the Kuwaiti Lawyers Association. Joining the Association may not have been easy, but eventually I proved deserving of that membership.

Was Kuwait society accepting of the idea of having a blind lawyer?

New ideas are always hard to accept in any society. But, with me it was quite the opposite. The idea of having a blind lawyer seemed to sink in really quickly in everyone’s mind: my colleagues, the justice system, the clients and the society at large. Yes there would still be certain groups in the society who reject this audacity, but I will make every effort to prove to them that their concerns are unfounded. And to be honest, I was expecting bigger challenges, but fortunately the people with whom I work directly are largely supportive.

In your opinion, to what extent did you inspire other people with sight impairment?

I hope I leave a positive impact on others and motivate them to achieve their dreams and find their own formula to overcome the obstacles that come their way. I received many phone calls from parents worried about their sons and daughters with sight impairment wishing to enter the legal profession. But the way I see it, achievements do not come without a fight. Hard work and devotion are the key to everything.

What are the cases you are mostly interested in?

I might say I am women’s advocate which could make me biased. In fact, most of the cases currently assigned to me are Personal Status cases. But in general, my first and only goal is to help the victimized.

In parallel to the legal profession, you are also famous in the sports community?

I received many awards and was honored several times; I was a gold medalist in Track and Field in Britain and won many blind tennis championships in Kuwait and Bahrain. I also won the third place in the racewalking event organized by the National Bank of Kuwait, and the third place in Al-Kharafi Quran Memorization Competition. I also received a swimming certificate for the Blind category, which is a newly established certificate in in Kuwait.

Did you attend any courses to keep up with modern technology?

I attended courses in computer science, including Windows XP, and Office XP, inside Kuwait and abroad. I also attended a course in the UK and Germany on how to operate JAWS screen reader software, and a course in Germany on how to use Packmate. In addition to this, I enrolled in a self-training program that teaches how to use the computer and the internet and how to assemble and disassemble computer parts I also attended special training on how to use certain programs (e.g. Ibsar program, screen readers) in Kuwait and Cairo. I volunteered as well in testing new versions of computer programs for many companies. I also

worked on training the Blind on how to use Ibsar program and screen readers within a workshop organized at the Kuwait Blind Association.

Do you have any positive impact on you family and friends?

My father (may his soul rest in peace) and husband taught me that there are no real hardships in life; on the contrary, everything is achievable. I believe I had the biggest impact on my nephews who decided to major in Law.

How do you describe the Kuwaiti women?

The Kuwaiti women have achieved a lot in many fields, whether locally, regionally, or even internationally. They proved able to assume ministerial and parliamentary positions, and spread their wings further to reach UN positions. In Kuwait, I believe that the female engineer, Manar Al Hashash, has left a clear fingerprint at the global level. Generally speaking, female Kuwaiti lawyers stood out with their prominent role and clear impact within the legal circles. Women of Kuwait have always led this country, starting from schools where they bring up generation after generation.

What is your ambition today?

I will work hard so that one day I will be able to open my own law office. I dream of advocating victims’ rights everywhere, including persons with disabilities. I also wish that the Law on Persons with Special Needs will be implemented in all its clauses.

28 29

‫هنادي العماني‬ ‫أول محامية كويتية كفيفة‬

‫اإلرادة واإلصرار هما العنصران األساسان لتحقيق األحالم والطموح‪ ،‬ويتبعهما الثقة في النفس وعدم االستسالم‪ .‬وهذه‬ ‫هي المبادئ التي تبنتها المحامية الكويتية هنادي العماني‪ ،‬لتصبح أول محامية كويتية كفيفة‪ .‬حاربت من أجل تحقيق‬ ‫أحالمها على مدى سنوات‪ ،‬واليوم تمكنت من أن تنضم إلى جمعية المحامين الكويتيين لتصبح عضوة في الجمعية‪.‬‬ ‫التقت مجلة ‪ MEN’S PASSION‬مع المحامية هنادي العماني‪ ،‬وكان الحوار التالي‪.‬‬

‫مهنة المحاماة من أصعب المهن‪ ،‬كيف كانت البداية؟‬ ‫تعتبر المحاماة مهنة غير سهلة على اإلطالق‪ ،‬لكن طالما يمتلك اإلنسان‬ ‫إرادة في نفسه ومؤمن في قدراته يستيطع أن يتخطى الصعاب‪ .‬ومنذ‬ ‫الصغر امتلكت إرادة قوية في أن أحقق طموحاتي وأحالمي‪ .‬ولكن ثقتي‬ ‫في الله والناس المقربين من والدي رحمه الله ووالدتي كان لهما دور‬ ‫كبير في مساندتي وتوفير الدعم الالزم في تخطي الصعوبات والعقبات‬ ‫التي قد تواجهني‪ .‬حصلت على ليسانس حقوق وعملت باحثة قانونية‬ ‫ً‬ ‫سابقا‪ ،‬وباحثة إدارية بإدارة مدارس التربية الخاصة‪ ،‬ثم موظفة بمطبعة‬ ‫النور بوظيفة رئيسة مطبعة النور بإدارة مدارس التربية الخاصة‪ ،‬واليوم‬ ‫عضوة في الجدول العام للمحامين المشتغلين في الكويت وحصلت‬ ‫على رخصة مزاولة المهنة من جمعية المحامين‪ .‬وعلى الرغم من أن‬ ‫انضمامي للجمعية لم يكن باألمر السهل على اإلطالق‪ ،‬لكنني أثبت‬ ‫أنني استحق هذه العضوية‪.‬‬ ‫هل تقبل المجتمع الكويتي فكرة محامية كفيفة؟‬ ‫أي ظاهرة جديدة في المجتمع من الصعب أن يتم قبولها بشكل سريع‪،‬‬ ‫ولكن حصل معي العكس ففي وقت قصير تقبل المجتمع هذه الظاهرة‬ ‫كفكرة محامية كفيفة‪ ،‬سواء كان ذلك من المحامين الزمالء أو القضاء‬ ‫الكويتي والموكلين‪ .‬وعلى الرغم من وجود فئة غير متقبلة لألمر في‬ ‫الوقت الحالي لكنني سأبذل قصارى جهدي حتى أثبت لهم العكس‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كبيرا من الناس الذين أتعامل‬ ‫تعاونا‬ ‫وتوقعت صعوبات أكبر لكن هناك‬ ‫معهم بشكل مباشر‪.‬‬ ‫من وجهة نظرك‪ ،‬إلى أي مدى كان دورك مؤثر ًا في التأثير على اآلخرين من‬ ‫ذووي اإلعاقات البصرية؟‬ ‫أتمنى أن يكون تأثيري بشكل إيجابي على ألشخاص اآلخرين لتحفيزهم‬ ‫على تحقيق أحالمهم وطموحاتهم بالرغم من الصعوبات والعقبات‬ ‫التي قد تواجههم‪ .‬وبالفعل تلقيت العديد من االتصاالت الهاتفية من‬ ‫أولياء أمور يشعرون بالخوف على ابنائهم وبناتهم من فئة اإلعاقات‬ ‫البصرية من دخولهم في مجال المحاماة‪ ،‬ولكن الشخص الطموح ال‬ ‫بد أن يحارب ويكسر جميع الحواجز والعقبات من أجل تحقيق أحالمه‪.‬‬ ‫ما هي أكثر القضايا المهتمة بها؟‬ ‫يمكن القول بأنني نصيرة المرأة وربما هو تحيز‪ ،‬وأكثر القضايا الموكلة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫دائما‬ ‫بها في الوقت الحالي في فئة األحوال الشخصية‪ .‬ولكن أنا أسعى‬ ‫لنصرة الشخص المظلوم‪.‬‬ ‫باإلضافة إلى مهنة المحاماة‪ ،‬ما هي أبرز إنجازاتك على الصعيد الرياضي؟‬

‫حصلت على العديد من الجوائز والتكريمات‪ ،‬منها الميدالية الذهبية‬ ‫في مسابقات ألعاب القوى في بريطانيا‪ ،‬على المراكز األولى في لعبة‬ ‫تنس المكفوفين في بطوالت عديدة في الكويت والبحرين‪.‬وحصلت‬ ‫على المركز الثالث في سباق المشي الذي نظمه البنك الوطني في‬ ‫الكويت‪ ،‬وعلى المركز الثالث لمسابقة الخرافي لحفظ القرآن‪ .‬وحصلت‬ ‫على شهادة السباحة عن فئة المكفوفين‪ ،‬وهي أول شهادة من نوعها‬ ‫في الكويت‪.‬‬ ‫ما هي الدورات التي التحقت بها حتى تتماشي مع التكنولوجيا في‬ ‫العصر الحالي؟‬ ‫حصلت على دورات في علم الحاسوب داخل وخارج الكويت في برامج‬ ‫الكمبيوتر ‪ Windows Xp ،Office XP‬دورة في بريطانيا وألمانيا على‬ ‫كيفية التعامل مع برنامج قارئ الشاشة ‪ ،Jaws‬ودورة في ألمانيا على‬ ‫كيفية استخدام جهاز ‪ Packmate‬تدريب ذاتي على استخدام الحاسوب‬ ‫واإلنترنت‪ ،‬وفك وتركيب بعض أجزاء الكمبيوتر‪ .‬كما حصلت على دورات‬ ‫تدريبية خاصة ببرامج (إبصار‪ ،‬اآللة القارئة) في الكويت والقاهرة‪ .‬كما‬ ‫أنني تطوعت في مجال اختبار االصدارات الجديدة لبرامج الكمبيوتر‬ ‫الحديثة لعدد من الشركات‪ .‬كما عملت على تدريب برنامج إبصار واآللة‬ ‫القارئة للمكفوفين في ورشة الحاسوب بجمعية المكفوفين بدولة‬ ‫الكويت‪.‬‬ ‫ما هي بصمتك اإليجابية على أسرتك ومحيطك؟‬ ‫يمكن القول أنني أنا تعلمت من والدي رحمه الله ومن زوجي أنه ال يوجد‬ ‫صعوبات في هذه الحياة وكل أمر يمكن تحقيقه‪ .‬وربما تأثيري األكبر‬ ‫كان على أبناء شقيقتي الذين يتخصصون اليوم في مجال القانون‪.‬‬ ‫كيف تصفين المرأة الكويتية؟‬ ‫المرأة الكويتية حققت الكثير من االنجازات في مختلف الميادين سواء‬ ‫المحلية واإلقليمية وحتى العالمية‪ .‬وتولت مناصب وزارية وأخرى‬ ‫برلمانية ووصلت إلى األمم المتحدة‪ .‬في الكويت أعتقد أن المهندسة‬ ‫منار الحشاش لها بصمة واضحة في أنشطتها على المستوى العالمي‪.‬‬ ‫وبصفة عامة محاميات الكويت لديهن دور بارز وبصمة واضحة في عالم‬ ‫القانون‪ .‬ولطالما اشتهرت المرأة الكويتية منذ القدم بدورها الرائد في‬ ‫التدريس‪.‬‬ ‫اليوم ما هو طموحك؟‬ ‫سأسعى وأعمل بجهد حتى أتمكن من افتتاح مكتب المحاماة الخاص‬ ‫بإسمي‪ .‬كما أتمنى أن أكون نصيرة المظلومين في كل مكان سواء من‬ ‫فئة اإلحتياجات الخاصة أو غير ذلك‪ .‬وكما أتمنى أن يطبق قانون ذوي‬ ‫االحتياجات الخاصة في كل مواده‪.‬‬

Vera Al-Mutawa

I

Founder and Director of BSK

n 1978 Vera Al-Mutawa star ted a small kindergar ten that has evolved exponentially to become the now renowned “The British School of Kuwait”, one of Kuwait’s premier educational institutions. She is unwavering on her stance for the highest excellence and continued growth in the quality of education. We met with Vera, the founder and director of BSK.

You were recently made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, honoured by HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The award citation reads: "for services to British education and to the community in Kuwait". How does it feel?

I now understand what it is to be speechless. I had never imagined that I would witness such an honour. When I found out, I was astounded. Even today I wonder if this is all a dream. I had always looked through the gates of Buckingham Palace, but to enter it in the manner that I did has been the most cherished experience. For days before the actual ceremony, I nervously scanned the newspapers wondering if the Queen would be

in town, as we were not told who would honour us, so I was hunting for information. On the actual day, after what seemed like hours of standing, I was more than thrilled to find out that HRH Prince William was going to put the badge of honour on me, towering over me in his elegance.

We were not given much time as there were many recipients, and as I proceeded out to the exit and the photographs were taken, all I could think about was how lucky I am and how anxious I was to go home to be able to rejoice with my entire family.

We were all allowed three guests and I was happy to be surrounded by my husband, my eldest daughter and my son during the luncheon that followed.

Tell us the story behind BSK. In 1975, a British friend of mine suggested that we start a small nursery together. She gladly offered the basement of her house and in 1976 we started a home-run nursery. In 1977, she left Kuwait, but the demand for a nursery like ours was growing.

Other westerners wanted a trusting place for their children.

With my family’s support, I started The Sunshine Kindergarten in 1978; it was done simply to help out the families in need.

As time went by, the demand and number of children increased and we were unable to sustain the nursery due to the limited space of my home, so we rented a suitable building in Salwa and expanded to become The Sunshine School in 1993.

Catering to further demand, we hired consultants to advise us on how to grow from a reception-level nursery to a primary and then a secondary school. This growth spanned a period of 16 years. Since 2008 we function as The British School of Kuwait and the building adjacent to the BSK Campus is The Sunshine Kindergarten. It was only a matter of time that demand for afterschool activities grew, and we facilitated by adding our extracurricular activities. Here children continue to learn other skills while waiting for their parents to pick them up.

Currently, there are over 2,500 students from Reception to Year 13 at BSK. They come from more than 70 countries and follow the National Curriculum of England through to GCSE, IGCSE, AS and A Level qualifications. In 2013, BSK was accredited as a British School Overseas (BSO) by the Department for Education in London.

You have been in Kuwait since 1969, and you have had the opportunity to interact with a number of generations of Kuwaiti women. What in your opinion has changed from then to now?

In my time, and during the early days in Kuwait, most elders were not educated. But even in those days, the government encouraged them to attend night schools to learn to read and write so that they may benefit from increments in salaries as well as allowances at work. It was wonderful to see my in-laws attend night school and I was happy to see that this opportunity was given equally to both men and women.

Kuwaiti women have always been very outgoing, strong and keen to become educated. In my opinion, Kuwaiti women offer healthy competition to the men in society. I am an advocate of the co-ed schooling system, as I have noticed that when boys and girls are together, the boys seem to work harder to prove themselves. The same is relevant in a working environment as well.

It seems to me that women have been even more powerful after the harsh experience of the brutal Iraqi Invasion in 1990; evident in their struggle during and after that period, the way they fought to make a comeback and presently we see a lot of women in influential positions in the society, and I wish them all the luck in their fight for more rights and freedom.

HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, presented Vera Al-Mutawa with her MBE award medal

Do you think you as a ‘woman’ have achieved your goals?

Over the years I never thought to myself that I have achieved anything great. But I have to admit that as time has gone by, I see things differently. Though I feel I have achieved a lot and I continue to work towards the betterment of education, I still wonder if I have reached where I want to go. I think it has been very important to me to be pro-active.

When you get too comfortable and things come too easy, you stop aspiring for more. I never wanted to fall into that trap.

What is your message to young girls of today?

Keep working hard!

Believe in yourself!

Never give up!

Education is the key to success.

Seek the best education that you can, in whatever field that you choose, and keep that goal in mind.

32 33

‫الوطني اإلنكليزي ويحصلون على شهادات ‪ GCSE‬و ‪IGCSE‬و ‪AS‬‬ ‫والمستوى ‪ .A‬وقد حصلنا في العام ‪ 2013‬على اعتماد من دائرة التعليم‬ ‫في لندن كإحدى المدارس البريطانية في الخارج (‪.)BSO‬‬

‫أنت تعيشين في الكويت منذ العام ‪ 1969‬وحظيت بفرصة اللقاء‬ ‫بأعمارهن المختلفة‪ .‬ما الذي‬ ‫والتالقح الفكري مع الكثيرات من الكويتيات‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تغير برأيك بين الماضي والحاضر؟‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السن‬ ‫في األيام األولى التي تلت تأسيس دولة الكويت‪ ،‬لم يكن كبار‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حت ى في ذلك الوقت‪،‬‬ ‫متعل مين‪ .‬ولكن‬ ‫بأغلبيتهم في الكويت‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شج عتهم الحكومة على االلتحاق بالمدارس الليلية وتعل م القراءة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫والمخص صات في العمل‪.‬‬ ‫والكتابة ليستفيدوا من الزيادات في الرواتب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كنت أشعر بالفرحة تغمرني عندما أرى أهل زوجي ذاهبين إلى المدارس‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫متوف رة للرجال‬ ‫التعل م كانت‬ ‫وس ررت عندما رأيت أن فرصة‬ ‫الليلية‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫والنساء بالتساوي‪.‬‬

‫مكانتهن‪ ،‬ونحن نشهد اليوم الكثير من الكويتيات‬ ‫كفاحهن الستعادة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لهن بالتوفيق‬ ‫في مراكز نافذة في المجتمع‪ ،‬وأنا ال يسعني ّإل أن أدعو‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وحرياتهن‪.‬‬ ‫حقوقهن‬ ‫نضالهن لنيل المزيد من‬ ‫الدائم في‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هل تعتقدين بأنّك حققت أهدافك "كامرأة"؟‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أبدا أنني ّ‬ ‫عظيم ا في سنوات‬ ‫إنجازا‬ ‫حق قت ما يمكن اعتباره‬ ‫لم يخطر لي ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫حياتي‪ .‬ولكن مع مرور األيام‪ ،‬أصبحت أرى األمور من منظور مختلف‪.‬‬ ‫وبرغم أنني أشعر بأنني ّ‬ ‫حق قت الكثير ًإل أنني ما زلت مستمرة بالعمل‬ ‫لتحسين مستوى التعليم‪ ،‬وما زلت أتساءل ما إذا قد بلغت منيتي‬ ‫إلي‪.‬‬ ‫حس المبادرة كان‬ ‫أن‬ ‫وهدفي أم ال‪ .‬أنا أعتقد ّ‬ ‫مهم ا ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ًّ‬ ‫جدا بالنسبة ّ‬ ‫بالدعة ويحصل على مراده بسهولة‪ ،‬يبرد الطموح‬ ‫عندما يشعر اإلنسان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الفخ‪.‬‬ ‫تطل عاته‪ .‬وأنا لطالما حرصت على تفادي هذا‬ ‫وتتوق ف‬ ‫في داخله‬

‫بماذا توصين فتاة هذا العصر ؟‬

‫وحرصهن‬ ‫شخصيتهن‬ ‫بانفتاحهن وقوة‬ ‫تمي زت النساء الكويتيات‬ ‫لطالما‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫دورا‬ ‫الكويتيات‬ ‫النساء‬ ‫تؤدي‬ ‫الشخصي‪،‬‬ ‫برأيي‬ ‫العلمي‪.‬‬ ‫التحصيل‬ ‫على‬ ‫ً‬ ‫حس المنافسة مع الرجال وهو أمر إيجابي‪ .‬وأنا‬ ‫في المجتمع عبر تغذية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بجد‬ ‫أناصر فكرة المدارس المختلطة فقد الحظت أن الفتيان يعملون‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫سي ان في بيئة‬ ‫أكثر عندما يكونون في منافسة مع الفتيات‪ .‬واألمر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العمل‪.‬‬

‫العلم مفتاح النجاح!‬

‫وكأن السيدات قد اكتسبن قوة أكبر بعد التجربة المؤلمة التي‬ ‫يبدو لي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫جلي ا في‬ ‫خضن ها خالل الغزو العراقي الوحشي عام ‪ .1990‬ويظهر هذا‬ ‫ً‬

‫أسعى إلى تحصيل أفضل الشهادات العلمية في أي اختصاص ترغبين‬ ‫فيه وال تحيدي ً‬ ‫أبدا عن هدفك‪.‬‬

‫بجد!‬ ‫اعملي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ثقي بقدراتك!‬ ‫أبدا للمصاعب!‬ ‫ال تستسلمي ً‬

