Telugu Ladies in UK group has marked the International Women’s Day recently at Blue Room Sports Venue, Harrow. More than 150 ladies have attended from in and around London, and as further afield from Midlands.
The five-hour program included games, competitions, ice breakers, songs, dance, DJ, and cake-cutting. Several have met each other for the first time, although were connected on Facebook before.
The occasion poised festive atmosphere and assumed vibrancy with the décor done by Nekkanti Sahithi and Mounika Chowdary. Cakes were made by Chaitanya Rani Adudodla and Anusha Kiran. Kala Jyothi Ganga gave return gifts to all attendees following the Indian tradition of Tamboolam, and Jyothy Balusu from Coventry brought home-made Pootharekulu, a typical traditional Telugu sweet.
Telugu Ladies Group at Women’s Day celebrations
Even small things such as naming the tables by popular Telugu serials have made all relate and connect with yesteryears and stay in India. Anchoring was done by Lakshmi Chirumamilla, Sree Charani, and Suvarchala Madireddy. Renditions by famous singer Swathi Reddy were alluring.
Founder of TLUK Sridevi Meenavalli says “I am very glad to see Telugu Ladies in UK group come a long way in 10 years’ time. It is a pleasure to have organised this women’s day event which served multiple contexts, the most important being a face-to-face get-together after the Covid restrictions are lifted, in addition to being the 10th anniversary year. Thanks to all the supporters, attendees, and sponsors, the event brought all of us together and was most enjoyable”
Cake-cutting at Women’s Day celebrationsTelugu Ladies Women’s Day celebrationsDJ and Dance at Women’s Day celebrationsTLUK Event
In recognition of their contribution, in October 2021, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a cabinet reshuffle in the UAE, with nine women making up the 32-member strong group….reports Asian Lite News
They helped take the UAE to Mars, led groundbreaking research into Covid-19, worked to engineer solutions to some of our most pressing energy challenges, and helped us get quality education with their patient perseverance. Since its foundation as a country, the UAE has recognised that education is key to the economic empowerment of women.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report for 2020, the UAE was one of the region’s best-performing countries, having closed 65.5 per cent of its overall gender gap.
In recognition of their contribution, in October 2021, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a cabinet reshuffle in the UAE, with nine women making up the 32-member strong group.
UAE’s efforts to give women their due, in 2015, the UAE launched Emirati Women’s Day (EWD), with Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, Mother of the Nation, deciding to celebrate it on August 28 coinciding with the founding of the UAE’s General Women’s Union which was launched on the same day in 1975.
Last year, the UAE celebrated Emirati Women’s Day with the theme, ‘Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the Next 50 Years’.
Emirati Women’s day celebrations Pic credits WAM
Leading from the front
UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimi who is also the Director-General for the Expo 2020 holds a master’s degree from Harvard University. Other female cabinet members are, Noura Al Kaabi, the chairwoman of the twofour54 and Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development; Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development; Jameela Al Muhairi, the Minister of State for Public Education Affairs; Dr Maitha Al Shamsi; Ohood Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing; Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister for Youth; Maryam Al Mehairi, Minister of State for Food Security and Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences. Dr Amal Al Qubaisi was the speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) from 2015 to 2019.
Romdhane a new icon
The Arab world got a political icon when President Kais Saied named Najla Bouden Romdhane as prime minister of Tunisia. With the new role, the silent geologist and university professor became the first female prime minister both in Tunisia and the Arab world.
Najla joined the pantheon of influential figures like former minister Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi; federal speaker of the UAE Dr Amal Al Qubaisi; Oman Higher Education Minister Dr Rawya Al-Busaidi; Kuwait Minister Hind Subaih Al-Subaih; Bahraini Minister for Social Development Fatima bint Mohammed Al Balooshi.
Key role in the health sector
Women played a crucial role in creating health and educational infrastructure in the UAE. Mariamma Varkey and her husband K.S. Varkey founded Our Own English High School in 1968, the first school under Gems group which was established by the couple’s son Sunny Varkey in 2000. Mariamma was credited to be a pioneer in teaching who brought in a rational change in the education system in the UAE, when it was Trucial States, along with her husband.