‫فيرا المطوع‬ ‫بصمة خاصة للتعليم في الكويت‬

‫أسست فيرا المطوع حضانة صغيرة ما لبثت أن كبرت‬ ‫في العام ‪ّ ،1978‬‬ ‫وازدهرت حتى أصبحت تُعرف “بالمدرسة البريطانية في الكويت” وهي‬ ‫واحدة من المؤسسات التعليمية الرائدة في هذا البلد‪ .‬لقد وضعت‬ ‫هذه المدرسة أعلى درجات التميز نصب عينيها وسعت لتحقيق‬ ‫النمو المستمر وتحسين جودة التعليم‪ .‬ولنعرف المزيد عن تاريخ‬ ‫المدرسة البريطانية في الكويت‪ ،‬كان من ّ‬ ‫بمؤسستها‬ ‫حظنا االلتقاء‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ومديرتها السيدة فيرا‪.‬‬

‫ُمنحت مؤخر ًا العضوية في رتبة فائقة االمتياز ضمن اإلمبراطورية‬ ‫للمكرمين في يوم ميالدها‪.‬‬ ‫البريطانية وذلك في الئحة جاللة الملكة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫نص التكريم‬ ‫في‬ ‫وجاء‬ ‫كامبريدج‪.‬‬ ‫كرمك سمو األمير ويليام‪ ،‬دوق‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وقد ّ‬ ‫ما يلي‪" :‬تقدير ًا للخدمات التي قدمتها للتعليم البريطاني وللمجتمع‬ ‫الكويتي‪ ".‬ما المشاعر التي تخالجك إزاء هذا التكريم؟"‬ ‫أتخي ل‬ ‫لقد أصبحت أعلم ما معنى أن ينعقد لسان المرء‪ .‬لم أكن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كرم بهذا الشكل‪ .‬ولقد شعرت بالذهول التام عندما‬ ‫قط أنني قد أ ّ‬ ‫علمت بالخبر‪ .‬ال أبالغ إن قلت إنني ما زلت أتساءل إذا كان ذلك‬ ‫حلم ا أو حقيقة‪ .‬فأنا لطالما استرقت النظر من خالل بوابات‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تمل كني وأنا بداخله ولغرض‬ ‫قصر باكينغهام‪ ،‬ولكن الشعور الذي‬ ‫قلق ا مع ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كل ثانية تمر‬ ‫تكريمي ال يماثله شعور‪ .‬كان قلبي ينبض‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بحث ا عن‬ ‫أترق ب الصحف‬ ‫في األيام التي سبقت االحتفال‪ .‬وكنت‬ ‫أحدا لم يخبرنا‬ ‫خبر يفيد بتواجد الملكة في لندن يوم االحتفال ّ‬ ‫ألن ً‬ ‫طمع ا بمعلومة‬ ‫أترب ص باألخبار‬ ‫من سيقوم بتكريمنا‪ ،‬لذا كنت‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تمر كالساعات لشدة‬ ‫تريح قلبي‪ .‬وطالت الدقائق حتى بدت ّأن ها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بطئها في يوم التكريم‪ .‬وغمرتني السعادة عندما علمت بأن صاحب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وسيطل‬ ‫السمو الملكي األمير ويليام سيمنحني وسام الشرف‬ ‫بمحي اه األلق وأناقته الملكية‪.‬‬ ‫علينا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫َ‬ ‫نظرا لكثرة الضيوف المحتفى بهم‪،‬‬ ‫نحظ بالوقت الكافي‬ ‫ولم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أردده في نفسي وأنا أمشي نحو المخرج وبريق آالت‬ ‫وجل ما كنت ّ‬ ‫يعج في المكان هو كم أنني محظوظة لنيل هذا الوسام‪.‬‬ ‫التصوير‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫متله فة للوصول إلى المنزل واالحتفال مع عائلتي‪ .‬وقد‬ ‫وكنت‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ُس مح لنا باصطحاب ثالثة ضيوف إلى حفل التكريم فرافقت زوجي‬ ‫وابنتي الكبرى وابني‪.‬‬

‫‪34 35‬‬

‫كيف تم تأسيس المدرسة البريطانية في الكويت؟‬ ‫ً‬ ‫معا بتأسيس‬ ‫علي إحدى صديقاتي‪ ،‬وهي بريطانية‪ ،‬أن نقوم‬ ‫اقترحت‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وقدمت لنا الطابق السفلي في منزلها‪ .‬وكان أن أسسنا‬ ‫حضانة صغيرة‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في العام ‪ 1976‬حضانة أدرناها من المنزل‪ .‬ثم غادرت صديقتي الكويت‬ ‫أس سناها كان يتزايد‬ ‫في العام ‪ 1977‬ولكن الطلب على حضانة مثل التي ّ‬ ‫يوم ا بعد يوم‪ ،‬حيث كان العديد من الوافدين الغرب يبحثون عن مكان‬ ‫ً‬ ‫موثوق يعهدون إليه بأطفالهم خالل النهار‪ .‬وبدعم من عائلتي‪ ،‬قمت‬ ‫المرة بتأسيس حضانة صان شاين في العام ‪ .1978‬وكان هدفنا‬ ‫هذه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫توفير المساعدة للعائالت التي تحتاج لحضانة ألطفالها‪.‬‬ ‫بدأت أعداد األطفال تتزايد سنة بعد أخرى حتى فاقت القدرة االستيعابية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يوف رها منزلي‪ .‬ولهذا استأجرنا‬ ‫نظرا للمساحة المحدودة التي‬ ‫للحضانة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وغي رنا االسم ليصبح مدرسة صان‬ ‫عنا‬ ‫وتوس‬ ‫سلوى‬ ‫في‬ ‫ا‬ ‫مناسب‬ ‫مبنى‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫استمر باالزدياد‪ ،‬تعاقدنا‬ ‫قد‬ ‫الطلب‬ ‫أن‬ ‫وبما‬ ‫‪.1993‬‬ ‫العام‬ ‫في‬ ‫شاين‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مع استشاريين لتوفير المشورة عن آلية النمو المناسبة من مستوى‬ ‫واستمر هذا النمو‬ ‫حضانة إلى مستوى مدرسة أساسية وبعدها ثانوية‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫على مدى ست عشرة سنة‪ .‬ومنذ العام ‪ ،2008‬نعمل تحت اسم المدرسة‬ ‫البريطانية في الكويت وتقع بجوار صرح المدرسة حضانة صان شاين‪.‬‬ ‫بعد ذلك بدأ الطلب يتزايد على األنشطة التي تُ قام بعد المدرسة‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫نمك ن أطفالنا من تنمية مهاراتهم‬ ‫فأنشأنا األنشطة الالصفية كي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ليقل وهم إلى المنزل‪.‬‬ ‫واكتساب مهارات جديدة بانتظار أن يحضر اآلباء‬ ‫طالب ا تفوق‬ ‫حالي ا‬ ‫تضم عائلتنا في المدرسة البريطانية في الكويت‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أعدادهم األلفين وخمسمئة طالب وطالبة من الحضانة وحتى الصف‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بلدا ويدرسون وفق المنهج‬ ‫الثالث عشر‪ .‬وهم‬ ‫يتوزعون على أكثر من ‪ً 70‬‬

Saadiah Mufareeh Editor, writer, critic and poet

S

aadiah Mufareeh is the editor of AlQabas magazine, a renowned section of AlQabas newspaper, a poet and a critic of unstoppable ambition. No matter how big her accomplishments may seem, they are always dwar fed by her modesty. As far as she is concerned, she hasn’t achieved her dreams yet, despite the poetic mark she has forever left on her home countr y, Kuwait, and the Arab world at large. The awards she received throughout her professional career are merely, in her opinion, how others evaluate her. She sees the month of March as full of happy occasions, such as International Women’s Day, World Poetr y Day and of course her bir thday! MEN’S PASSION met with Mufareeh to learn more about her beginnings and perceptions.

How did your journey in the world of press and poetry begin?

It is hard for any writer or poet to determine when exactly they had embarked on their journey. I have loved reading books ever since I was a child, but I was never aware of my real passion for poetry until I published my first poem. It happened while I was still a university student, with the support of two of my university teachers, namely Prof. Ahmad Rabhi, (may his soul rest in peace), and Prof. Mohammed Hassan Abdullah. My passion for journalism matched up to my passion for poetry, but since I was brought up in a conservative family, it was hard for me to choose this particular path. There were a lot of challenges along the way, but I made sure to hold on to my dreams. I owe it to Dr. Ahmad Rabhi who was a close friend to the family and helped me by persuading them that I should be working in press and poetry. In 1998, I started working in AlWatan newspaper, which led me to the field of literature through working in cultural journalism. This gave me the opportunity to meet writers, authors and publishers, to take part in book fairs, and learn about the press through journalists ensuring coverage of poetry evenings and seminars. All this led me to publish my first poetry book in 1990, entitled “He Was The Last of Dreamers”.

What is your source of inspiration when writing poems?

What is the purpose of launching the project “How to Write a News Article” on social media?

There is no end to creativity when it comes to poetry and literature; and poems are a piece of my soul. When I finish writing a poem, I always wonder when and how it started. There is no particular time for writing; at first, I used to feel anxious that I am not finding any inspiration. But with time I learned that the poem is a free spirit that may come at any time and without invitation, and when it does, I should be ready to receive it. For instance, the entire poem entitled “Just a Lying-down Mirror” came as an overnight revelation. Poems played a critical role in my life as they helped me make peace with myself and resolve some personality issues. Poetry, literature and art help you learn about your true self, which is the first step towards solving the problem.

The purpose of this project is to teach the basics of writing a news article by providing samples, regardless of whether you agree or not with the content of the article. I make sure to stay abreast of the Arab press and to keep up with the latest trends in article writing. I have embarked on my journey in press 25 years ago; therefore, I wish to see human capacities being invested in this field, especially in cultural journalism where there is still a significant shortage.

What is your favorite book?

My first book will be forever my first love, and I always see the latest book I publish as the most appealing as it is the closest to the way I currently see things. I do not deny my previous thoughts, but every stage of life comes with a new set of perceptions, and when a new book by me is out, I feel it is the closest to my heart. For example, the book “How Lonely We Are, Susan” represents the mental and emotional state through which I have been going; my writings are the mirror of my psyche. My last published book was the 18th in 25 years, bearing the title of “This Wing Is My Wing”.

What is your ambition today?

My ambition is big and has no end. But my dreams are always impossible to achieve as I believe that the smaller I dream, the smaller I achieve. So I dream big. I have a book entitled “My Dreams Became Very Humble”, and when I am asked about the reason why my dreams are now humble, I say that they might become humble, but they would never die.

How do you see the Kuwaiti women today?

I am a follower of the international book fair since its establishment in 1975, and I do participate in the Arab book fair either through my books or through in-person attendance.

However, I do not prefer signing my poetry book in any book fair, as I believe that the book fair buzz will contrast sharply with the serenity of my poem.

The Kuwaiti women are known for their aspirations, intelligence and elegance. They are ahead of a lot of other women in the region, in different sectors in the society. They proved capable of assuming their responsibility even before discovering the oil in Kuwait, when their men used to travel to work abroad. In the field of literature, the female authors in Kuwait outnumber the male authors and are by far more talented. Renowned names in poetry and novel writing are those of Laila Al-Othman and Souad Al-Sabah; any casual person in Kuwait would recognize these two women as they are Kuwaiti icons, and I myself have learned from them and from all the literature women whom I succeeded. I feel optimistic about the new generation of literature, culture, and press people, such as Buthaina Al-Issa, Mais Al Othman, Istabraq Ahmad, Hiba Bu Khamsin, Saadad al-Daas, Shaikha Al-Barazi, Hala Al-Daas, Asmaa Ahmad, Dalal Al-Baroud, etc.

Are you faithful to a certain writer?

Who is your female Kuwaiti role model?

I read books written by all authors, whether I am a fan or not.

In fact, the authors whose style I don’t like teach me how to be a good critic. While I was still a university student, I used to read poems by the Egyptian poets Amal Dankal and Salah Abdel-Sabour, and the Iraqi poets Badr Shakir Al Sayyab, Nazik Al-Malaika and Salah Abdulsabour; it was the era of opening towards modern poetry. At a later stage, I started diversifying my readings to include novels, autobiographies, religious and political analyses, research articles, and history; but I do not recall the exact titles of the books I read.

I owe my career in press to my teacher, Fatima Hussein, who indeed taught me a lot.

To what extent are you keen on attending book fairs?

What is the dream of the Kuwaiti women today?

They dream of achieving all that men have achieved, as they were not given yet enough opportunity to engage in politics or take up leadership positions; Nevertheless, Kuwaiti women are being evaluated against and compared to men. I truly appreciate all the women of Kuwait and I believe in their capabilities.

36 37

‫ّ‬ ‫المفضل؟‬ ‫ما هو كتابك‬

‫الصحافة الثقافية ألنه لدينا نقص كبير في هذا السياق‪.‬‬

‫ً‬ ‫دائما هو األجمل‬ ‫دائما الكتاب األول هو الحب األول‪ ،‬والكتاب األخير‬ ‫ألنه األقرب إلى تمثيل فكري اآلن‪ .‬أنا ال أنكر أفكاري لكن كانت تمثلني‬ ‫في تلك المرحلة‪ ،‬وعند اصدار كتاب جديد أشعر بأنه األقرب إلى قلبي‪،‬‬ ‫فكتاب ""كم نحن وحيداتان يا سوزان" يمثل حالة نفسية وعاطفية مررت‬ ‫بها‪ ،‬كتاباتي هي مرآ تي وحالتي النفسية‪.‬وصدر لي آخر كتاب رقم ‪18‬‬ ‫خالل ‪ 25‬سنة والذي يحمل اسم "هذا الجناح جناحي"‪.‬‬

‫ً‬ ‫دائما مستحيلة ألنني أؤمن‬ ‫طموحي كبير وال يحده سقف‪ ،‬وطموحاتي‬ ‫ً‬ ‫منخفضا كلما كان تفكيري بسقف محدود‪.‬‬ ‫أنه كلما كان سقف أحالمي‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كثيرا"‪ ،‬ويتم سؤالي عن‬ ‫وأحد كتبي يحمل عنوان "تواضعت أحالمي‬ ‫سبب تواضع أحالمي وأنا أقول إن تواضعت لكنها ال تمت‪.‬‬

‫إلى أي مدى تحرصين على المشاركة في معارض الكتب؟‬

‫كيف تقيمين اليوم المرأة الكويتية؟‬

‫معرض الكتاب الدولي أنا شاهدة عليه منذ تأسيسه سنة ‪.1975‬‬ ‫وبالنسبة للمعارض العربية أشارك فيها سواء عن طريق كتبي أو‬ ‫أحب ذ فكرة توقيع كتاب‬ ‫أحرص على التواجد بصفة شخصية‪ .‬ولكن ال ّ‬ ‫شعري في المعرض ألنني أؤمن بأنه لن يليق بضجة المعارض وال‬ ‫حتى بشفافية القصيدة‪.‬‬

‫المرأة الكويت تمتاز بالطموح العالي والذكاء واألناقة‪ ،‬وقد سبقت‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كبيرا من نساء المنطقة في مختلف المجاالت‪ .‬وأثبتت أنها‬ ‫عددا‬ ‫قادرة على تحمل المسؤولية حتى قبل وجود النفط في الكويت‬ ‫عندما كان يسافر الرجل للعمل خارج البالد‪ .‬ومن ناحية األدب‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ونادرا ما‬ ‫وعددا من الكتاب الكويتيين‪،‬‬ ‫عدة‬ ‫فاألديبات الكويتيات أكثر ّ‬ ‫يحصل هذا في الوطن العربي وميزتها في الثقافة واألدب واألسماء‬ ‫الشهيرة في الشعر والقصة ليلى العثمان في الشعر سعاد الصباح‬ ‫أي انسان عربي في الكويت يقول لك اسماء نسائية وليست رجالة‬ ‫وكل السيدات اللواتي سبقنني أستفيد منهن‪.‬‬ ‫أما الجيل الجديد من األدب والثقافة والصحافة أنا مستبشرة خيراً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عددا منهن بثينة العيسى‪،‬ميس العثمان‪ ،‬استبرق‬ ‫بالجيل الجديد وأذكر‬ ‫أحمد‪ ،‬هبة بو خمسين‪ ،‬سعداد الدعاس‪ ،‬شيخة البرازي‪ ،‬حال الدعاس ‪،‬‬ ‫أسماء أحمد‪ ،‬دالل البارود وغيرهن الكثير‪.‬‬

‫معين تحرصين على قراءة كتابه؟‬ ‫هل هناك اسم‬ ‫ّ‬

‫ما هو طموحك اليوم؟‬

‫أنا أقرأ للجميع ألنني أتعلم منهم سواء كنت من محبيهم أو غير ذلك‪،‬‬ ‫فهؤالء الذين ال أتفق مع كتاباتهم كان لهم دور في تعليمي كيف انتقد‪.‬‬ ‫وخالل المرحلة الجامعية كنت أقرأ للشاعر المصري أمل دنقل‪ ،‬وبدر‬ ‫شاكر السياب‪ ،‬ناظم المالئكة‪ ،‬صالح عبد الصبور‪ ،‬وكانت فترة االنفتاح‬ ‫على الشعر الحديث وبعد ذلك تنوعت قراءاتي وأصبحت وأقرأ كتاب شعر‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫سياسيا ومقاالت بحثية تاريخ‬ ‫وفكرا‬ ‫دينيا‬ ‫وفكرا‬ ‫ورواية وسيرة ذاتية‬ ‫ولكن ال يوجد عندي أسماء محددة‪.‬‬

‫من هي قدوتك من سيدات الكويت؟‬

‫ما هو الهدف خلف اطالقك مشروع "كيف تكتب مقالة" على مواقع‬ ‫التواصل االجتماعي؟‬

‫أدين بالفضل ألستاذتي فاطمة حسين في مجال الصحافة التي تعلمت‬ ‫منها الكثير‪.‬‬

‫يهدف هذا المشروع إلى تعليم أساسيات كتابة المقالة من خالل تقديم‬ ‫نماذج في كتابة المقالة سواء كنت مقتنعة أو غير مقتنعة بمضمون‬ ‫المقال‪ .‬وكما أحرص على متابعة الصحافة العربية بشكل يومي حتى‬ ‫أعرف اتجاهات اليوم في كتابة المقاالت‪ .‬مشواري الصحافي وصلت‬ ‫مدته إلى ‪ 25‬سنة لذلك أنا أرغب في استثمار القدرات البشرية خاصة‬

‫ما هو حلم المرأة الكويتية اليوم؟‬ ‫تحقيق كل ما استطاع الرجل تحقيقه‪ ،‬ألنها لم تعط لها الفرصة بشكل‬ ‫كاف لممارسة العمل السياسي أو المراكز القيادية‪ ،‬ورغم ذلك يتم‬ ‫تقييمها ومقارنتها مع الرجل‪ .‬أنا أقدر سيدات الكويت وأؤمن بقدراتهن‪.‬‬

‫سعدية مفرح‬ ‫طموح أديبة وشاعرة‬ ‫سعدية مفرح‪ ،‬مديرة تحرير مجلة القبس‪ ،‬شاعرة وناقدة صحافية‪ ،‬طموحها ال يعرف حدود ًا‪ ،‬انجازاتها كبيرة وتواضعها‬ ‫أكبر حيث إنها تؤمن أنها لم تحقق أحالمها بعد على الرغم من بصمتها الشعرية في الكويت والوطن العربي‪ .‬تعتبر‬ ‫أن التكريمات التي حصدتها خالل مسيرتها المهنية ما هي إال تقييم من اآلخرين لها‪ .‬ويعتبر شهر مارس بالنسبة لها‬ ‫مليئ ًا بالمناسبات السعيدة من يوم المرأة العالمي‪ ،‬إلى يوم الشعر العالمي وكذلك تحتفل فيه بعيد ميالدها‪ .‬التقتها‬ ‫مجلة ‪ ،MEN’S PASSION‬وكان الحوار التالي‪.‬‬

‫كيف كانت بدايتك الصحافية والشعرية؟‬

‫ ‬ ‫من الصعب على أي أديب أو شاعر أن يحدد تاريخ انطالقته‪ .‬منذ الصغر‬ ‫وأنا من محبي القراءة ولكن لم يتضح لي أن الشغف بالشعر أمر جدي إال‬ ‫عندما نشرت قصيدتي األولى في المرحلة الجامعية بدعم من اساتذتي‬ ‫األفاضل في الجامعة الدكتور أحمد الربعي رحمه الله والدكتور محمد‬ ‫حسن عبدالله‪ .‬وعشقي للصحافة توازى مع عشقي للشعر‪ ،‬وألنني من‬ ‫أسرة محافظة بدوية كان من الصعب أن أختار هذا الطريق ولذلك تخلله‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أتخل عن أحالمي وبفضل دعم الدكتور أحمد الربعي‬ ‫عقبات ولكنني لم‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫مهما‬ ‫دورا‬ ‫مقر ًبا من العائلة ولعب‬ ‫صديقا‬ ‫رحمه الله خاصة أنه كان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في اقناع أسرتي الكبيرة بالعمل في الصحافة وكتابة الشعر‪ .‬في سنة‬ ‫‪ 1998‬بدأت بالعمل في جريدة الوطن‪ ،‬وهذا بدوره سهل الطريق أمامي‬ ‫للدخول في المجال األدبي ألنني عملت في الصحافة الثقافية‪ ،‬وكانت‬ ‫هذه بمثابة فرصة لاللتقاء بالكتاب واألدباء والناشرين ومعارض الكتب‬ ‫وتغطيات الصحافة المختصة باألمسيات الشعرية والندوات‪.‬‬

‫‪38 39‬‬

‫جميع هذه العوامل ساهمت باصدار أول كتبي الشعرية سة ‪1990‬‬ ‫والذي حمل عنوان "آخر الحالمين كان"‪.‬‬ ‫ما هو مصدر اإللهام في كتابتك الشعرية؟‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ودائما أتساءل متى‬ ‫ال نهاية للشعر واألدب‪ ،‬القصائد جزء من روحي‪.‬‬ ‫وكيف بدأت وانتهيت من كتابة القصائد‪ .‬ال يوجد وقت محدد للكتابة‪،‬‬ ‫في البداية كنت أقلق لماذا ال أكتب‪ ،‬ولكن مع الوقت تعلمت أن‬ ‫القصيدة عصية حرة‪ ،‬تأتي كما شاءت وليس أمامي سوى أن استقبلها‬ ‫كما في أي وقت لكن ال ألح عليها في الدعوة‪ .‬وعلى سبيل المثال‬ ‫علي نفحات الشعر لكتابي "مجرد مرآة مستلقية" في ليلة‬ ‫تدفقت‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫واحدة‪ .‬وللقصائد اليوم دور كبير في حياتي ألنه صالحني مع نفس‬ ‫وساهم في حل بعض العقد في شخصيتي‪ ،‬للشعر واألدب والفن‬ ‫يساهمان في معرفة اإلنسان لذاته وهي الخطوة األولى لحل المشاكل‪.‬‬

Nabila Al-Ali

First Kuwaiti Female International Showjumping Judge

T

he first female commentator, judge and voice in the international Arabian horse shows, Nabila Al Ali is very eloquent and consistently encouraging. Her instantly recognizable voice carries with it both confidence and authority. She is a leader within what would once have been considered ‘a man’s world’. What inspired her to success in this field, and how does she feel her example can inspire others? We met her to find out.

As Kuwait’s first female international showjumping judge, how do you motivate women?

I hope that I have set a good example as a role model for people who are interested in show jumping. There are new opportunities for women every day. I don’t believe in gender segregation, and I hope to set a good example for other women who are interested in making a mark for themselves in their world, and that is my motivation, and I hope they follow.

How do you evaluate the importance of the role Kuwaiti women play in Kuwait’s society today?

I believe everyone can attest to the increasingly important role Kuwaiti women are playing these days. Their work ethics and dedication have turned them into true ambassadors for Kuwait, role models to be part of the local and international scenes.

The Kuwaiti women have ventured into various work sectors that are as vital to todays society as the oil sector. The Kuwaiti women are not an exception, I believe all women in our region are finding a new strength in their solidarity and cooperation.

Who is your female role model in Kuwait?

My role model, someone I have watched since I was very young, is Munira Al-Mutawa. She is involved in non-profit work with Luluwa Al-Qutami. She broke the rules and even travelled outside Kuwait to do volunteer work. She is unstoppable. I also admire Maha Al-Ghunaim for her way of thinking and her investment in her work.

What is the dream of Kuwaiti women nowadays?

Need their dreams have any limits?

There is no such thing as a ‘woman’s or a man’s dream’ any longer, but I would like to emphasise that for women, there are no limits or restrictions to their aspirations, and the real dream that occupies our minds is to prove our worth, commitment and hard work. There is a faulty image of Arab women in the minds of the West. They look at us as pampered consumers, whilst in reality, Kuwaiti women are some of the most hard working, and time will hold witness to this.

‫نبيلة العلي‬

‫أول حكم كويتي لفروسية القفز‬

‫يتسم كالمها ببالغة وفصاحة ّ‬ ‫قل مثيلها وبأسلوب إيجابي‬ ‫نبيلة العلي أول حكم كويتي في فروسية القفز في العالم‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫المحمل‬ ‫تتعرف على صوتها عند سماعه وهو‬ ‫ومحفز في تعليقاتها‪ .‬وهو ما يندر في هذه األيام‪ .‬لن يطول األمر حتى‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بالثقة والهيبة‪ .‬هي القائد المقدام التي صنعت لنفسها اسم ًا ومجد ًا في مجال كان "حكر ًا على الرجال"‪ .‬تجاذبنا أطراف‬ ‫الحديث مع نبيلة العلي الستحضار القِ َيم والتي انطلقت منها والقدوة التي ألهمتها على طريق النجاح‪ ،‬واستمعنا إليها‬ ‫عما إذا كانت تجد نفسها قدوة لغيرها‪.‬‬ ‫وهي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تحدثنا ّ‬

‫شجع‬ ‫لقد كنت أول حكم كويتي في فروسية القفز في العالم وهذا ما‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حدثينا عن هذا قلي ًلا‪.‬‬ ‫الكثيرات من بعدك‪ّ .‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫المهتم ين برياضة‬ ‫مثال ُي حتذى به لألشخاص‬ ‫قدمت‬ ‫أتمنى أن أكون قد ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫اجتياز الحواجز للخيول‪ .‬وأنا أعتبر ّ‬ ‫محم ًل بالفرص المتاحة أمام‬ ‫كل يوم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫شخصيا ال أعترف بوجود فارق بين الجنسين‬ ‫السيدات ليقتنصنها‪ .‬فأنا‬ ‫وأرجو أن أكون قادرة على تقديم مثال صالح لغيري من النساء اللواتي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أمث ل‬ ‫بصمتهن على هذا العالم‪ .‬هذا األمل في أن‬ ‫يطمحن إلى ترك‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وأتمن ى أن أرى َم ن يسير على‬ ‫دافعا أكبر كل يوم‬ ‫قدوة لغيري يعطيني‬ ‫هذا الدرب‪.‬‬ ‫كيف تنظرين إلى أهمية الدور الذي تؤديه المرأة الكويتية في المجتمع‬ ‫الكويت اليوم؟‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فالكل يعي اليوم أن دور المرأة‬ ‫يعب ر عن رأي الجميع‪.‬‬ ‫أنا أعتقد أن رأيي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الكويتية يزداد أهمية في مجتمعنا‪ ،‬وقد أصبحت المرأة سفيرة لبلدنا‬ ‫في الداخل والخارج حيث ّأن ها فاعلة في مجال األعمال الذي بات يوازي‬ ‫ً‬ ‫يوما بعد يوم‪،‬‬ ‫بأهميته قطاع النفط‪ .‬والحضور النسائي يتزايد ثقله‬ ‫فالمرأة تخوض غمار كافة المجاالت والقطاعات في ّ‬ ‫كل مجتمعات‬ ‫استثناء على هذه القاعدة‪ .‬بل على‬ ‫العالم‪ .‬وسيدات الكويت لسن‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ووحدتهن‪.‬‬ ‫اتحادهن‬ ‫فهن يزددن قوة وصالبة في‬ ‫العكس‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫من هي قدوتك من بين أعالم المجتمع الكويتي؟‬ ‫منيرة المطوع هي قدوتي ومثالي األعلى‪ .‬فأنا كنت أشاهدها منذ‬ ‫تحدت‬ ‫الصغر‪ .‬وهي تعمل مع لولوة القطامي في العمل الخيري‪ .‬وقد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الكثير من القواعد واألعراف في المجتمع ووصل نطاق عملها التطوعي‬ ‫أقدر جهود‬ ‫حدودا‪ .‬كذلك‬ ‫إلى خارج حدود الكويت‪ .‬طموحها ال يعرف‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السيدة مها الغنيم وأحترم طريقة تفكيرها واستثمارها في عملها‪.‬‬

‫بماذا تحلم الكويتيات في الوقت الراهن؟ وهل من عقبات أمام أحالمهن؟‬ ‫حد فاصل بين ما يسمى بأحالم الرجل أو أحالم المرأة‪.‬‬ ‫لم يعد هناك فارق أو ّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫تحديدا إلى غياب القيود أو الحدود‪ .‬فالحلم‬ ‫وأود أن ألفت انتباه النساء‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الحقيقي الذي يختلج أذهاننا وأفئدتنا هو إثبات جدارتنا وجودة عملنا كنساء‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كويتيات وتصحيح الصورة النمطية ّ‬ ‫مدل الت‪ ،‬فنحن لسنا كذلك‪.‬‬ ‫عن ا بأننا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ولكن نا في‬ ‫أينما ذهبت في أوروبا‪ ،‬يسود هذا االنطباع عن المرأة الكويتية‬ ‫مجدات ومجتهدات ووحدها األيام ستثبت صحة هذا القول‪.‬‬ ‫الحقيقة‬ ‫ّ‬

‫‪40 41‬‬

Narjes Al-Shatti

K

Media Committee Officer of International Women’s Group

uwaiti women are well known for their leadership and vision for the future. They have long and ably represented Kuwait. The International Women’s Group is among the most active groups in the region. They primarily seek to gather and unite wives of ambassadors and diplomats in a single place. Their aim is to celebrate Kuwait and their countries’ heritage and other civilizations. We had the pleasure to meet Narjes Al Shatti for this issue of MEN’S PASSION.

Perhaps we could start with an overview of the establishment of the International Women’s Group.

The International Women’s Group was established upon the initiative of the former Queen of Denmark in order to organize and hold leisure and cultural activities and to strengthen the relations among the wives of the ambassadors and diplomats in Denmark.

This committee later spread around the world. In Kuwait it began with an initiative of an Indian lady in the late 1980s. The Iraqi invasion halted the activities, and the wife of the Russian ambassador, who later headed the committee, initiated the second start in 1991, in collaboration with Mrs. Leila Rajab and Mrs. Tula Naqi along with a group of other ladies.

What were your thoughts behind joining the committee, and when did you join?

After the liberation of Kuwait, I worked in various fields of volunteer work; as a result of my active participation, a number of wives of ambassadors asked me to join the committee in 1992.

My primary source of motivation was to reflect a civilized image of Kuwait.

I am constantly trying to work for and serve my dear country, Kuwait.

This committee was the initiation of my dream.

Today, I am the media officer of the International Women’s Group.

What are the most prominent events and activities organized by the Group?

We hold a monthly meeting in Kuwait in order to promote the pressing issues. We celebrate all religious holidays regardless of nationality or faith. The wives of ambassadors and diplomats introduce the other members to the characteristics of their countries during open days. We organize activities in collaboration with all Kuwait institutions; they are always welcoming, and their programs are highly organized too. In 2004, we gathered donations for the devastated tsunami struck areas in South East Asia.

What role does the International Women Committee perform to carry Kuwaiti women’s achievements worldwide?

Kuwaiti women are open-minded and they can fit in easily. They can mix in new settings despite the many differences from various other nationalities, customs and traditions. Kuwaiti women invest all their potential to highlight the achievements of women in Kuwait.

We are always keen on closely introducing the members to the Kuwaiti families, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

We make sure to assign an annual visit to Sheikha Al Anoud Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, the eldest sister of the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. All committee members are invited by Sheikha Fariha Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah on the National Day Ceremony.

How did the huge number of diplomats and wives of ambassadors add to your knowledge and expertise?

I have spent 23 years as a member of this committee. I have met countless number of wives of ambassadors and diplomats. I have made so many friends and these friendships have lasted till today.

My friends invite me to visit their homelands. That is an unparalleled opportunity to get to know many countries of the world with representation in Kuwait.

Who is your role model in women’s volunteer work in Kuwait?

I have encountered several role models among the ladies of Kuwait.

Each has her own role in the service of their country. It is worth noting that the ladies from the ruling family are always present in this domain. Luluwa Al Qatami is a role model in honoring the name of Kuwait. I must also mention Dalal Al Ghanim, too. I value engineer Sarah Akbar as she is a courageous hero of Kuwait, her role during the Liberation is unprecedented. On this occasion, I salute the martyrs of Kuwait including martyr, Asrar Al Qabandi.

What is the Kuwaiti women’s dream today?

Kuwaiti women were able to prove their competence and aptitude in all domains. The youth of today are always innovative and creative with personal initiatives to make their dreams come true. We seek bigger achievements in the near future.

42 43

Josephine Cole, President of International Women’s Group Wife of H.E. the Ambassador of Malta, Kuwait I consider Sara Akbar definitely as my role model in Kuwait. She is a key figure in Kuwaiti society, and I admire her for her heroic efforts in helping to extinguish Kuwait’s oil fires after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. It has been about a year now that I am here in Kuwait, and the longer I am here the more I realize that the Kuwaiti women have a certain strength, an incredible level of endurance; it might not be so obvious immediately but with time you realize how very strong, determined and successful they are. It makes me happy to learn that the women in Kuwaiti society maintain a high educational level and we see them in several sectors of the economy, and I see the level growing even further. In Malta I have come to know of a lot of Kuwaiti women who are studying there, pursuing their education and careers especially in the fields of medicine and architecture. ‫ رئيسة لجنة المرأة الدولية‬, ‫جوزفين كول‬ ‫حرم سفير مالطا في دولة الكويت‬ ً ‫ أنا‬.‫ وهي من أبرز شخصيات المجتمع المحلي‬.‫نموذجا يحتذى به في الكويت‬ ‫أنا أعتبر المهندسة سارة أكبر‬ ً ً ‫وخصوصا بالنسبة للنشاط الذي بذلته للمساعدة في إطفاء الحرائق الناتجة‬ ‫أقدر جهودها الجبارة‬ ّ ‫شخصيا‬ ّ ‫مر عام على وجودي هنا في الكويت وكل ما‬ ّ ‫ لقد‬.‫عن احتراق آبار البترول في الكويت بعد الغزو العراقي الغاشم‬ ‫ ال يقدر المرء على‬.‫التحم ل‬ ‫يتمي زن بالقوة وبقدرة عالية على‬ ‫بأن النساء الكويتيات‬ ّ ‫ أيقنت‬،‫طالت إقامتي‬ ّ ّ .‫مالحظة ذلك بسهولة ولكن مع الوقت باستطاعتك أن تالحظ قوتهن وتصميمهن والنجاح الذي يحققنه‬ ‫وهن فاعالت‬ ‫وإنه لمن دواعي سروري أن النساء الكويتيات يحرصن على متابعة أعلى المستويات من التعليم‬ ّ ً ً ‫تعرفت على الكثير من‬ ،‫أيضا‬ ‫ وفي مالطا‬.‫شخصيا التمس وتيرة النجاحات‬ ‫ وأن‬.‫عدة قطاعات اقتصادية‬ ّ ‫في‬ ّ .‫وهن يتابعن تحصيلهن العلمي ومساراتهن المهنية في الطب والعمارة‬ ‫الكويتيات الالتي يدرسن في بالدي‬ ّ

Dr. Gargi Jain, Wife of H.E. the Ambassador of India, Kuwait I admire Sara Akbar for her bravery and her role as the sole woman fighting alongside firefighters in extinguishing the burning oil fields after Saddam’s brutal invasion of Kuwait.I really admire the women in Kuwait. They are fighting for their rights and continue to work hard to attain higher levels of achievement in every field. I have been in this region for a number of years now, and coming to Kuwait has been an easy adjustment especially with the loving and welcoming society here. Ms. Nargis Al-Shatti is someone very dear to me as she is the very first acquaintance I made, and is now a dear and close friend among many other amazing friends that I have had the pleasure of making here.

‫الدكتورة غارجي جاين‬ ‫حرم السفير الهندي في دولة الكويت‬ ‫أنا ُأ فتخرر في المهندسة سارة وأؤمن بشجاعتها التي برزت أثناء‬ ‫تأديتها لدورها الذي جهدت فيه إلطفاء حقول النفط المشتعلة‬ ‫ وذلك مع أنها كانت المرأة الوحيدة إلى‬،‫بعد الغزو العراقي الغاشم‬ ً ‫ أنا معجبة بالنساء الكويتيات‬.‫جانب رجال اإلطفاء‬ ‫فهن يناضلن‬ .‫حق ا‬ ّ ‫حقوقهن ويعملن بال كلل لتحقيق إنجازاتهن في كل مجال‬ ‫النتزاع‬ ّ ‫ أمضيت عدة سنوات في المنطقة وكان من السهل‬.‫من المجاالت‬ ‫ فأبناء الكويت كرام ويكرمون‬.‫علي التأقلم مع البيئة الكويتية‬ ‫جدا‬ ًّ ّ ّ ‫معزة خاصة كونها من‬ ‫أكن لنرجس الشطي‬ ‫ وأنا‬.‫وفادة ضيوفهم‬ ّ ‫ وهي غالية على قلبي وأعتبرها‬.‫عليهن في الكويت‬ ‫تعرفت‬ ‫أوائل من‬ ّ ّ ّ ‫أعز الصديقات وهي من بين الصديقات الرائعات الالتي‬ ‫بمثابة‬ .‫تشرفت بمعرفتهن هنا‬ ّ

Thazin, Consul Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

‫ قنصل‬,‫ثازين‬ ‫سفارة جمهورية اتحاد مينمار‬

It has now been around three years that I have been in Kuwait. I am very interested in the Kuwaiti culture and way of life. When I first came here, I was under the impression that Kuwaiti women hugely depend on their family for every aspect but I soon recognized that, though they are indeed very family oriented, they are also very independent at the same time, thriving in society, and I find a lot of Kuwaiti women to be perfect examples of their society. Kuwaiti women are not only very beautiful, they are also very strong. So many of them have gone through the 1990 invasion, and they have survived and become stronger as a result of that experience.