There is no parallel to the contributions of Dr Zulekha Daud in the health sector and Omana Menon in the care sectors of the UAE. Dr Zulekha, Founder and Chairperson of Zulekha Healthcare Group, set up Zulekha Hospitals in 1992 in the UAE.
Omana Menon is the ‘mother’ of over 2000 children. She has nursed their adoption from the first meeting and first official document to the final approval and made couples happy all over the world.
It all began in 1981 when Omana became active in this endeavour and acted as a catalyst in getting a baby adopted for a couple who were very keen but were finding it difficult to navigate the complex and often frustrating process that marks the joining of child and parents. The sense of satisfaction derived from witnessing the sheer joy and pleasure on both sides and then monitoring and mentoring the togetherness was a whole new and elevating experience. She then joined CARA (India’s Central Adoption Resource Agency) and has worked with them gently shepherding children to warm and loving homes and being the adhesive in creating whole families.
The recent additions to the long list include Shabana Faizal, Vice Chairperson, KEF Holdings, Co-Founder & Vice Chairperson – The Faizal & Shabana Foundation. In her role as Vice Chairperson of KEF Holdings, she is actively involved in guiding the business’ growth strategy for various verticals. Over the years, KEF has succeeded in building up KEF Holdings’ operations in offsite manufacturing for infrastructure, healthcare development and strategic investments, with the aim of creating disruptive technology-driven business models that create positive social impact for a better future.
Another prominent member of Dubai’s thriving women’s brigade is Dr. Bubbles Kandhari, the Vice-Chairperson of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai; Director of Al Dobowi Group; Chairperson, Young Hearts Group; Chairperson Dubai Ladies Group; Board Member of Special Needs Future Development Centre and radio jockey for Dubai Radio Stations. Besides all the caps she dons, she is also a poet and had released an anthology titled Dil Se in 2021.
Another rising star in the health sector in the Middle East is Dr. Tasneem Jamil, Deputy Managing Director & Director Medical Affairs of Prime Healthcare Group.
Shabana Faizal
An alumnus of Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute in Chennai, India, where post obtaining her MBBS degree, she joined the Ministry of Health at the Umm Al Quwain Hospital and Al Rafah Health Center, Dubai, and worked there for almost two decades. In 1999, when PRIME Healthcare was founded by Dr. Jamil Ahmed, Dr. Tasneem, the epitome of a perfect partner and spouse, very adroitly managed 3 full-time jobs for over a decade – that of nurturing the budding organization in addition to her full-time job at MOH and of course a full-time mother to three lovely children.
Dr Tasneem, a doctor and a management leader, is really a philanthropist at heart. She applies the principles of capitalism with a soulful human approach.
Her imprint and efforts of those early years are clearly visible in the organisation even till date, in the conduct of the team members who were interviewed and selected by her and the PRIME culture which continues to stand testimony to the values of compassion, care, and service espoused by her own behaviour and character. It was in those early years that the seeds of the distinct PRIME family culture were sown, which has now blossomed into a full-fledged banyan tree, proving shade, protection, and healing, as it continues to grow and expand.
The Faizal & Shabana Foundation has the philosophy of ‘next-generation philanthropy’ in the center of its work and follows this idea in its work spanning across healthcare to art and culture…reports Asian Lite News
Shabana Faizal is an achiever, within a short period of time she and her husband Faizal Kottikollon have made an impact through their Faizal & Shabana Foundation in numerous sustainable focusing on education and youth intervention, healthcare and humanitarian aid.
“We address key human development areas including education, healthcare, infrastructure, sustainable livelihood and skill development. All our programs are mission-driven, and desired goals are set before the launch,” says Shabana.
The foundation has supported and empowered more than 25 community initiatives, donated in excess of $20 million and impacted thousands of lives. As a result, Shabana and Faizal have created a difference in the lives of many across India and the UAE.
Pic credits Instagram @faizalshabanafoundation
Despite her achievements, Shabana continues to dedicate her time and resources to causes close to her heart, believing that there is a lot more work yet to be done to create an equitable community and a better tomorrow for everyone.
A major outreach programme is to address the issue of rapid urbanization, which is one of the key issues faced in India that force villagers to migrate there. Lack of infrastructure, lack of economic opportunities, poor schooling and shortage of opportunity and other issues are driving population from villages to already bludgeoning cities and towns with crumbling infrastructure.