‫ وأنا مهتمة للغاية بالثقافة‬.‫أتممت عامي الثالث هنا في الكويت‬ ‫ كنت أعتقد أن‬،‫ بادئ األمر‬.‫الكويتية ونمط العيش في الكويت‬ ‫عائالتهن في كل جانب‬ ‫حد كبير على‬ ّ ّ ‫النساء الكويتيات يعتمدن إلى‬ ّ ّ ‫احترامهن‬ ‫وبرغم‬ ‫هن‬ ‫بأن‬ ‫نت‬ ‫تيق‬ ‫ما‬ ‫حياتهن ولكن سرعان‬ ‫من جوانب‬ ّ ّ ّ ّ ّ ‫يتمت عن باستقاللية كبيرة‬ ‫لعائالتهن إل أنهن مع ذلك‬ ‫وتقديرهن‬ ّ ّ ً ‫ أنا أجد في النساء الكويتيات نماذج‬.‫وهن فاعالت في المجتمع‬ ‫أيضا‬ ّ

‫ ال تتصف النساء الكويتيات بالجمال‬. ‫مجتمعاتهن‬ ‫يحتذى بها في‬ ّ ً ‫ وقد خبرت الكثيرات‬.‫أيضا‬ ‫هن شديدات تجاه المصاعب‬ ‫وحده بل‬ ّ ‫ألم ت‬ ّ ّ ‫ واجتزن تلك المحنة العظيمة التي‬1990 ‫منهن اجتياح العام‬ ‫عزائمهن بنتيجة تلك‬ ‫فإنهن قد اشتدت‬ ‫ وعلى العكس‬.‫بالبالد‬ ّ ّ .‫التجارب والمحن‬

‫نرجس الشطي‬ ‫مسؤولة اللجنة اإلعالمية في لجنة المرأة الدولية‬

‫على مر العصور تميزت المرأة الكويتية في أن تكون سباقة لعصرها وقادرة على تمثيل بلدها الكويت بأبهى الصور‪،‬‬ ‫ولعل لجنة المرأة الدولية من أكثر اللجان نشاط ًا في المنطقة والتي تهدف بشكل رئيسي إلى ضم زوجات السفراء‬ ‫والدبلوماسيين تحن سقف واحد ليكون لديهن منبر يعكسن من خالله تراث وحضارة بالدهن‪ ،‬وفي نفس الكويت لتعكس‬ ‫صورة حضارية عن الكويت‪ .‬وفي هذا العدد‪ ،‬التقت مجلة ‪ ،MEN’S PASSION‬مع نرجس الشطي مسؤولة اللجنة اإلعالمية‬ ‫في اللجنة‪ ،‬وكان الحوار التالي‪.‬‬

‫حديثنا عن تاريخ تأسيس لجنة المرأة الدولية‪.‬‬

‫ما هو دور لجنة المرأة الدولية في التعريف بإنجازات المرأة الكويتية؟‬

‫لجنة المرأة الدولية هي لجنة عالمية ‪ ،‬انطلقت بمبادرة من ملكة‬ ‫الدانمارك السابقة بهدف تنظيم أنشطة ترويحية وثقافية وتعزيز‬ ‫العالقات بين زوجات السفراء والدبلوماسيين في الدانمارك ومن ثم‬ ‫انتقلت هذه اللجنة إلى لجان أخرى من العالم‪ .‬أما في الكويت‪ ،‬انطلقت‬ ‫بمبادرة من سيدة هندية وذلك في بداية التسعينيات ولكن صادف‬ ‫حدوث الغزو العراقي الغاشم ليتوقف النشاط فترة‪ ،‬ثم عاد مرة أخرى‬ ‫في سنة ‪ 1991‬بمبادرة من حرم السفير الروسي آنذاك وبالتعاون مع‬ ‫السيدة ليلى رجب ‪ ،‬والسيدة توال نقي مع مجموعة من السيدات‪.‬‬ ‫وتولت حرم السفير الروسي رئاسة اللجنة‪.‬‬

‫أكثر ما يميز المرأة الكويتية أنها منفتحة على العالم وسريعة االندماج‬ ‫واإلختالط بالرغم من وجود عدد كبير من االختالفات مع كافة الجنسيات‬ ‫والعادات والتقاليد المختلفة‪ .‬وبدورها تسخر المرأة الكويتية كافة‬ ‫طاقتها بهدف تعريف العالم على انجازات نساء بلدها‪ .‬ولذلك نحرص‬ ‫على تعريف العضوات على العائلة الكويتية عن كثب وخاصة خالل شهر‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وسنويا‬ ‫رمضان الفضيل حيث تزداد الزيارات بين أبناء الشعب الكويتي‪.‬‬ ‫نحرص على تحديد يوم لزيارة الشيخة العنود األحمد الجابر الصباح‬ ‫الشقيقة الكبرى ألمير البالد صاحب السمو الشيخ صباح األحمد الجابر‬ ‫الصباح‪ .‬كما أنه يتم دعوة جميع عضوات اللجنة من الشيخة فريحة‬ ‫األحمد الجابر الصباح لحفل خاص لألعياد الوطنية‪.‬‬

‫متى‪ ،‬ولماذا قررت االنضمام للجنة المرأة الدولية؟‬ ‫بعد تحرير الكويت عملت في مجاالت مختلفة من األعمال التطوعية‪،‬‬ ‫وبسبب النشاط الكبير الذي بذلته في تلك الفترة‪ ،‬طلب مني عدد من‬ ‫زوجات السفراء سنة ‪ 1992‬االنضمام إلى اللجنة‪ .‬وما شجعني في تلك‬ ‫الفترة هو أن مهمتي سيكون هدفها عكس صورة حضارية عن بلدي‬ ‫الكويت‪ .‬وأحاول بشكل مستمر أن أعمل من أجل الكويت وأسعى لخدمة‬ ‫بلدي بكافة الطرق‪ ،‬ومن خالل هذه اللجنة أستطيع أن أنفذ ما أطمح‬ ‫إليه‪.‬‬ ‫واليوم أتولى منصب المسؤولة اإلعالمية في لجنة‪ ‬المرأة الدولية‪.‬‬ ‫ما هي أبرز الفعاليات واألنشطة التي نظمتها اللجنة؟ ‬ ‫لدينا ملتقى شهري نتناول فيه المواضيع األكثر أهمية‪ .‬كما أننا نشارك‬ ‫جميع عضوات اللجنة االحتفال بمختلف األعياد لكافة األديان من دون‬ ‫استثناء ألننا في الجمعية ال نفرق بين عضوة وأخرى باختالف الجنسيات‬ ‫واألديان‪ .‬كما أننا نفتح المجال أمام زوجات السفراء والدبلوماسيين‬ ‫بتعريف العضوات عما يميز بالدهن من خالل تخصيص يوم مفتوح‬ ‫لذلك‪ .‬كما أننا ننظم نشاطات بالتعاون مع جميع مؤوسسات الكويت‬ ‫التي تقوم بالترحيب وتنظيم برامج مميزة‪.‬‬ ‫وفي مرة واحدة فقط قمنا بجمع تبرعات خاصة لألطفال المتضررين‬ ‫في المناطق المنكوبة في جنوب شرق آسيا من جراء كارثة تسونامي‬ ‫في ‪.2004‬‬

‫‪44 45‬‬

‫تضم اللجنة عدد ًا كبير ًا من الدبلوماسيات‪ ،‬ماذا اكتسبت منهن؟‬ ‫منذ أكثر من ‪ 23‬سنة وأنا عضوة في هذه اللجنة‪ ،‬وقد تعرفت على عدد‬ ‫كبير من زوجات السفراء والدبلوماسيين‪ ،‬في البداية أنشأت عالقات‬ ‫صداقة كثيرة ما زالت مستمرة حتى اليوم ويتم دعوتي لزيارتهن في‬ ‫بالدهن‪ .‬كما أنها فرصة مميزة للتعرف على جميع دول العالم من خالل‬ ‫من يمثل بلدهم في الكويت‪.‬‬ ‫من هي قدوتك في مجال األعمال التطوعية المختصة بالمرأة في الكويت؟‬ ‫عاصرت نماذج متعددة من سيدات المجتمع الكويتي‪ ،‬ولكل منهن‬ ‫نشاطها الخاص حيث من خالله خدمن بلدهن الكويت‪ .‬والجدير بالذكر‬ ‫أن بنات األسرة الحاكمة لديهن نشاط بارز في مجال األعمال التطوعية‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كبيرا‬ ‫جهدا‬ ‫وأعتبر السيدة لولوة القطامي من السيدات اللواتي بذلن‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عاليا‪ ،‬والسيدة دالل الغانم‪ ،‬والمهندسة سارة أكبر‬ ‫في رفع اسم الكويت‬

‫حيث أنها بطلة الكويت خالل حرب التحرير‪ .‬وال نستطيع أن ال نستذكر‬ ‫شهيدات الكويت ومن ضمنهم الشهيدة أسرار القبندي‪.‬‬ ‫ما هو حلم المرأة الكويتية اليوم؟‬

‫استطاعت المرأة الكويتية اليوم أن تثبت نفسها في كافة المجاالت‪،‬‬ ‫والجيل الجديد من بنات الكويت سابق عصره‪ ،‬لديهن مبادرات شخصية‬ ‫لتحقيق أحالمهن‪ ،‬ونتطلع إلى انجازات أكبر في المستقبل القريب‪.‬‬

Maha Al-Baghli Chair of the Business and Professional Women Network and Founder of the Safira Social Responsibility Company

K

uwaiti women are pioneers in several domains. They have made such a difference in business that they were able to prove competent at all fields through a passion to accomplish dreams and achieve targets. Maha Al Baghli was our guest at MEN’S PASSION Magazine for the following interview.

Perhaps you could tell us a little about the Business and Professional Women’s Network in Kuwait.

In 2009, we established what we called “The Business & Professional Women’s Club” under the patronage of the Kuwaiti Economic Society with an initiative of Mrs. Malika Kaul and Mrs. Maali Al Asousi as a branch of the International Federation Business Women and Professionals in New York. We were

honored at the opening ceremony to receive Chair of the international organization, Elizabeth Benum and her deputy. We later started our independent organization and we changed the name to the International Business and Professional Women’s Network in Kuwait. The network’s main objective is to empower women in Kuwait both economically and professionally. The network members are small enterprise owners and professionals from various fields such as engineering, law and medicine. We

have three committees: The Health Committee, as we believe that women’s health is an important aspect to continue in giving and contributing to the society, and the Business Women SME Committee as well as the “AWJ” Creative Committee housing creative ladies from the domains of writing, painting, music, etc. Today, we are proud of our 350 members, and the network is always open for more.

contributing to laying the foundations of our modern society and decision making. For many years, we have struggled and gained what are now considered fringe benefits. The walk continues, and we are active and engaged at all fields with a mindset to reach success, and I can say that the mission is accomplished.

Which achievements are you particularly proud you have achieved?

I majored in civil engineering, and worked with real estate development in both public and private sectors. Nevertheless, my passion was all directed to social work. This, in fact, is what led me to the initiative, “Safira for Social Responsibility” in 2014.

It is the first company in Kuwait in this domain.

We have executed several small business programs; Women Leadership & Entrepreneurship program in 2011; more than 100 ladies participated in workshops, training courses, forums and exhibitions. We continuously seek to promote the success stories of business women in order to create a drive for other ladies to achieve. We also hold cooperation with the American, Canadian and British embassies through workshops and lectures. We have implemented women’s financial independency programs in order to encourage women and motivate them to attain financial empowerment and to invest their passion in real life experience and business.

We also hold monthly meetings under the name of “The Monthly Business Women Forum” which is a unique opportunity to exchange expertise and experiences and where joint ventures and deals are concluded.

How can Kuwaiti women be more competitive with men in the field of business? rankly, the current opportunities are equal; nevertheless, women need more self-education through the professional development and growth of their interests. They need to consult with experts, too. Women have the capacity to be bolder in the implementation of the first step. Kuwaiti women are educated and knowledgeable of what they want, yet the society sometimes sets obstacles that women need to overcome with their sense of initiation. I am currently writing a biweekly column in one of the local newspapers to educate women on money management.

In terms of ministerial and government positions and private business, where do you see the Kuwaiti woman as most successful?

Kuwaiti women are strong and responsible. They have always been keen on pursuing education and employment as well as

Why did you start up your own firm?

I have always had this sharp interest in the concept of Social Responsibility. And it was on one of my business trips to Singapore, as I represented the Kuwait Economic Society that I decided to implement this principle in Kuwait. The company activities comprise of social leadership awareness, women empowerment and independency.

How did your position positively influence you family?

My family provides me all kinds of support as they are proud of my achievements. I consider myself today a role model for my children. Their support has greatly inspired and mobilized me for higher performance and bigger achievements.

Who is your role model in business in Kuwait and how do they motivate you?

There are many business women who have left their print in this domain, including the self-made businesswoman Maha AlGhunaim; CEO of Kuwait Energy, Engineer Sara Akbar; and VP of KAMCO Chair, Entissar Al Suwaidi.

The youth of today have achieved highly including businesswoman Alia Al Qali; they have also have ventured bravely into business.

What do Kuwaiti women aspire to today?

Kuwaiti women greatly seek to contribute in decision making and building the national economy. I send a cordial message to all women today calling them to take better care of themselves and to improve themselves in all domains for them to nurture their families, society and work in the best way possible.

46 47

‫مها البغلي‬ ‫رئيسة شبكة سيدات األعمال والمهنيات ومؤسسة شركة سفيرة‬

‫حققت المرأة الكويتية نجاحات مختلفة في شتى المجاالت‪ ،‬ووضعت بصمتها الخاصة في مجال األعمال‪ ،‬ولطالما‬ ‫سعت المرأة الكويتية إلثبات نفسها في كافة المجاالت من خالل مطاردتها ألحالمها وشغفها‪ .‬مها البغلي رئيسة‬ ‫شبكة سيدات األعمال والمهنيات والمديرة التنفيذية ومؤسسة شركة سفيرة للمسؤولية االجتماعية‪ ،‬التقتها مجلة‬ ‫‪ MEN’S PASSION‬وكان الحوار التالي‪.‬‬

‫تاريخ تأسيس شبكة سيدات األعمال والمهنيات في الكويت‪.‬‬ ‫في البداية كانت الشبكة تحمل اسم "نادي سيدات األعمال والمهنيات"‬ ‫والتي انطلقت في الكويت سنة ‪ 2009‬تحت مظلة الجمعية االقتصادية‬ ‫الكويتية بمبادرة من السيدة مليكة كول والسيدة معالي العسعوسي‬ ‫ً‬ ‫فرعا لمنظمة سيدات األعمال والمهنيات العالمية والتي مقرها‬ ‫لتكون‬ ‫نيويورك حيث حضر حفل االفتتاح رئيسة المنظمة العالمية اليزابيث‬ ‫بنيم ونائبتها‪ .‬ولكن في وقت الحق انفصلنا عن النادي وغيرنا اإلسم‬ ‫إلى شبكة سيدات األعمال والمهنيات في الكويت‪.‬‬ ‫وهدف الشبكة بشكل رئيسي هو تمكين المرأة الكويتية من الناحية‬ ‫اإلقتصادية والمهنية‪ .‬وعضوات الشبكة متنوعات ما بين صاحبات‬ ‫المشاريع الصغيرة والمهنيات من مختلف المجاالت في الهندسة‬ ‫والمحاماة والطب‪ .‬وتنقسم الشبكة إلى لجنة صحية ألننا نؤمن أن‬ ‫صحة المرأة جانب مهم لالستمرار في العطاء‪ ،‬ولجنة سيدات األعمال‬ ‫الخاصة بالمشاريع الصغيرة ولجنة "أوج" اإلبداعية التي تشمل السيدات‬ ‫المبدعات في الكتابة والرسم والموسيقى وغيرها‪ .‬واليوم تضم الشبكة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫دائما عضوات جديدات‪.‬‬ ‫أكثر من ‪ 350‬عضوة‪ ،‬كما أننا نستقبل‬ ‫ما هي أبرز اإلنجازات التي حققتها الشبكة حتى اليوم؟‬ ‫نفذنا العديد من البرامج في مجال المشاريع الصغيرة‪ ،‬تمكين‬ ‫المرأة‪ ،‬برنامج المرأة القيادية المباردة في ‪ 2011‬حيث شارك في‬ ‫هذا البرنامج أكثر من ‪ 100‬سيدة تخلله ورش عمل ودورات تدريبية‬ ‫وملتقيات ومعارض‪ .‬كما نسعى بشكل متواصل إلى تسليط الضوء‬ ‫ً‬ ‫حافزا لسيدات‬ ‫على قصص النجاح لسيدات أعمال حيث يشكل ذلك‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أيضا‬ ‫أخريات‪ .‬ونتعاون مع السفارتين األميركية والبريطانية والكندية‬ ‫من خالل ورش عمل ومحاضرات‪ .‬ونفذنا برنامج االستقاللية المالية‬ ‫للمرأة للتمكن من تشجيع المرأة لتكون متمكنة من الناحية المالية‬ ‫وكيفية االستثمرار في شغفها وتطبيقها على أرض الواقع من خالل‬ ‫عمل تجاري خاص بها‪ .‬كما أننا ننظم ملتقيات شهرية وتحمل اسم‬ ‫"ملتقى شبكة سيدات األعمال الشهرية" وهذا الملتقى فرصة لتبادل‬ ‫الخبرات والتجارب ويتم خالله عقد صفقات ومشاريع مشتركة‪.‬‬ ‫ماذا ينقص المرأة الكويتية حتى تنافس الرجل في مجال األعمال؟‬ ‫ال يوجد فرق بالفرص الموجودة‪ ،‬لكن المرأة بحاجة ألى تثقيف نفسها‬ ‫من خالل تعزيز وتطوير هوايتها وتنفذها في طريقة مهنية وتستشير‬ ‫أصحاب الخبرة وتمتلك القدرة أن تكون أكثر جرأة في تنفيذ الخطوة‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أحيانا المجتمع‬ ‫األولى‪ .‬المرأة الكويتية مثقفة وعلى دراية بما تريد ولكن‬ ‫ال يشجعها ولكن يجب أن يتم كسر هذا الحاجز وتكون مبادرة‪ .‬حاليا أقدم‬ ‫مقاالت نصف شهرية في عمود خاص لي في احدى الجرائد المحلية‬ ‫أساهم من خالله في تثقيف المرأة إلدارة أموالها‪.‬‬

‫ما بين األعمال الخاصة والحكومية والمناصب الوزارية أين حققت المرأة‬ ‫الكويتية نجاح ًا أكثر؟‬ ‫المرأة الكويتية قوية وتتحمل المسؤولية ولطالما أصرت أن تأخذ‬ ‫حقوقها في التعليم والعمل وبناء المجتمع وصنع القرار ولسنوات‬ ‫عديدة حاربت للحصول على ما ترغب به وحققت ذلك‪ .‬والمرأة بشكل‬ ‫ً‬ ‫دائما على‬ ‫مستمر تتحدى نفسها في كافة المجاالت‪ ،‬وهي تعمل‬ ‫تحقيق النجاج ونجحت في ذلك‪.‬‬ ‫ما الذي دفعك إلى تأسيس شركتك الخاصة؟‬ ‫تخصصي الجامعي في مجال الهندسة المدنية‪ ،‬وعملت في القطاعين‬ ‫الحكومي والخاص ولكن شغفي كان في األنشطة االجتماعية وهذا‬ ‫ما دفعني للمباردة في ‪ 2014‬لتأسيس شركتي الخاصة "سفيرة‬ ‫للمسؤولية االجتماعية" وهي أول شركة في الكويت في هذا المجال‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫شغفا في مجال مفهموم المسؤولية االجتماعية‪،‬‬ ‫لطالما امتلكت‬ ‫وخالل إحدى رحالت العمل إلى سنغافوة حيث كنت أمثل الجمعية‬ ‫اإلقتصادية قررت أن أطبق هذا المبدأ في الكويت‪ .‬أنشطة الشركة‬ ‫تتعلق في التوعية بقضايا تهم المجتمع‪ ،‬التوعية الصحية والثقافية‪،‬‬ ‫تمكين المرأة وتحقيق استقالليتها‪.‬‬ ‫ ‬ ‫إلى أي مدى ساهم منصبك بالشكل اإليجابي على أسرتك؟‬ ‫أسرتي توفر لي الدعم بكافة الوسائل‪ ،‬كما أنهم فخورون بانجازاتي‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كبيرا‬ ‫حافزا‬ ‫واعتبر نفسي اليوم قدوة ألوالدي‪ .‬وهذا الدعم أعتبره‬ ‫يساعدني في تحقيق انجازات أكبر‪.‬‬ ‫من هي قدوتك في مجال األعمال التجارية في الكويت‪ ،‬ولماذا؟‬ ‫هناك الكثير من سيدات األعمال اللواتي وضعت بصمتهن الخاصة‬ ‫في هذا المجال ومنهن سيدة األعمال العصامية مها الغنيم‪ ،‬الرئيس‬ ‫التنفيذي لشركة كويت انرجي المهندسة سارة أكبر‪ ،‬نائب رئيس مجلس‬ ‫ادارة شركة مشاريع الكويت االستثمارية الدارة االصول كامكو انتصار‬ ‫السويدي‪ .‬وكما أن للجيل الجديد انجازات كبيرة ومنهن عالية القلي‬ ‫ً‬ ‫فضال عن دورهن في خطوات جريئة‬ ‫صاحبة مشروع مصنع زجاج خاص‬ ‫في مجال األعمال التجارية‪.‬‬ ‫ ‬ ‫ما هو حلم المرأة الكويتية اليوم؟‬ ‫تسعى المرأة الكويتية بشكل كبير أن يكون لها دور أهم في صنع القرار‬ ‫وبناء االقتصاد الوطني‪ .‬وهناك دعوة أوجهها للمرأة أن تهتم بنفسها‬ ‫بشكل أكبر بكافة المجاالت حتى تستطيع االهتمام بدورها في األسرة‪،‬‬ ‫المجتمع وعملها‪.‬‬

THE LUXE REVIEW FUTURE LEADING PROJECTS

THE LUXE REVIEW Our exclusive guide to the finest from the spheres of horology, automobiles, style, travel, design and much more.

In the Luxe Review we look at the best, and meet the people that are making it happen.

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Artists – In Their Own Words

Mohammed Al-Kouh Photographer and Artist

I

am a photographer who appreciates the traditions of the art. I’ve made the decision not to use digital cameras, but instead analogue film – I shoot through both 35mm and wooden box cameras.

Working this way involves nostalgia for the past, all the photos I have are black and white and then I colour them by hand - each part of them.

Photography is an art that requires both passion and patience. Just twelve images took me one year to complete.

I do all the processing of the films, and also print and handtint them. I have a special relationship with my images.

My passion for this method started when I was young. I tried to colour photographs in several different ways, and to learn more I began to visit the old studios in Kuwait and its museums.

Once I was in a small studio in Hawally and I saw a picture that looked like a painting, and the Pakistani owner started to explain to me about the technique used to create it. I started researching this further, and discovered that this technique is considered as a rare craft and that there are now very few people in the world who know this technique.

I started to experiment with this myself, and continued practicing constantly until I also had learned the technique.

I have seen works using similar techniques in Lebanon and Egypt, but as far as I know I am the only one in Kuwait, My inspiration is different from one artwork to another, and each one of them has its own triggers. The voice of an artist is what he feels, and the picture for me is a tool to translate the feeling and the idea.

My first solo exhibition included two stories, ‘Tomorrow’s Past’ and ‘Untold Stories’.

‘Tomorrow’s Past’ was a series that showed the artist’s point of view to the present, delivered through the visual language of the past. I created serene scenes with handcoloured photographs, I drove around Kuwait to capture with my camera landmark architecture built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s – an era which is referred to as Kuwait’s ‘golden age’. These landmarks were once iconic aand distinguished places that reflected the rise of Kuwait after Independence in 1961; Fahad Al-Salem Street, the theatres and cinemas, the monuments. Their establishment and creation were an essential part of the nation’s memory & history.

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Unfortunately, some of the buildings were demolished while others were neglected and in states of advanced decay. It will soon be as if they never existed. What authorities don’t understand is that by erasing these countenances they are removing standing evidence of Kuwait’s golden era.

It is the contrast between the past and the present that brings this nostalgia back, it remains like a tolling bell to show how beautiful a world we once were.

For my studio portrait series, named ‘Untold Stories’, each piece represented the true story of someone I know.

Most of them were intimate stories, and most of them are secrets. Even though I know the stories, I can’t talk about them out loud.

One of the stories is called ‘the orphans’. This represented a true story of an old Kuwaiti series and the images are a story.

I’ve always been moved by stories. When I was a child I preferred to hear them from my mom rather than watching them on TV or hearing them from anyone else. My mom’s versions were always pure and interesting. I remember asking her to tell the same stories every night over and over again for years. I started imagining every single detail in these stories until they became sort of a reality for me in what looked like a dream! In dreams you’re always more beautiful than in reality. You’re always happy and with the ones you love and no one will ever hurt you.

But I grew up and started to forget these stories.

I realized it’s impossible to live in a dream your whole life or you will be living in a lie. That was the point when I wanted to recreate my dreams by making a parallel universe were I can be here and there at the same time. I wanted to revel in the layers of the human soul. I didn’t just want to take pictures; I wanted to express a feeling beyond the photograph. These aren’t just about the subject itself, instead they extend to how they make you feel and tell the story of the forgotten and things we don’t talk about anymore. They reminisce with the memories, feelings and the people who don’t exist any more…

I am currently working on two projects, the main research for this new exhibition is the circus and the side-shows, and how they used to make entertainment out of freaks who have special needs. It is interesting to try to understand how they became the source of entertainment for other people, and to try to understand how people would pay to look at him, and to understand how this person must feel. The work has a kind of humanitarian feel; theatrical, but in a different story.

I’ve recently had a Dutch museum acquire some of my work.

They sent a representative who stayed four days in my studio and checked my process, and they asked about every single detail and checked their creation first-hand. Although the art community in Kuwait is very supportive of me and my work, this international endorsement means a lot to me at these still early stages of my career.

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THE LUXE WATCHES

Christophe Chorao

Managing Director for the Middle East at Ulysse Nardin “I’m passionate about the brand I work for, so I could speak for hours. There is a long story to tell and a lot of things to say about it”

M

anaging Director for the Middle East at Ulysse Nardin since 2002, Christophe Chorao is a passionately dedicated professional and can look back on many years of experience in the watchmaking industry. He represents the brand image and values of the company in the spirit of the founder Rolf W. Schnyder, who unexpectedly passed away in April 2011.

Christophe Chorao was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France on 30 April 1969 where he lived until 1993.

After graduating with a Master’s degree specialized in International Marketing and Management, he began his career in 1994 as an Export Manager for Leon-Georges Petit SA, a French watch manufacturer specialized in private label. Fascinated by the watch making industry, he never left this world since and four years later in 1998 he joined MontresPequignetSA, one of the last jewels of French Watchmaking Industry, as Middle East Area Manager. Thanks to this experience he discovered oriental hospitality and fell in love with its unique culture.

What is your definition of luxury?

Luxury is something that you rarely stumble upon. You have the mass luxury and you have the niche luxury. For example like Mercedes, you see a lot of people who drive it and this makes it a mass product. A Louis Vuitton bag is a mass bag, if you are looking for a niche bag you might choose Hermes.

A niche case would be a Lamborghini. This is how I define luxury – it is something that you cannot find everywhere.

Speaking of luxury, if we consider luxurious and high-priced watches, in your opinion, why should one invest in a luxury watch?

There are different arguments and it depends whether it is a woman or a man. As a man for instance, if I want to be recognized, I have two things to show off: a car and a watch. For women, they have a necklace, they have a ring, earrings, shoes, bags and a lot of things. A watch is timeless.

I hear some say that they do not need a watch since their smartphones tell them the time. For me, I feel undressed without my watch.

So you are talking about uniqueness...

We are a niche brand. We produce only 26,000 pieces a year hence we do not have mass production like other brands who produce 80,000 pieces or a million pieces a year.

So you are more focused on quality production rather than quantity production, right?

True, but we are not the only ones; there are a lot of brands who follow the same strategy.

What distinguishes Ulysse Nardin from other brands?

First, if you look at the watch, you have a design and very strong DNA. You can immediately tell it is a Ulysse Nardin watch from far away. The design, the DNA, the integrated elements in the rubber, the shape of the marine, there is no brand that has ever made a watch without any chrome or without a dial. Technique wise, I shall say that Ulysse Nardin is probably one of the most accurate brands. We were the first to develop the concept of the Silicium Technology in 2002 where we no longer use metallic parts or components inside the movement of the watch. Silicium has a light weight, it’s antimagnetic and does not require lubrication. It is as strong as diamond. When metallic parts inside the watch make contact with each other, there are tiny parts that fall off as a result of the process, which decelerate the movement of the wheels and degrade the oil. In other watches, this process requires maintenance. Like cars, the oil needs to be changed because it dries out as a result of the climate in Kuwait and the Middle East. By creating this new technology, there is no need to service metallic parts or change the oil.

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With this technology, the watch will not need service for life.

In 2006, Ulysse Nardin was the first to launch the Diamond Sil Technology and diamond’s last forever. Also, Ulysse Nardin was the first to launch the perpetual calendar; a calendar that allows you to function all the calendar’s date, day, month and year forwards and backwards. All the other brands allow you to go ahead, if you do a mistake, you have to send it back to the factory for resetting.

Ulysse Nardin is known for being a pioneer in technology, what about design?

We do the opposite process of every other fashion brand when it comes to design; we think about the technology we would like to bring and the new functionality that we want to develop and once we have created the movement, we design the watch around the movement. When creating a new caliber, it takes a minimum of five years. We definitely care about design but we are not a fashion brand – we care about technology the most.

In your opinion, what do clients appreciate more: technique or design?

Women will appreciate design more. Men appreciate both equally.

What is your view of the market in the GCC and Kuwait in particular in terms of the appreciation for watches?

My view has changed a lot. I have been in the watch business for more than 20 years and have been dealing with the Middle East for 17 years by now. I have witnessed a huge change in the awareness of watch brands in Kuwait and a huge increase in the number of watch lovers. 20 years ago, people did not care about the mechanism of a watch, they only interested by what is new and fashionable. It is different today, especially in Kuwait. Kuwait’s market has the highest average in sales for my brand; people have the knowledge and the capability to buy here.

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THE LUXE WATCHES

What element in Ulysse Nardin is the most valuable asset?

Technology.

What advice would you give to inspire watch collectors?

I don’t know if I could give them any advice, I think they are the ones who can give me advice and suggestions on what we should create and produce, because who are the ones who have the passion towards watches and whose suggestions count. I would only advise them to be different and continue to appreciate the technology we bring in to them from the others because this is what we cultivate in Ulysse Nardin’s philosophy.

How can one prolong the longevity of their watch?

You have to take care of it first. If you have a watch that is not water-resistant, do not go swimming with it – water destroys leather. Do not wear a luxury watch on your wrist when you are gardening, hunting or hiking, always mind the value of your watch and be selective in terms of how you wear it.

How many watches do you possess?

I don’t have a big collection – I have six or seven watches that are all very special. I always choose the most iconic piece from every brand.

Tell us more about the significance of the Kuwait Yacht Show to Ulysse Nardin?

Ulysse Nardin was an independent brand until it was purchased by a big luxury group last year. When you are an independent brand, you cannot fight on the same level with the rest of the luxury groups, it was very costly to communicate and advertise. Since we are the official time keepers of the Monaco Yacht Show – the biggest boat show in the world - I just thought why not do the same in the Middle East? We started by sponsoring Beirut Yacht Show, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and a few years ago we started sponsoring Kuwait Yacht Show.

The reason behind this is that Ulysse Nardin has a long history linked with the navy and yacht industry; it supplied marine chronometers to the Russian and Japanese admiralties.

In 1906, Ulysse Nardin chronometers won the top seven prizes in the Washington DC Naval Observatory competition.

What are your ambitions in the watch industry?

I think I’m not a very ambitious man. When I first started my career at Ulysse Nardin thirteen years ago, the Middle East market represented less than 1% of the general turnover of the company. Today, it represents 18% and for me, this says a lot.

I started as an area manager, today I’m the managing director of the subsidiary in the Middle East and I’m satisfied with that.

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It's About Time

With Marco Tedeschi, Creative Manager and Middle East & Africa Regional Director at Hublot

I

first catch sight of Marco Tedeschi in conversation, nodding. Tedeschi has a calming presence; he looks affable and is eager to chat. MEN'S PASSION's Injy Refaie keeps pace with the indispensible insider in Grand Avenues.

The luxury watch market is a competitive one.

How is Hublot unique within this market?

We're unique because when we create a new product, we always aim to be different. We are looking at the tradition, but we want to connect it to the future. That’s very important for us. For example, the Minute-Repeater Tourbillon is about both tradition and future; it has the minute repeater method which is traditional and the carbon fiber which signifies the future. Design, functionality and technology are key elements for Hublot. At the end of the day, we produce watches. Hence, it has to be accurate and it has to be up to date. So we have to be meticulous and always advanced in technology. Also, we have the Big Bang Unico watch that has the manufacture movement – a very high end one – and features the most scratch-resistant magic gold bezel material. Magic gold

is 18-carats and it is the only scratch-resistant gold in the world. For women, we have the Big Bang Broderie and it is very special because it has carbon fiber and the dial and the bezel are also made with lace. This watch is fashion mixed with technology – it is a very complicated process to produce carbon fiber with lace. This is why Hublot is different.

Tell us about Hublot's challenge of the Ferrari F1 Racing Simulator. What inspired this idea?

This is a professional Ferrari Simulator brought by Hublot that features the electronic system, which is used by professional race drivers. Equipped with HD graphics displayed onto a wrap-around curved screen and accompanied by 3D effects, the ride transports drivers onto the track and gives a realistic sensation when driving.

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It is special because Hublot is the official timekeeper for Ferrari worldwide. The simulator will stay in Kuwait for one week and we are organizing a competition in which the winner of the best lap-time would win something very unique. We started in Dubai in October 2014 and then we went to Qatar and Bahrain. Kuwait is the last round for the Middle East and we will do the same challenge Europe, USA, and Asia.

Why did Hublot choose to partner with Ferrari in particular?

Ferrari is a legend; if you go to a Formula One company, there are more Ferrari sports cars than any other. We believe there are many similarities between Ferrari and Hublot; they both have a stellar technological aspect to their products and both target precision. It is a great partnership because it just fits.

The "Big Bang" is Hublot's latest collection. What makes it stand out?

Big Bang is our best seller since we first launched it in 2005.

The base was there and we just kept evolving. Big Bang is stronger than Hublot itself; the name is internationally known and more than 50% of our sales are for our Big Bang collection. In addition, 30% of our watches are targeted for women, which is a lot for a men-directed luxury watch brand.

We have a huge collection for ladies; we have the Big Bang Pop Art collection, the Big Bang Broderie, and many watches with diamonds. We also have skeleton watches for ladies.

How much potential do you see in the Kuwait market for Hublot?

The Middle East in general is one of Hublot's biggest markets and it had the biggest growth last year. Our boutiques in the Middle East have definitely impacted our retail network because the customers have a specific watch in mind that they are looking for. Hence, it is important for us to show the Hublot world. Our clients are very special and are always aware of our latest novelties. In Dubai, not only do we target locals, but tourists as well.

Kuwait is very different because we're selling to the same customer. We have a lot of customers who collect Hublot watches – more than 15 or 20 watches. Therefore, we always have to keep innovating and bringing something new – and that's a very interesting challenge.

How does Hublot choose its brand ambassadors?

Our brand ambassadors have to be our friends first; they were clients long before they were chosen to represent Hublot. Also, we want to be associated with the legends – Pelé, Maradona, and Ferrari.

What is your mission as the Hublot's Creative Manager and Regional Manager of MEA? I started with Hublot as the Product Director where I was in charge of everything from the design to the launch of the first series. I took over the Middle East in 2011, but kept designing as well. So today, I am still designing watches and I am also part of our product committee with our CEO and Chairman.

It gives us feedback on the market from the customers and that helps me a lot in terms of design.

I ask him what is in store for Hublot in the future. "In terms of collections, we release the first half in Geneva and the second half will be launched in Baselworld. We are going to double the size of our manufacture," he tells me. "We want to increase our manufacture movement and to be able to create something even more unique in the future."

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THE LUXE WATCHES

Hublot Slalom At Cheval Blanc Courchevel

I

n the heart of the renowned Trois Vallées ski domain, three prestigious brands came together to organize the most awaited event of Courchevel’s 2014-2015 winter season. The Hublot Slalom, organized in partnership with Cheval Blanc Courchevel and Courchevel’s ESF 1850 ski school is a competition showcasing excellence in sport, elegance and emotion.

Following the slalom, Cheval Blanc’s White Bar will host a cocktail party during which Hublot will unveil the ‘Arturo Fuente ForbiddenX’, a tribute to one of the world’s most sought-after and eponymous cigar, by Cuban specialist Arturo Fuente. This outstanding chronograph, which dial features real tobacco leaves, is delivered in a humidor cigar box made in genuine ebony wood and carbon, specially

developed by the Swiss watchmaker, and evocative of a treasure trunk.

Cigar connoisseurs and watch collectors will be able to indulge in an exclusive cigar tasting in Cheval Blanc Courchevel’s Mongolian cigar yurt, where the Hublot humidor will also be showcased.

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Zenith

Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II

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n tribute to the legendary explorer Christopher Columbus, Manufacture Zenith presents one of its most fascinating watch creations, clothed in truly stunning attire. The unique nature of the complex mechanism is matched by an exceptional exterior and decoration. Delicate expressions of topflight craftsmanship, engraving and micro-painting showcase the full measure of Zenith’s virtuosity in creating horological works combining technical refinement with magnificent artistry.

Issued in an entirely hand-finished 10-piece limited edition, the impressive Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage thus pursues its flamboyant evocation of the adventures of the Italian seaman – which it undertook in 2013 with the first Grand Voyage version featuring a unique and splendid decor. On a technical level, this creation sets the stage for three major breakthroughs in watchmaking history: a patented Gravity Control system, fusée-chain transmission, and an exceptional frequency of 36,000 vibrations/hour.

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OMEGA Seamaster

A new limited edition model inspired by James Bond

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lements that define 007's life and legacy enhance the watch's striking design.

In anticipation of Spectre, the 24th James Bond film scheduled to debut in 2015, OMEGA has created a limited edition Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M model inspired by the Bond family coat of arms.

This component has been cut and shaped to resemble a gun barrel, a design feature that is associated with James Bond’s adventurous spirit.

The symbol is repeatedly interlocked to create a dynamic pattern on the watch’s blue dial. The coat of arms is also found near the tip of the yellow central seconds hand. The colour of the dial matches that of the watch James Bond wore in his last film, SKYFALL.

The limited edition number of the timepiece is engraved on the caseback (XXXXX/15’007), as is the proclamation of its magnetic resistance (> 15’ ). Powered by the completely new OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibre 8507, this timepiece is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,007 gauss – a nod to Bond's famous "license to kill" number.

Among the most striking elements of this 41.5 mm stainless steel timepiece is the oscillating weight of the movement visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.

The timepiece is presented on a stainless steel bracelet and will be produced in an edition limited to 15,007 pieces. It is delivered with a full four-year warranty.

OMEGA New Campaign

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mega brand ambassador George Clooney needs little introduction. A life-long lover of Omega watches, he recently wore their De Ville TrĂŠsor Master Co-Axial watch for his wedding to Amal Alamuddin in Venice.

His co-star in Omega’s new advertising campaign was, until recently, less well-known.

The campaign launched by Omega features the Oscarwinning actor, George Clooney and his dog Einstein.

Clooney explained that although Einstein, with his intelligence and distinctive hair, might have seemed destined for a life of science, he would like to go into the family business.

Clooney says, "Einstein has been studying acting for many years now as you can imagine. I think he's concerned that I am in his shot and he thinks that perhaps you can airbrush me out if it. That's his hope."

In one new photograph, a relaxed George Clooney, wearing an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra wristwatch, lets Einstein look through the viewfinder of a vintage movie camera; in another, the dog is in front of the camera, clearly ready for his close-up. And a walk.

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Panerai

Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramica – 48mm

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o Scienziato” is one of the many sobriquets earned by Galileo Galilei in the course of his long life entirely devoted to research into extending the boundaries of human knowledge through scientific learning. His discoveries had a revolutionary impact on the development of mechanical timekeeping, which would not be as it is today without Galileo’s formulation of the law of isochronism of the pendulum.

Officine Panerai’s link with “Lo Scienzato” is founded on this and reinforced by the Tuscan origins they have in common. Now it is expressed in the Florentine brand’s new tribute to Galileo: Lo Scienziato – Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramica, a watch of remarkable technical content with costly finishing, a demonstration of the depth of technical horological knowledge that exists in the Manufacture in Neuchâtel.

Thanks to the extensive work of skilful skeletonisation and the sapphire crystal porthole in the back, the P.2005/S hand-wound movement with tourbillon escapement, entirely developed and produced in the Officine Panerai Manufacture, is in full view. The plates, barrels and bridges have been skeletonised so that every internal detail can be seen, and most of the components have been galvanically blackened to harmonise perfectly with the colour of the case.

The most fascinating element of the P.2005/S calibre, both technically and visually, is the tourbillon cage which makes two rotations per minute on an axis at right angles to that of the balance, providing the best possible compensation for errors of rate caused by gravity. A small disc covered with ecru Super-LumiNova® displays the rotation of the tourbillon on the dial side, making two revolutions per minute within the small seconds dial.

The calibre consists of 277 components and has three barrels, providing a power reserve of a good six days. This power reserve is indicated on the back of the movement.

The P.2005/S also has the second time zone function, with a central hand and day/night indication on an auxiliary dial at 3 o’clock, and the system for the rapid setting of local time, which enables the hour hand to move in jumps of one hour at a time without interfering with the movement of the minute hand or the running of the watch.

For the first time, the P.2005/S calibre is housed in a Luminor 1950 case with a diameter of 48 mm, made of black ceramic based on zirconium oxide, a technically very advanced material which provides lightness, toughness and corrosion resistance. In line with the history of Panerai, a brand associated with the sea since its origins, Lo Scienziato – Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramica is water-resistant and it is tested to withstand a pressure of 10 atmospheres (about 100 metres).

Lo Scienziato – Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramica (PAM00528) is supplied with a strap of natural, untreated leather, fastened by an adjustable buckle in blackened steel.

The special presentation case in which it is sold also contains a second black leather strap and a screwdriver.

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Panerai’s New Flyback

Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Ceramica

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t is a strongly sporting heart which beats within the Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Ceramica, the new Officine Panerai watch in which the classic quality of the design is masterfully integrated with the sophistication of the P.9100 manufacture chronograph movement and with the remarkable technical quality and design of the black ceramic case.

The essential lines of the case and dial are faithful to the unmistakable Panerai identity, being unaffected by the existence of the flyback function, which instantly zeroes the chronograph hands and restarts them without it being necessary to stop and zero them first. In the P.9100 calibre the blue chronograph seconds hand and the rhodium plated minute hand are centrally mounted, so that the dial carries only the continuous small seconds counter at nine o’clock, symmetrical with the date window. The push-pieces which control the chronograph functions are positioned at 8 o’clock (flyback, reset) and 10 o’clock (start, stop), thus leaving intact the outline of the lever device protecting the crown which helps make the case of the Luminor 1950 water-resistant to 10 bar (equivalent to a depth of about 100 metres).

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Dr Tareq Burezq

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Porsche aficionado, founder of Asnan Tower

ightly credited for his important role in raising the standards of dental care in Kuwait and the region, Dr Tareq Burezq is as passionate about his car as he is his business and vocation. We met him to learn of the similarities between perfection in dentistry and those who would create the perfect car.

Tell us about yourself and your path to Asnan Tower. You studied at Harvard, and are now a partner at the biggest dental centre in the Middle East. Was this all part of a plan?

Both my parents are doctors and have had a great influence on me choosing my career. As I was growing up I had developed a passion for art and handcrafts. These factors made me explore dentistry as a career.

My faculty had a great part in guiding me to plan my specialty. I had my sights set on Harvard dental school for a specialty program. The path was crowned with multiple awards and honors during my undergraduate studies. This hard work paid off with acceptance into Harvard in the first round of application.

I worked hard during my school years in Kuwait to achieve the honors list and to compete for a government scholarship in dentistry.

The trend of hard work continued both in clinical and scientific aspects of my specialty. Once I completed my specialty degree with masters and American board certification, I set my sights on bringing all the knowledge I acquired in USA to Kuwait and to practice all that I had learned with enthusiasm and passion.

My hard work paid off and I got accepted in to the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Once I started dental school I fell in love with aesthetic dentistry and my plan changed to specializing into prosthetics. I have worked very hard to develop my manual skills in all branches of dentistry.

In Kuwait I met with like-minded dentists and specialists, and the idea of opening a private dental clinic came to mind. Our ambitions unified and we were able to establish a successful work environment that combined hard work, ambition, and vision.

Needless to say, the hard work I had done earlier inspired

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me to keep updating my knowledge and skills, and drove me to improve myself and my colleagues at ever y available oppor tunit y.

As one of the region’s most celebrated prosthodontists, where do you see the exclusive strengths of your professional work lie?

My strengths in my work go back to my childhood, a period when I learned a great deal from my father. He taught me how to organize myself, how to plan well and most importantly he showed me how ethics play a vital part in the medical field. These factors have eased my learning path in both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. They made my choices more scientifically sound.

Both schools I attended have focused on sound theoretical knowledge that helps in making critical treatment decisions, and on how to deliver the optimum treatment to all patients.

When a doctor starts his career with such sound and upto-date knowledge, continuous self-updating and selfcritiquing becomes second nature. This is where I see my clinical scientific strengths are. Other strengths come in the form of showing great patience, and being able to imagine final results before even embarking on the treatment itself.

All my life I had planned well for my future and I use the same planning also for my patients. I also enjoy socializing and I take that as an opportunity to get to know my patient’s needs and address their concerns. I love to hear their concerns and understand them well, this helps me in meeting both my and their expectations, while also delivering the highest standard of dental treatment.

What do you believe is the key behind the success of Asnan Tower? Being the biggest is one thing, how have you worked to make it the best?

Passion, proactivity, and knowledge are what have made us successful. These habits, combined with a well-ordered plan, have moved us from a small dental clinic to the largest in the Middle East. Such passion, and an amazing working environment that revolves around a small family, helped us to move up the ladder faster than we expected. We at Asnan Tower go to work and do something we love everyday, and we have moved from just going to work everyday to doing something we love on a daily basis.

We know Asnan Tower is equipped with the most advanced scientific dental equipment from across the world. What are the sector’s current scientific advances that most excite you?

Asnan Tower strives to update all its equipment to be in line with latest technology. In regard to my specific fields, Asnan Tower hosts the latest milling and porcelain machines that

deliver the highest aesthetic results for patients. We also use the best and most expensive materials available in the dental field. This ensures our patients get the best treatment from the best doctors and the best laboratory available.

You are known to be as equally passionate about Porsche cars as you are passionate about your work and Asnan Tower. What was the first Porsche you owned, and what are your memories of those first drives?

My first Porsche was a Panamera. I loved the performance of the car however I felt I colud get more with a 911 Carrera – and I just purchased one recently. I love the handling and drive of the car. It just performs wonderfully, and everything works in the car works in synergy – just as we do at Asnan Tower.

What is different within the DNA of a Porsche that makes them uniquely attractive to you?

Porsche are well known for perfection in their design. The cars look great from the outside as well as the inside.

They handle the roads well and deliver the maximum performance with reliability when driven. The unique things about Porsche are their rear engine design, thinking out of the box and innovative ideas that made it the top sportscar for me and my family.

Your current car is a 911 Carrera. How do you feel this model reflects the heritage of 52 years of evolution of the 911, and how do you feel it reflects your style?

I am in love with the model I have. Carrera have had various facelifts over the past 52 years while keeping the same exquisite design. The model has gone from fast to faster with ever greater stability and horsepower performance. It just fits my style where I look for a solid reliable engine that can satisfy my need for speed and handling. The unique design of the car pays attention to the smallest details in the driver’s experience, something a cosmetic dentist seeks to achieve with every patient he treats.

In life, through business and pleasure, we reap what we sow. What’s your advice to those seeking to find the ideal balance between work, family and leisure?

My advice in business is simple: Never give up - even failure is always a lesson.

Balance in life is impor tant. A happy social and family life leads to a happy person who can be more creative in his work. Don't let your work take you from your loved ones, always plan your time well. Once your time is organized then you can achieve more in the long run.

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Porsche Centre Kuwait E-Mobility showcase at Concours d’Elegance

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orsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors, showcased three of the most advanced sports cars ever built at one of Middle East’s most prestigious motoring events, Kuwait Concours d’Elegance. The Porsche 919 Hybrid prototype, 918 Spyder and Panamera S E-Hybrid took centre stage at the motor show which ran from the 11th to the 18th of February, 2015 at Marina Mall.

Embodying Porsche’s outstanding heritage and commitment to pure motorsport, the 919 Hybrid prototype thrilled the crowds in Kuwait while allowing industry experts and motoring enthusiasts to get up close to one of the most distinctive cars in the world.

Almost matching the 919’s global status for exclusivity and pioneering technological advancements was the recordbreaking Porsche 918 Spyder, a hybrid car which extends the brand’s unrivalled legacy of developing standard setting products. Completing the trio of models on display was powerful and luxurious Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid.

Capable of driving more than 30 km in full electric mode

af ter each charge, the car represents Porsche’s core values of delivering spor ts car per formance and exceptional comfor t.

Speaking ahead of the event, Group General Manager of Behbehani Motors Company, Mike Ellenthorpe, said: “Concours d’Elegance is a landmark event on Kuwait’s automotive calendar and we are absolutely delighted to be renewing our participation once again. We share Kuwait’s passion for motoring and want to ensure everyone who visits our stand in the coming weeks is touched by the Porsche experience. The models set to be on display represent the cutting edge of a changing industry and we are proud to be driving that change forward.”

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The Porsche model selection for Concours d’Elegance is in-line with the brand’s global commitment to environmental responsibility. For over eight decades, Porsche has continued to build on its unrivalled legacy of breaking new automotive ground in the field of sustainability. Combining typical Porsche performance with continuous improvements in efficiency, the brand’s recent evolutions in sustainable hybrid technology - known in Porsche as E-Mobility represent some of the most exciting in automotive history, as demonstrated with the recent launch of the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, the world’s first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment.

When the driver needs this energy, an electric motor drives the front axle.

The exceptional efficiency of the Porsche 919 Hybrid, represented in Kuwait by the prototype model, is the result of a carefully balanced overall concept. The sum of all of its individual components forms an effective unit: from the combustion engine to the energy recovery systems, chassis and running gear, aerodynamics and driver ergonomics.

The compact engine outputs around 500 hp.

The final piece of the Concours d’Elegance display was the Panamera S E-Hybrid. A Porsche Gran Turismo through and through the car boasts 416 horsepower, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h. It is unique in its ability to drive considerable distances in the completely silent all-electric mode, with a range of up to 36 kilometres and an unrivalled electric driving top speed of 135 km/h. The Panamera S E-Hybrid is a systematically advanced development of the parallel full hybrids with a more powerful electric motor, a higher-performance battery that supplies more energy, and the ability to charge it externally from the electrical grid. When connected to an industrial outlet, it can be charged in around two and a half hours, and in less than four hours when connected to a conventional household outlet.

In addition, the Le Mans prototype has two energy recovery systems; one which recovers thermal energy from exhaust gases via an electric generator driven by the exhaust gas stream, and a second which has the functionality similar the 918 Spyder. A generator on the front axle utilises braking to convert kinetic energy into electric energy with lithium-ion batteries serving as the energy storage medium.

In parallel to the 919 Hybrid, the 918 Spyder represents a marvel of modern engineering that takes the Porsche racetrack DNA into a ground-breaking sports car concept with everyday suitability. The high-performance hybrid offers the virtually silent propulsion of an electric vehicle exemplifying the essence of Porsche thinking; maximum output from minimum input. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds reaching a top speed of 345 km/h, and a purely electric top speed of 150 km/h.

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Their Latest Trick Audi’s new Roadster

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ithout doubt, the third generation of Audi’s TT Roadster looks set to become one of the most desirable cars of 2015, writes MEN’S PASSION’s Simon Balsom. Ever since the model’s 1998 introduction (the first Roadster arrived in 1999), Audi’s compact sportscar has always had the looks to deliver on every street. Now they’ve made a deliberate shift towards making it a true ‘driver’s car’. It worked with the Coupé (introduced late last year), and to find out if this has carried through to the Roadster we packed our bags and headed over to the Spanish island of Mallorca.

The island’s sinuous mountain roads would provide a true test of the car’s performance and comfort, whilst the slow drives through Palma’s city streets would allow us to gauge the look – is it a head-turner?

Arriving on an island bathed in blue skies and sunshine, matching our perception that this is a place where it never rains, we spent all our time with the roof down. Members of the European press were not so lucky, having been on Mallorca a week earlier they had to deal with torrential rain and floods. Middle East Media 1 – Europeans 0.

Audi are keen for this Mk III iteration to be viewed as an overtly sporty machine – their talk is about sharper lines, lighter weight and more power. All this goes hand in hand with a launch control system which enables full acceleration from a standstill with controlled wheel slip, a dual clutch transmission and full integration of the quattro clutch into the Audi drive select system. Faster, safer and more fun.

For sure, the new Roadster has a look of dynamic fluidity about it even whilst standing still. Easing in to the seats, one has a sense of immediate engagement as the digital virtual cockpit lights up. The digital instrument cluster with

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its 12.3-inch TFT monitor presents all information in the form of tack-sharp, high-contrast 3D graphics and allows the driver to switch between various levels.

gets an opportunity to stretch its well-engineered legs. The nimble handling, and spirited chassis setting me up nicely for the endless hairpins of Mallorca’s mountain roads.

Audi is fitting the top-of-the-line 2.0 TFSI engine, producing 169 kW (230 hp) and 370 Nm (272.9 lb-ft) in the TT Roadster. With the 6-speed S tronic gearbox, the model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds.

Switchable exhaust flaps provide for an even fuller engine sound during the sprint.

Southbound again to Palma, the quattro’s muscular traction engenders confidence and security. At high speeds the pop-up wind deflector behind the rear seats works a treat, with just the gentlest of breezes ruffling one’s hair and, such is the quality of the Bang & Olufsen sound system, you need never miss a note from Mark Knopfler’s wailful guitar.

Audi has also taken a large developmental step with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, which is optional on the new Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI. The electrohydraulic multiplate clutch distributes the power optimally between the front and rear axles as a function of the driving situation, road properties and driver type. The Roadster is genuinely fun to drive; it is engaging rather than challenging. When pushed there’s a slow progression to skateaway, and a healthy snap back in to control.

Should you decide to engage the soft top, at the flick of a switch (when travelling at 50km/h or less) it’ll soon be up.

How long? A tad under ten seconds.

Heading out through the not-so-wild west end of the island, and down to the waterline at Port de Sóller, the Roadster

Polished in concept, and immaculately executed and engineered, Audi’s new Roadster is perhaps the best looking of this genre’s current crop. Will it offer enough to win over devotees from other marques? Only time will tell.

Regardless of its sales performance, the Audi TT Roadster will remain one of motoring’s biggest revelations of 2015.

The new Audi TT Roadster will be available in the Middle East from June 2015 onwards.

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The new Audi TT Roadster at a glance Concept, exterior design, body and soft top • Two-seat roadster, length 4.18 meters, wheelbase 2.51 meters, short overhangs, curb weight from 1,425 kilograms, luggage capacity 280 liters.

• Athletically puristic design with hints of the first-generation TT • Optionally available with LED headlights or Matrix LED headlights • Composite construction ASF body of steel and aluminum • Lightweight acoustic soft top made of cloth with electric drive

navigation plus • Bang & Olufsen premium Sound System • Optional state-of-the-art driver assistance systems available Drivetrain • Four-cylinder engine with power output of 230 hp • Six-speed S tronic automatic transmission • Quattro permanent all-wheel drive, newly developed multi-plate clutch for maximum driving pleasure and safety

Interior design, operating concept and equipment

Chassis

• Flowingly light lines, new palette of colors and materials • Systematic focus on the driver, newly developed, sporty seats • Climate controls in the air vents • Fully digital Audi virtual cockpit, redesigned MMI controls, high-performance voice control system • State-of-the-art, flexible technology architecture for infotainment • Numerous infotainment modules offered, including MMI

• Sophisticated wheel suspensions, four-link rear suspension • Progressive steering with electromechanical servo boost as standard • Standard Audi drive select dynamic handling system and optional Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping • Deselectable Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) with torque vectoring • 18-inch lightweight wheels, optionally up to 20 inches

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Aerodynamically Optimised

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The McLaren 675LT Stays True To The Icon

he 675LT, the first McLaren in nearly two decades to wear the LT – or ‘Longtail’ – name, will stay true to the spirit of its iconic predecessor with aerodynamically optimised, dramatically enhanced styling that results in 40 percent more downforce than the 650S which it will sit alongside in the McLaren Super Series. A total power output of 675PS (666bhp), and torque figure of 700 Nm (516 lb ft) plus a focus on weight saving will ensure an electrifying, engaging and visceral driving experience.

These output figures are produced by a heavily revised 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 featuring lightweight components and new turbos. A controlled torque delivery of 600Nm (443 lb ft) ensures optimised acceleration and traction from a standing start in first gear, rising to the full 700Nm available from 5,500-6,500 rpm, through each of the other gears. A redesigned crossover exhaust system, bespoke to the 675LT, is formed from lightweight titanium. Two circular titanium exhaust pipes exit centrally through exposed bodywork below the rear ‘Longtail’ Airbrake. The new system is designed to optimise performance and reduce weight – another pillar of the LT ethos.

Available as a coupé only, the 675LT will join the core range of McLaren supercars later this year as a more track focused alternative to the established 650S Coupé and Spider.

Together, they form the newly named McLaren Super Series which sits above the recently announced Sports Series in the range.

Further details of the McLaren 675LT, including its startling performance figures, will be released with the car’s global debut at the 85th International Geneva Motor Show, on Tuesday 3 March 2015.

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Porsche sets new standard with regional premieres

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he 2015 Qatar Motor Show played host to Porsche’s latest automotive advancements in the form of four stunning regional premieres as the brand revealed a new age of performance benchmarks within the motoring industry. Following a milestone 2014 which saw growth for Porsche globally and across the Middle East and Africa region, the brand is continuing its exceptional legacy through pioneering steps in 2015.

Recording a 17% increase in new car deliveries worldwide, Porsche also delivered 7,682 new cars in the GCC with substantial growth recorded in the key markets of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Lebanon. Qatar also posted a robust performance led by a 20% increase in sales of the iconic Porsche 911 with the sentiment being reflected across the Gulf region where sales of the same model grew for the second consecutive year. Making a significant

contribution to regional sales was Porsche’s record breaking super sports car, the 918 Spyder. Boasting superlative performance both on the track and on public roads, 101 of the limited edition plug in hybrids were sold in the GCC alone representing a substantial global share of the 918 models available worldwide. The top selling regional market for the Porsche 918 Spyder was Dubai (29) with Qatar (20) second and Saudi Arabia third (19).

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Porsche’s two-door models now represent an impressive 27% of its model share across the GCC with sales of the Boxster and Cayman up by 39% in Qatar, showcasing the country as a vibrant sports car market. The introduction of the powerful new Cayenne in 2014 ensured demand for the model remained high while the segment-leading Porsche Macan proved to be extremely popular in the GCC with close to 1,000 vehicles sold within the first nine months of the car’s launch.

Building on the solid performance of 2014, Porsche thrilled audiences at the Qatar Motor Show as they unveiled two exciting derivatives of the Porsche Cayenne to regional crowds for the first time. Boasting outstanding credentials for high-performance athleticism, the Cayenne GTS and Cayenne Turbo S are standout extensions of Porsche’s commitment to developing the highest standard of everyday sports cars.

The landmark auto event also allowed the motoring industry and enthusiasts from across the Middle East a first look at two more of Porsche’s latest automotive benchmarks. Stealing the show was the latest incarnation of a historic bloodline, the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, a car which embodies the meaning of power, dynamism and exquisite style. A very special fourth regional premiere also delighted audiences in the form of the Panamera Exclusive Series. Based on the Panamera Turbo S Executive the new model delivers a level of luxury and unique craftsmanship that is unrivalled in the automotive sector.

The motor show, held at the National Convention Centre in Doha, also gave the knowledgeable crowds the oppor tunity to examine three more of Porsche’s latest benchmarks. Embodying the spirit of Porsche, the 911 Turbo S Coupe is a car with 40 years of distinction and evolution which has continued to reach new highs. Correspondingly it represents the first strand of Porsche DNA from which all models stem. True to this, the uniquely power ful third generation Porsche Cayman S displayed its heightened dynamics and exceptional agility along with the Macan, the true spor ts car of the compact SUV segment and a standard-setter in terms of driving dynamics and enjoyment.

Speaking at the Qatar Motor Show Christer Ekberg, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, said: “The Qatar Motor Show is an event which continues to attract global recognition for its positive impact on the automotive industr y and the region in general. Today has been another milestone for Porsche Middle East and Africa with the unveiling of our exciting new Cayenne models, the 911 Targa 4 GTS and the inimitable Panamera Exclusive Series.”

He added: “Through the cars unveiled here today in Doha, we have showcased Porsche’s commitment to producing vehicles which deliver the highest levels of performance, precision and driving pleasure, all packaged within the typical Porsche design.”

Porsche’s latest pioneering achievements were initially showcased in Qatar through the standout Cayenne models, the Turbo S and GTS. The Cayenne Turbo S is the series’ top model representing exclusiveness and superlative performance. With 570 hp and a chassis that is equipped with all of the systems available in the model series as standard. The Turbo S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and combines extraordinary comfort with extreme sportiness.

Boasting outstanding lateral dynamics and raw passion, the Porsche Cayenne GTS delivers 440 hp for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds when equipped with the Sport Chrono package. 0.6 seconds faster than its predecessor, the GTS asserts a high-performance engine and chassis, robust engine sound and extends the sporty heritage of the Porsche GTS bloodline which dates back to 1964.

Building on that same Porsche heritage, the Porsche Targa 4 GTS is the most dynamic in the range with a 430 hp engine taking the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds thanks to the standard Sport Chrono package, PASM chassis and the wider 20-inch wheels. From any viewing perspective the Targa can be identified as a GTS model with the specially designed front end, smoked headlights and silky black gloss wheels with central locks.

Completing the superstar headline group at the Qatar Motor Show was the exquisite Panamera Exclusive Series. Tailored to a new level of individuality this special Panamera model redefines luxur y per formance.

The base model of the Panamera Turbo S Executive with a 570 hp engine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in an incredible 3.8 seconds. Inside and out the model is reimagined through incomparable craftsmanship and styling, featuring countless exclusive options including a high-quality leather interior and bespoke metallic black and chestnut paint blend.

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Qatar Motor Show

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Surprise premiere of the new Audi Q7

s one of the key motoring events in the Middle East, the Qatar Motor Show attracted car lovers and trade professionals alike and served as a stage for Audi’s latest innovations.

Over the past few years Audi has seen a steady momentum of growth in the Middle East and especially in Qatar. Representative of an entire new TT model lineup, Audi revealed the Audi TTS and surprised with the Middle East premiere of the brand new Audi Q7. This year’s Motor Show took place from February 6 — 10 at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

The Audi sport stand theme featured the Audi S3, Audi S6 and Audi S7 as well as customer favourite, Audi Q5.

reinterpreted the typical lines of the original TT from 1998 and enriched it by adding an array of dynamic elements.

“Audi has only recently announced another historic record year in terms of sales and intends to maintain the momentum with further model introductions in the region in 2015, explains Trevor Hill, Managing Director of Audi Middle East. “In 2014, we established our 9th straight record year here in the Middle East – with sales of 11,132 cars and here in Qatar, Q-Auto showed the biggest growth of all of our dealers with a 25% increase in sales over last year. “

Many details in the profile of the new Coupé are reminiscent of the first-generation design classic. The sill contour forms a strong line and the wide wheel arches form their own geometric body.

With the reveal of the Audi TTS Audi introduced a modern classic and design icon of the brand. The exterior is streamlined and muscular, athletic and poised ready to jump forward – a car that is mesmerizing at the first glance. The designers of the compact sports car have

The 286 hp 2.0 TFSI engine, which powers the new TTS comes with the new Audi drive select system, while a sound actuator provides an even sportier sound. It takes 4.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, while the top speed, which is electronically limited to 250 km/h, is just a formality.

The Audi virtual cockpit is a new electronic innovation, which replaces the analog instruments and the MMI monitor in the new TT range. It comprises a fully digital

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instrument cluster with versatile graphics and a highly detailed display.

A Middle East launch date is expected for March 2015 and August 2015 respectively. The new Audi TT will be available with a starting price of US$ $40,555.

The second regional premiere and only shown for the second time worldwide after the International reveal at Detroit Motor Show is the much anticipated and eagerly awaited new Audi Q7. The biggest selling model for Audi in the Middle East was revealed today by Mohamed Saadon Al Kuwari, Audi Brand Ambassador for Q-Auto.

The SUV is a major part of Audi’s success story. Nearly every third Audi is a Q model. The new Audi Q7 is a benchmark for the SUV segment - in terms of diversified drivetrain technologies, lightweight construction technology, path-finding efficiency, intuitive connectivity and comprehensive electronics features.

It is the most flexible and most spacious SUV of the premium segment for up to seven passengers. And, it is the lightest SUV of its segment. Thanks to a smart multimaterial mix with aluminium and steel, we achieved a weight reduction of up to 260 kg. This is best-in-class and takes the new Audi Q7 to another superlative.

It is an extremely agile and sporty SUV with quattro drive and tiptronic transmission as standard. This car is

a dynamic on-roader with great off-road qualities. And it is a shining example of how we harmonize performance, driving pleasure and efficiency.

From lightweight construction to innovative lighting: The Audi Q7 offers the latest light technology with LED and matrix-LED lighting for increased safety and comfort.

And finally, the Audi Q7 is the SUV with a very innovative interior.

Based on the second generation of our modular infotainment kit, the driver and passengers will experience a new dimension of driving assistance and Audi connect features. Examples include natural voice recognition, haptic MMI, Audi tablet with Android operating system, smartphone integration and stunning 3D surround sound.

All in all, the new Audi Q7 represents everything a true premium automobile stands for. Premium performance, premium efficiency, premium connectivity and premium assistance systems.

German customers will be able to order the Q7 from the spring of 2015 and it will be arriving at the dealerships with a wealth of standard equipment features in the summer of 2015. In Germany the Q7 will be available starting at around 61,000 Euros. The planned market arrival for the Middle East is in the fourth quarter of 2015. Prices and specs for the Middle East have not been set yet.

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Rolls-Royce Bespoke Commissioning a Rolls-Royce is one of life’s unforgettable moments

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ou don’t buy a Rolls-Royce, you commission one, like a piece of fine art or a super yacht.

The possibilities for personalisation are virtually limitless. From the smallest change to the boldest statement, their team of designers and engineers will help you every step of the way to make a car that is unique to you. Whatever you dream of to complete your perfect Rolls-Royce, they will find a way to make it a reality.

The boot-mounted fridge started as custom-made job before finding itself on the pricelist as an option. Are you surprised such an accessory became so popular? It’s a car – not a kitchen!

Many of our discerning clientele purchase a Rolls-Royce as they have a love for ultra-luxury travel. A boot-mounted fridge is an ideal accessory for those who use their cars to travel long distances.

What’s the selection process like to join the Bespoke department?

We met with Lars Klawitter, General Manager, Bespoke at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd., to find out more.

In its 11-year history how many cars has the Bespoke department modified to customer spec?

Our limited collections serve to inspire customers, and as such, we continue to witness a huge demand. In fact, 2013 saw record levels of Bespoke demand – almost 95% of all Rolls-Royce cars were personalised by their owners together with Goodwood, while customers in the Middle East also lived up to their reputation of demanding the most individual cars in the world with 99% of both Ghosts and Phantoms featuring various levels of Bespoke content. We are just closing off 2014 and have seen a continuation of that trend.

To create the very finest luxury goods in the world we need master craftspeople with a unique blend of skills that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else. We have hired people from the local yachting industry with very specialist woodworking skills and craftspeople from the saddle-making industry for their leatherworking skills. But it doesn’t stop here. We have employees at Goodwood from all walks of life from fabric and clothes design to metalworking, whilst our front of house staff have worked in the high-end hotel industry.

The first generation trained the next through our highly successful apprenticeship programme, guaranteeing the long-term future of these vital craft skills.

We have just announced a record number of apprentices for 2015 who will be working alongside skilled craftspeople in leather, wood, paint, engineering and assembly roles.

There are currently more than 40 men and women in active apprenticeships at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, so we have a magnificent pool of talent to pick from when full-time jobs open up.

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Where do you get these people from? It’s almost as if you’re looking for artists rather than people who can use a spray gun…

We consider all Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to be works of art, so we really are looking for artists that possess the skills to deliver the very best, as there is no substitute for human involvement and only the trained human eye and the sensitivity of human finger tips can ensure the highest quality. Bespoke Rolls-Royces have their own fingerprint akin to a commissioned piece of art.

Any plans on increasing the numbers of specialists in the department to help cope with demand?

Of course, as mentioned our apprenticeship programme gives us the luxury of choosing from a pool of young talent so we are in a position to continuously increase the size of the team to cope with demand. We will see this happen in 2015.

If a customer wishes for something that may conflict with the brand, what happens? Is the customer always right, or not in this case?

I have yet to see this happen. Our customers are an incredibly discerning group of people and we find that we will always find a solution for any request by working closely with our customers. It is a very collaborative process.

How radical are you willing to go in terms of customisation?

The founder of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Sir Henry Royce, said it best “when it doesn’t exist, design it”. The possibilities are endless - your imagination is the limit with the Bespoke Programme, and we have the ability to customize any aspect of the car. We also provide customers with the opportunity to commission additions that augment a favourite leisure activity, for example, in-car cigar humidors, jewellery boxes and drink fridges are favoured options.

Have you ever turned down any Bespoke requests?

If so, what was the customer requesting?

We see every request as a challenge that we must rise to and fulfill, and I am happy to say that we almost always find a way to make it happen. The only time we will turn down a request is when it compromises the safety of the vehicle – for example, removing a passenger airbag.

Is major bodywork something the Bespoke department would undertake?

While a Major bodywork change could possibly be requested through the Bespoke department, it would require involvement from the central engineering and design teams.

What’s the biggest request you’ve ever had to do?

How big a part does a car’s location play when undertaking Bespoke requests? For instance, some work might not look appropriate in the UK but would in the Middle East…

It's difficult to choose just one, but some of the most elaborate Bespoke cars we've done in recent years have been the 'Home of Rolls-Royce' collection in 2013, which has some of the most exquisite marquetry ever seen on a vehicle. For example, the beautiful motif on the glove box was created from 11 different types of wood including Sycamore, Holly and Satinwood. These represent the different woods that have been used in Ghost and Phantom interiors since 2003.

Each piece of virgin wood was milled and sanded by hand before being carefully coated with 5 layers of lacquer. It was then assembled using a combination of traditional craft and modern techniques.

A Bespoke commission can include anything from the relatively simple application of a hand-painted coachline or tread-plate expressing a family name or business insignia, to more elaborate collaborations like paint perfectly matched to a favourite garment or even a wood set sourced from a customer’s private estate. Depending on the region, the story that a customer wants to portray will always be different – in the Middle East we receive many requests that pertain to traditions.

More recently we have had an order for 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms from luxury entrepreneur Stephen Hung for his upcoming Louis XIII hotel in Macau. Newly created bespoke elements have been applied extensively both to the interior and exterior of the cars including bespoke clocks designed and created by Graff Luxury Watches. Two of the Phantoms will additionally feature external and internal gold-plated accents, and will be the most expensive Rolls-Royce Phantoms ever commissioned.

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What are the most challenging materials you’ve had to work with and why?

What sort of testing do these materials go through to ensure their longevity?

Our customers have in the past asked us to include kangaroo, ostrich and alligator skins into seats. These are challenging materials to work with and get right, but our expert leather workers at Goodwood have the skills to deliver such intricate work. One of the most difficult requests was putting a horsehair inlay into a racing horse owner’s dashboard, but we were glad to oblige. Excitingly, one customer requested that we use a tree from his estate for the veneer and we were able to make it happen.

Our leather comes from only mature bull hides, found in carefully controlled and closely monitored breeders. The hides come from herds bred for their meat, in condition as close to natural as possible, producing hides as a byproduct. The hides are drum-dyed rather than painted, so that the color permeates right through the leather. This process also imparts a natural suppleness to the leather and means it will never squeak nor crack.

Do import laws ever restrict you? Is there a way to get around this?

There are always challenges involved in working with unusual materials and we will always do our very best to accommodate our customers, while abiding by international import laws. If an import law restricts us from working with a certain material, we will always work with the customer to find a solution and provide them with the very best alternative.

Wood veneers used for the interior trim include figured mahogany from West Africa, tulipwood, walnut burr and bird’s eye maple from North America, oak burr from Europe and elm cluster from France. All the wood used for veneers is sourced from sustainable forests.

Our wood craftspeople will have spent up to a month shaping, sanding, lacquering and hand-polishing the separate wood parts that go into each car. The veneers in every model are book-matched by eye to create a symmetrical mirror image of the grain through the center of the dashboard.

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More generally, each individual Rolls-Royce that leaves Goodwood is subjected to a series of stringent tests. These include tests for Noise, Vibration and Harshness on a rolling road and in an anechoic chamber; a monsoon test in a rainmaker chamber to ensure complete watertightness in the harshest conditions; a millimeter by millimeter testing of paint finish by hand and a final test drive by our engineers before it is handed over to each individual customer. This is possible because of Rolls-Royce’s sustainable management of the number of vehicles it produces. It is only when you produce approximately 4,000 vehicles that you have the resource to offer this level of individual perfection.

Are people not strictly in the automotive industry involved to help deliver Bespoke requests?

Absolutely, a large portion of our employees at Goodwood do not to come from the automotive industries, rather industries that require special skills such as woodworking and leatherworking skills.

Can you reserve colours and trim for an individual customer and guarantee that they're not used on another car?

Yes, though so far this has mostly pertained to paint colours.

We have many examples of colours developed specially for individual customers that are for them, and them alone.

Where do most of your Bespoke customers come from? Which are your biggest markets and which ones are more reserved?

Customers that use our Bespoke Programme come from all over the world. Middle Eastern owners are particularly interested in individualisation and as such, in 2013 around 99% of both Ghosts and Phantoms sold across the region featured various levels of Bespoke content, followed by 98% of North American customers and 95% of European owners creating Bespoke Phantoms. The more reserved market is Asian buyers with 86% of customers creating Bespoke Phantoms for themselves.

Which models tend to get the most Bespoke treatment, the Phantom, Ghost or Wraith?

Levels of personalisation on Phantom were highest around the world in 2013 compared to other Rolls-Royce models, followed by the Ghost. However, all three models surpassed their revenue targets this year.

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AUTO1 brings new focus to V-KOOL at Auto Moto 2015

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UTO1, the automotive division of KAPICO Group, embarked on an experiential approach at the recently concluded AUTO MOTO 2015 fair that let visitors experience the V-KOOL™ brand and solar shielding at a whole new level.

As an ultra-premium window film brand, V-KOOL™ is synonymous with high visible light transmission that delivers the best heat rejection performance. “At the booth, the AUTO1 team unveiled a heat demo unit that demonstrated how the unique proposition of V-KOOL™ spectrally selective film reflected infra-red heat, while allowing high levels of visible sunlight, and the immense benefits such as UV and infra-red rejection. All of which helps in protecting the fabric and interiors of the vehicle.

Not to mention the added benefit of protecting one’s skin from harmful sun rays”, stated Mr. K. T. Govind, President – Window Films Division, AUTO1.

Another experiential approach was to let visitors witness the V-KOOL™ difference first hand; visitors were encouraged to sit inside a demo vehicle, and once inside they could immediately affirm the unparalleled heat-rejection, which

happens to be a proud testimony of its XIR Technology, a product of V-KOOL™’s proprietary sputtering process developed in Silicon Valley, USA. Additionally, the demo vehicle was a lustrous example of V-KOOL™’s total car care solutions – the Ultramaster™ series. Developed to protect the exterior of the car with smart solutions on paint preservation, shine durability, rain repellent and dirt prevention, while strengthening the vulnerability of the car interior with engine guard, fiber guard and cavity guard.

And during this exhibition period, Mr Edwin Joseph, General Manager V-KOOL™ Kuwait, had announced a special combo package (paint protection + window film tinting) for all visitors who booked their appointments at the AUTO1 booth.

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Ashkanani Powers to Victory Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East in Doha

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uwait’s Zaid Ashkanani was unbeatable as he led from start to finish in Race 1 of Round 4 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge at Losail International Circuit in Qatar, cutting the gap to series leader Clemens Schmid to just 8 points at the top of the Drivers’ Standings and securing him his first win of the season.pled since 2009.

After reaching the half way mark of Season 6 at Losail International Circuit at the end of January following three rounds and six races, Race 1 of Round 4 represented the start of the second half of the season with the drivers being tested on the floodlit track. Despite practicing in daylight, the racers qualified and competed in night conditions making Qatar one of the most technically challenging races in the series.

After posting a blistering time in qualifying defending champion Zaid Ashkanani showed his class to hold on to his lead despite early pressure from current championship leader Clemens Schmid. Securing the success for the Kuwaiti was a quick start that allowed him to close off any gaps as well as the correct technical setup from his crew which saw him only pull further and further away from his nearest challengers as the race went on. The win means Ashkanani now sits eight

points behind Schmid in the overall championship with five more races to go in the season.

Speaking after his first victory of the season Zaid Ashkanani said: “I have a great car so the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the biggest winner here. It’s really consistent and this is one of the biggest factors in helping me succeed but I could not be happier but it wasn’t easy. I was under pressure from Clemens right from the start and it didn’t stop on the first lap but I’m delighted I was able to him hold off.

It was nice to keep it a clean race too especially with a lot at stake at this stage of the competition. The most important thing for me was to make sure I kept calm and I feel that I managed to do this from start to finish. I would say that the performance from the car and being able to keep my composure were the keys to the victory.”

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BMW multiple award winner in 2014 Quality, sustainability, innovation

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MW concluded the year 2014, in every respect a successful one, with more than 50 national and international awards. The prize winners were chosen by juries comprising readers of trade magazines or by specialized journalists who selected the winners in various different topic areas and categories. The spectrum of distinctions ranges from awards for design, sustainability, sportiness and innovation to intelligent vehicle networking.

The most important international prizes include the renowned “International Engine of the Year Award”, with the winner being determined by a specialized jury consisting of 82 car journalists from 34 countries. The 3-litre straight six-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology was declared winner of the coveted prize in its respective category for the fourth time now. The same jury twice awarded the BMW i3 the title “World Green Car of the Year”, also acknowledging its trendsetting design with the title “World Car Design of the Year”. The amalgamation of the “Chicago Athenaeum, Museum for Architecture and Design” and the “European Centre for Architecture, Art Design and Urban Studies” also honoured the BMW 3 Series GT and the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Concept with the “Good Design Award” The technological leadership of BMW ConnectedDrive in the area of assistance systems was verified by top rankings,

both nationally and internationally. BMW received the “Euro NCAP Advanced Award” for the Pedestrian Warning feature with City Braking function, a driver assistant system that reduces the danger of collision with pedestrians in urban traffic. Moreover, the new BMW Laserlight technology was presented with the “Editorial Award for Technology 2014”, bestowed by the AutoScout24 magazine within the framework of the Internet Auto Award, Europe’s biggest public Internet award for the automotive trade.

Last but not least, the BMW i8 was voted “Top Gear Magazine’s Car of the Year” by the British cult journal “Top Gear”. In its appraisal, the magazine states that “the BMW i8 is a milestone in the annals of automotive history and a glorious statement for an exciting and positive future”. In Germany, readers of the trade magazine “auto, motor und sport” were among those who voted the BMW i3, the BMW 4 Series Coupe and the BMW 5 Series “Best Cars”.

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BMW design at the highest level.

This year witnessed the awarding of the “Red Dot” to several BMW models. The “Red Dot Design Award” is bestowed by an international jury of experts within the framework of a design competition held by the North Rhine-Westphalia Design Centre for products with outstanding design quality. The prize went to the BMW 2 Series Coupe, the BMW 3 Series GT, the BMW 4 Series Coupe and Convertible as well as the BMW i3 in the category “Best of Best”. The BMW i8 also received a “Red Dot Award”. Moreover, the car was also honoured by the Industrie Forum Design e.V with the “iF product design award 2014” in recognition of its innovative styling.

Major awards for sustainability, efficiency and quality.

BMW’s success in the “Green Mobility Trophy” competition held by the “Auto Zeitung” most impressively underscores the brand’s strong commitment to environmental and sustainability issues. In 2014, BMW won six out of a total of seven awards. Almost 14,000 readers of the trade magazine cast their vote in favour of sustainable and efficient automobiles and technologies. The BMW i3, the first purely electric premium vehicle, seized two first places as the best electric car made from lightweight materials. The BMW i8 was voted “Best Hybrid Car”. Furthermore, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition was honoured as “Best Economy Diesel” and the BMW 2-litre, 4-cylinder power unit as “Best Downsizing Engine”. The BMW brand’s unique sustainability clinched victory in the “Green Mobility Trophy” in the category “Environmentally Friendliest Brand”. In addition, BMW was awarded the “GTÜ Quality Trophy 2014” for the outstanding technical quality of its vehicles and for good service. The prize was bestowed by the GTÜ (Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung) based on data obtained from around five million roadworthiness tests (MOT tests).

The BMW i3, the revolutionary concept, which was newly conceived and designed for electromobility and which features a lightweight, high-strength carbon passenger compartment, has enthused trade journalists throughout the world. For example, in addition to national and international design awards, the car was also bestowed with the “Paul Pietsch Prize” awarded by the trade magazine “auto, motor und sport” for the most innovative technological concept. The second model by BMW i, the unique BMW i8 hybrid sports car, also received accolades, including the “Auto Trophy” awarded by the trade journal “Auto Zeitung”. Readers voted the BMW i8 both “Best New Vehicle” and “Best Electric/ Hybrid Car”.

Double victory for the BMW M3 Sedan and the BMW M4 Coupe.

Sporty models from BMW have always been synonymous with outstanding driving pleasure. Straight after their market launch in June 2014, the two high-performance models BMW M3 and BMW M4 (both with a combined fuel consumption of 8.8–8.3 ltr/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 204–194 g/km)* were immediately sent to first place by readers of trade magazines.

Both models received the “sport auto Award 2014” awarded by “sport auto” and the accolade “Sportscars of the Year” given by “Auto Bild Sportscars”. Sports car aficionados had never agreed more. The BMW M3 and the BMW M4 Coupe both boast an impressive power output of 317 kW (431 hp).

With a DIN unladen weight of just 1,497 kilograms, the BMW M4 Coupe stands for a combination of performance and highest efficiency, maximum driving dynamics and everyday suitability. The low weight is owed mainly to the use of carbon, which underpins BMW’s global leadership in the processing of this high-strength, light material.

Technological leadership in the field of car connectivity confirmed yet again.

As in the previous year, BMW ConnectedDrive was once again honoured in 2014 with the “Golden Computer” for intelligent vehicle networking by readers of “Computer Bild”, the computer magazine with the highest circulation in Europe, and its sister publications “Computer Bild Spiele” and “Audio Video Foto Bild” as well as computerbild.de.

Moreover, BMW ConnectedDrive also managed to assert itself in the readers’ vote held by the trade journal “connect” by winning the “connect Community Award 2014” in the category “Car Connectivity”. The system, it was explained, won the vote due to its role as a trendsetter. This success, which was based on a vote cast by almost 100,000 readers, underlines BMW’s leadership in the field of car connectivity.

The combination of the reading public’s automotive and computer competence renders prizes particularly indicative.

42,700 readers of the automotive trade magazine “auto, motor und sport” and the computer magazine “CHIP” have made their decision: The “Car Connectivity Award” goes to the BMW driver assistant system Driving Assistant Plus in the category “Assistance Systems” and to the BMW HeadUp Display in the category “Operating Concepts”. “Auto Bild” and “Computer Bild” presented the “Connected Car Award” for multimedia and entertainment solutions from BMW ConnectedDrive and honoured the traffic information system RTTI with the “Pionier Award” for trendsetting innovation.

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The New League Hogan’s progressive vision of classic varsity style

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nspirations: 1986. Hogan starts with the very first luxury sneaker: the “traditional”, a heritage design in white canvas, championing casual elegance – now made in a special re-edition 1980s. working out and personal technology: sweatshirts and old-school videogames 1960s. The neat campus style of america’s elite: letterman jackets, chinos and number sweaters.

Inspired by the Hogan’s archive, the ‘Traditional-2015’ sneakers are a blend of heritage and modernity in nappa, printed suede and techno mesh.

The classic penny loafer re-imagined in a fusion of polished calf or crocodile with innovative rubber detailing.

An over-sized gym-bag in washed leather trimmed in nylor or a plain leather version plays with an ‘80s videogame print.

Hogan’s ivy-man wears unstructured slim tailoring in athletic fabrics pared with buttondown knit oxfords and ties. Chinos and sweats coupled with letterman jackets. Short trench coat in embroidered cotton poplin, ultra-lightweight down jackets and vests. Bonded and perforated leather jackets. Varsity and game icons are debossed into cotton t-shirts and leather sweatshirts.

Simon Holloway's collection for Hogan is part of the evolution in the brand’s innovative vision of casual luxury for every occasion. A philosophy where quality and style are always cherished.

Colours white, heather grey, regatta-blue, black, checks Materials calfskin, nappa, techno-mesh, rubber, printed suede.

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Louis Vuitton Men Spring 2015

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ajasthan, the land of kings in the northwestern corner of India, inspires Louis Vuitton in an exploration of the origins of menswear, offering a timeless look of true sophistication. “While last season’s collection was about looking down at the earth from above, this time we’ve looking up at the stars,” says Kim Jones, Men’s Style Director.

While travelling in Rajasthan Jones discovered Sawai Jai Singh, the king who built Jaipur, India’s pink city, and constructed its fantastic Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory gardens in the early 18th century, that inspired the set design this season.

From Jaipur and the palaces of the lake cities of Udaipur to Ranthambore, the former hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal at Agra, a vision of contemporary and eternal India, which predates European traditions and spans over five to six hundred years, has been remixed by Louis Vuitton into a glamorous blend of sophisticated embellished fabrics, smart military tailoring and inventive sport style.

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Corneliani A family business based on tradition, quality and modernity

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orneliani has been a leading name in elegant men’s fashion worldwide for over half a century. Whilst it is an established business, Corneliani is first and foremost a family with strong ties to undisputed values passed down through the generations, values which lie at the heart of the Group’s success.

The company was founded in 1958 by forward-looking brothers Claudio and Carlalberto, who took over the craft initiated and practised by their father in the 1930s and managed the firm which quickly became known around the world. Their sons were given specific roles: Corrado – Production and Logistics Director; Maurizio – Finance, Legal and Strategic Marketing Director; Sergio – Creative Director; and Cristiano – Global Sales Director. They have been motivated by a vocation for excellence from the outset, and are united by their courageous decision-making and ambitious strategies.

The Corneliani Family

Both the company headquarters and original production site are in Mantua. The ceaseless pursuit of beauty which Corneliani undertook over fifty years ago is borne of the native soil of the Group members. As Cavaliere del Lavoro Carlalberto, President and CEO, explains: “The fact that I was born and brought up in a town like Mantua led me to nurture and refine the sense of aesthetics which the family has always shared. A world away from the lifestyles of the big capitals, the town of Mantua is still a Renaissance gem protected by its lakes. So, if formal beauty makes up our company’s DNA, it is because it has always been part and parcel of the town I live in, a place which rose to magnificent glory under the Gonzaga family in the 15th Century. To recall Dostoevsky, I believe that beauty will save the world. If every experience is undertaken with passion, dedication and determination and applied to a trade, no matter which, there is no business that does not deserve our faith.”

Corneliani's values of tradition - seen in the strong bond with its hometown, quality - sartorial skill coupled with the finest fabrics, and modernity - reflected in the contemporary design of its clothes and its cutting-edge technology, therefore form the sturdy cornerstones of the brand’s business dynamics and style, as portrayed in the sophisticated elegance of the garments carrying its name. Besides sophisticated, impeccably tailored suits (the company’s core business) and Corneliani ID leisurewear – a blend of design and functionality – the brand’s quality becomes exclusive with Made to Measure. Sartorial excellence, fabrics of unrivalled

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quality in sought-after colour variants and exquisite details go into making unique garments of the highest quality which are shipped all over the world.

To this purpose, every Corneliani boutique has space set aside in its comfortable layout for a luxury VIP lounge dedicated to the most exacting clients, making the pleasure of choosing a garment an extraordinary experience every time. The brand’s three-storey flagship store at 26, Via Montenapoleone, Milan, is the perfect example.

The Group’s extensive expansion plans constantly reinforce the brand’s presence in established and emerging markets, particularly the Middle East as well as China, India and Eastern Europe. After Dubai, Doha, Amman and Beirut, the Group’s most recent stores in the area opened in Baharain and at the prestigious Arraya Centre in Kuwait City.

Corneliani has over 150 sales points in capitals and cities world-wide, including single-brand stores and corners in key luxury shopping districts and exclusive malls, not least Milan, Paris, London, Tokyo, Moscow, Beijing and Mumbai.

The boutiques’ design concept perfectly reflects the brand’s sophisticated style. Grey marble flooring, sand-coloured suede upholstery and wall coverings and steel details create an elegant contrast with the luxurious dark brown wood panelling and side tables. The obligatory backlit logos and large display screens showing the latest runway collections enliven the stores, where clients are welcomed by highly specialised staff. .

While the combination of needle and computer represents Corneliani’s ideas, a centralised management team consolidates its great success in the luxury sector with constant dedication and innate passion, making the brand an outright leader of Italian-made garments.

In Kuwait, Corneliani is located on the ground floor within the Arraya Centre - telephone 22997662

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Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa receives 41 awards

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at Horeca’s Salon Culinaire 2015

umeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait scooped an impressive collection of awards at the HORECA’s Salon Culinaire 2015 as the team outdid themselves once again, demonstrating their passion for culinary excellence.

The event saw over 250 chefs competing in 17 categories.

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa’s culinary team won a total of 41 awards comprising three golds, eight silvers, 13 bronzes, 14 Merit awards and three hygiene awards.

“We have once again demonstrated the high level of culinary expertise that our extremely talented and skillful team has,” said Christopher Curtis, Executive Chef of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa. “This serves as a testament to the awardwinning quality of food that our guests can expect to be served at their every meal at any of our impressive restaurants”.

General Manager Hakan Petek thanked all the participants at the event and congratulated the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa’s culinary team saying: “It has been an honor to host such a prestigious event for the second year in Kuwait’s largest ballroom, Badriah. The event gave us the opportunity to showcase our culinary expertise that has already won several awards. For that, I am truly proud of our team and wish to extend huge congratulations to everyone.” The hotel offers six signature restaurants, cafés and lounges catering to every taste and offering a wide variety of delicious cuisines to enjoy.

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THE LUXE YACHTS

Kuwait Yacht Show 2015 Wrap

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n February 3rd, the Third Edition of the Kuwait Yacht Show (KYS) opened at the Marina Crescent under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait.

Crowned by the unveiling of a global premiere and a number of regional premieres, together with the introduction of new international and local exhibitors, this edition was indeed a turning point for Kuwait Yacht Show. Becoming a candidate member of the International Federation of Boat Show Organizers (IFBSO), this year’s KYS will also be audited by BPA. This year, and for the first time, Kuwait is officially on the global boat show calendar.

“We are glad to participate again in the Kuwait Yacht Show and are proud to be announcing the global launch of our latest Majesty Superyacht at the event.” – Erwin Bamps, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Craft

Nouf Al Hajri, PH7 Events Managing Director, stressed: “This year, the Kuwait Yacht Show is being backed by a great governmental support, without which it would have been impossible to invite regional and international exhibitors. With that support, we felt it was our duty to work even harder to give Kuwait a much larger and more fully encompassing show than its first two editions.” She continued, “The yacht market is recovering after suffering from the effects of the global financial crisis. Around the world new investments are being made to develop and expand product lines, and Kuwait is ready for this growth with the new marinas opening in 2015. We are proud to have been accepted in to the IFBSO, and see this as an accolade for the KYS and an honour for the nation of Kuwait.

THE LUXE YACHTS

We are now working our way to be ranked alongside major global marine shows”.

Al-Hajri then stressed the importance of the sponsors, media supporters and the Marina World management and clients “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Platinum Sponsors Boubyan Bank and Viva; Gold Sponsors Powerboat Center and Sirbb Circuit; our venue partner URC, our official timekeeper UlysseNardin; our official automotive partner Ali Alghanim& Sons; our insurance partner GIG and our contracting partner 4 FEST." She continued, “Each person, organization or entity collaborating with KYS knows how vital a role they are playing in the success and continuation of the show. Every yacht owner who has agreed to free his space for KYS, every sponsor who has contributed in building KYS and

every media partner who has helped in promoting the show locally, regionally or internationally has truly become a great ally and it is with honor that we thank each and every one of you.”

From his side, Mr. Abdulaziz Al Marzouq, AGM at Boubyan Bank, commented “Boubyan Bank associates and specializes in catering to a niche group of society. We are gladly sponsoring the Kuwait Yacht Show (KYS) as the target group of KYS is significantly the Kuwaiti Elites, and this falls in line with our strategy to accommodate to the different aspects of our customer base”. He went ahead to add, “The diversified services we offer our platinum and private banking clientele are a proof of our commitment to this target group, including credit card benefits, and the highest returns on deposits in Kuwait, as well as customized financing facilities”.

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Commenting on VIVA’s participation, Mr. Abdulrazzaq Bader Al Essa, Director of Corporate Communications, said: “Our participation in this year’s Kuwait Yacht Show stems from our belief in the value this event has in raising the name of our beloved country internationally, especially as it is now an Official Candidate Member in the IFBSO. In addition, this event attracts thousands of visitors every year, and we look forward to welcoming visitors and VIVA customers to our stand, and showcasing the latest products and services we have to offer them.”

With a new dedicated area subsidized by the Amiri Diwan to support small companies in the marine sector, together with enhanced participation from new regional and international brands, topped up by solid governmental alliances, KYS offered a wide range of maritime products, equipment, boats and luxury yachts, all tailored to every budget and every sea-farers choice.

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Ferrari F1 Simulator in Kuwait

From January 28th - February 7th 2015, Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot showcased the different facets of the “Art of Fusion” combined with the Hublot Challenge in Kuwait, at the Grand Avenues in The Avenues Mall, featuring the ultimate F1 racing experience with the Ferrari F1 Simulator. The Kuwait experience was the 4th round of the Hublot Challenge in the GCC. The inauguration took place on January 28th 2015 in the presence of Mr. Marco Tedeschi, Hublot Regional Director, and Behbehani Group management.

Hublot luxury timepieces featuring high complications and innovative material are exhibited in Prestige located at the Grand Avenue in The Avenue Mall throughout the duration of the Hublot Challenge. The activity saw an array of luxury

timepieces, including the aptly named Big Bang Ferrari Ceramic Carbon with the mythic Ferrari Yellow, alongside the Big Bang Ferrari King Gold, the Big Bang Ferrari Titanium Carbon with its renowned red sapphire glass, and the Big Bang Pop Art. As the Official Timekeeper of Ferrari, Hublot is offering guests and VIPs a fully immersive experience with the Ferrari F1 racing simulator as part of the exhibition.

The simulator features the electronic and technical system which is used by professional race drivers. Equipped with HD graphics displayed onto a wrap-around curved screen with accompanying 3D effects, the ride transports drivers onto the track and gives a realistic driving sensation.

Hublot watches are available at Hublot Boutique - The Avenues, Prestige and Behbehani Group showrooms.

THE LUXE EVENTS

A New Star Is Born

Mohamed Naser Al Sayer & Sons, One of the Al Sayer Group Holding Companies held an official press conference event to launch the all new Lexus NX. The car was revealed by Mubarak Naser Al Sayer, CEO Al Sayer Group Holding, Mark Templin Executive Vice President Lexus International, Takeaki Kato Chief Engineer Lexus NX, Takayuki Yoshitsugu Chief Representative TMC MENARO with accompanying delegates who attended the event. The launch of the all new Lexus NX “the birth of a new star” was witnessed by large number of guests including Ministry Officials, Privileged Lexus Customers and Representatives of the press and media. Later a unveil event for the public was held at the Grand Avenues Mall where the NX will be displayed for one week.

Having pioneered the luxury-utility crossover category more than a decade ago with the original midsized RX 300, Lexus is now poised to disrupt the SUV segment once again with the all-new NX 200t – the brand’s maiden entry into the growing compact crossover segment. Inspired by performance vehicles, the turbocharged NX combines the expertise of racers within the engineering team and the impeccable touch of Lexus luxury through an exciting and sporty design to set a new benchmark in the automotive world.

Following in the tire tracks of the new-generation Lexus GS and IS sedans, the 2015 NX 200t and the F Sport version offer dramatic design alternatives to a segment populated by boxy offerings to reveal the boldest interpretation yet of the signature Lexus spindle grille and L-finesse design.

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Chopard

Main sponsor of the Kuwait Concours D’Elegance

For the second time, Chopard was the main sponsor of the prestigious Kuwait Concours D’Élegance. Known as one of the best competition for classic cars in the Middle East, the 4th Edition of the Kuwait Concours D’Elegance opened on February 11th 2015 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Sabah.

Launched in 2010, the Kuwait Concours D’Elegance is an annual automobile competition that judges the designs and styles of elegant and sumptuous classic cars. It’s part of the Historical, Vintage & Classic Cars Museum yearly events. The Concours d’Elégance started in Paris in the 1920s. At that time, Pariswas the world’s cultural capital and a symbol of art and hedonism. The extravagance of the French automobiles competition expanded rapidly to appeal to people from all over the world.

Commenting on the event, Paul Goldsmith, Kuwait Concours Consultant, said: “This is one of the most famous classic cars competitions in the world. The Kuwait edition is among the world most prominent and incorporates unique Middle Eastern features, reflecting Kuwait’s remarkable interest in classical and luxury cars”.

Sharing the same passion for classic racing, Chopard was proud to support the event as main sponsor. Since 1988 and the partnership with the Mille Miglia, Chopard has launched different collections inspired by the world of racing. The classic racing collection includes the Mille Miglia, the Grand

Prix de Monaco Historique and the Superfast watches.

These watches stem from the fascination for classic cars nurtured by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard who is a collector and active driver.

Being official sponsor of Porsche Motorsport since 2014, Chopard was glad to receive the visit of the Porsche Club Team in Kuwait. These car enthusiasts came to live the unusual experience of the Concours d’Elegance. Judges, collectors and exclusive guests were then invited to the world’s largest Chopard boutique in Prestige, The Avenues mall.

During the whole competition, Chopard displayed several models of its L.U.C collection including the L.U.C Engine One tourbillon, remarkable for its distinctive character and modern design. Its strong lines, subtle details and everything about the powerful timepiece honours the automobile tradition. Machined like an engine block and mounted on silent-blocks, this mechanical handwound tourbillon movement was designed, developed and produced at Chopard Manufacture. In keeping with automobile traditions, the reamed engine block bears the Chopard signature; while a circular segment directly fixed to the upper face of the movement carries the power-reserve display at 12 o’clock positioned opposite the tourbillon bridge at 6 o’clock. Guests also enjoyed discovering the latest Mille Miglia 2014 and Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2014 watches.

THE LUXE EVENTS

THE LUXE EVENTS

New AMG GT S and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

A.R Albisher & Z. Alkazemi Company - the official distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait - unveiled the latest additions to its high performance and luxury Mercedes-Benz family - the all new AMG GT and Maybach S-Class 600, at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance. Promising an incomparable driving performance, the new AMG GT S is the embodiment of speed, safety, elegance and handling, while the ultraextravagant Maybach sub-brand oozes exclusivity and prestige, elevating the Mercedes-Benz luxury segment to a whole new level.

“Concours d’Elegance is the ultimate event for car lovers.

There is no other event that allows true aficionados to get up close and appreciate vehicles of such calibre and vintage, long since seen on the road. Launching the new MercedesAMG GT S and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class 600 during the event is a clear indication that we are putting the new models on a high pedestal and we are certain Mercedes-Benz fans will not be disappointed,” commented Michael Ruehle, CEO, Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company.

The first Mercedes was a racing car and its most recent successor carries this heritage forward: with the new Mercedes-AMG GT S, the Mercedes-AMG sports car brand is moving into a new, top-class sports car segment for the

company. The GT S is the second spor ts car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG. Its newly developed AMG 4.0 -litre V8 biturbo engine underscores the hallmark AMG driving per formance. The first spor t car engine with internally mounted turbochargers (“hot inside V”) and dr y sump lubrication is configured in two output ratings, with the GT S launch model having an output rating of 375 kW (510 hp). The new GT S combines driving dynamics and first-class racetrack per formance with superb ever yday practicality and ef ficiency that sets new standards in the segment.

The return of the long awaited Mercedes-Maybach, epitomising peerless exclusivity, will not disappoint.

Presented as a new sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz, some of the features that distinguish this model from production models include extra spaciousness with lavishly designed, prestigious interiors offering extensive scope for individualisation. As a result, the MercedesMaybach fulfils the requirements of even the most discerning customers worldwide.

The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class became available in the Kuwait in February 2015. The Mercedes AMG GT & GT S will be available from March onwards.

Abolish 153

Campaign kicks off on International Women’s Day

‘A

bolish 153’ launches on International Women’s Day, 8th March. The campaign is set to highlight an injustice within the Kuwait Penal Code, where they contend that Article 153 is prohibitive and discriminative again the nation’s women. The campaign aims at establishing equality and honour reflecting the strength and growth of Kuwait as a nation and as a society.

Why did you come up with this campaign?

We realized that this law exists in the Kuwait penal code and that most people were not aware of its existence. We felt that it is an archaic law that discriminates against women. Moreover, it is not Islamic nor is it constitutional. The law has been abolished in other countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The law still exists in the GCC countries. Kuwait has fewer cases of honor killings than in Jordan. We believe there should be no killings based on honor.

What is your main objective?

Our main objective is to abolish article 153 from the Kuwait penal code. After launching the awareness campaign, we hope to eventually become a registered NGO with coalitions within the GCC.

When and where will you start launching the campaign?

We are launching our campaign on March 8th (International Women’s Day) with an awareness raising video and social media campaign. On the 10th anniversary of Kuwaiti women gaining their full political rights on May 16th, we will be holding an exhibition that deals with this issue and lays the groundwork for our advocacy campaign.

Do you think that you will get the support you want from the Kuwaiti society?

Yes we do. Most people are not aware that this law exists and when they become aware, the majority of Kuwaiti society will support us. There are a number of Muslim clerics who have spoken against the law, which means we will receive support from a diverse cross-section of Kuwaiti society. To kill a human being is wrong. To kill your mother, sister, wife or daughter is unjustifiable.

This law reflects very badly on the people of Kuwait. We are too educated as a people to allow for such a barbaric law to exist.