“In order to balance this cycle, we believe it is essential to provide strong infrastructure and opportunity in villages to encourage a balance in population spread and spark development across villages,” says Shabana.
Shabana’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1995 as a retailer of specialty, luxury products. But almost eight years later she felt that she has more to do and decided to team up with her husband and support him in running the world-class foundry, Emirates Techno Casting (ETC).
It was her passion for people development and community building, which prompted Shabana to take charge of all human resources and administrative processes at ETC. There her major focus was the funding and development of a state-of-the-art community center on the ETC campus, to cater to the physical, mental, and wellness needs of all employees while providing opportunities for personal and educational empowerment.
After ETC was acquired by TYCO, it renamed the community center, ‘The Faizal & Shabana Community Centre’, which was a rare and unique gesture recognizing their unwavering determination to make a difference in the lives of the people.
In her role as Vice-Chairperson of KEF Holdings, she is actively involved in guiding the business growth strategy for various verticals. Over the years, KEF has succeeded in building up KEF Holdings operations in offsite manufacturing for infrastructure, healthcare development and strategic investments, with the aim of creating disruptive technology-driven business models that create positive social impact for a better future.
Shabana, who hails from Mangaluru is the only daughter of prominent businessman and socio-religious leader (Late) B Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen who founded the prestigious BA Group of Businesses in Thumbay near Mangaluru. A psychology graduate from St Agnes College, Mangaluru she took her diploma in fashion design and merchandising from the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT, Dubai).
Pic credits Instagram @faizalshabanafoundation
Shabana gives equal importance to their family and her four children: Sophiya, Sarah, Zacharia and Czarina who are the part of family’s journey in the path of philanthropy. Each of them is committed to carrying forward this legacy of giving to create an impact by supporting causes they care deeply about and making philanthropy a key focus in their lives. Philanthropy is an inherent and an essential family value for Faizal and Shabana, and it is a fundamental philosophy they have inherited from their own families. This is the legacy they want to leave behind.
Shabana’s fame came to the fore when Shabana and Faizal, under the aegis of their foundation gave a new image to Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls (GVHSS) at Nadakkavu in Kozhikode, Kerala.
Today, the school that is over 125 years old, has been transformed it into a world-class institution. It was ranked second in Education World India School Rankings 2019-20, and now it is a flag-bearer of excellence in education in India for its focus on the holistic development of students.
The visionary couple who redefined philanthropy not just developed the infrastructure of the school, but they transformed its character and quality of education as well as extracurricular activities.
Without the inclusion of half of the world’s population, it is unlikely that solutions for a sustainable planet and a gender equal world tomorrow will be realised. …reports Asian Lite News
As women and girls bear the burden of climate impacts, they are also essential to leading and driving change in climate adaption, mitigation and solutions. Without the inclusion of half of the world’s population, it is unlikely that solutions for a sustainable planet and a gender equal world tomorrow will be realised.
International Women’s Day, 8 March, unites the world under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, and call for climate action for women, by women. The latest data indicates the vital link between gender, social equity and climate change, and recognise that without gender equality today, a sustainable future, an equal future, remains out of reach.
Women and girls experience the greatest impacts of the climate crisis as it amplifies existing gender inequalities and puts women’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Across the world, women depend more on, yet have less access to, natural resources, and often bear a disproportionate responsibility for securing food, water, and fuel.
As women and girls bear the burden of climate impacts, they are also essential to leading and driving change in climate adaption, mitigation and solutions. Without the inclusion of half of the world’s population, it is unlikely that solutions for a sustainable planet and a gender equal world tomorrow will be realised.
Last year, at the Generation Equality Forum, the Action Coalition for Feminist Action for Climate Justice was launched, bringing together governments, private sector companies, the UN system and civil society in order to make concrete commitments toward climate justice. This International Women’s Day, the Action Coalition is helping drive global action and investment with a focus on financing for gender-just climate solutions, increasing women’s leadership in the green economy, building women’s and girls resilience to climate impacts and disasters and increasing the use of data on gender equality and climate.
In her statement for International Women’s Day, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous says: “Let us make this International Women’s Day a moment to recall that we have the answers not just for SDG 5 but, through the advancement of gender equality, for all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. I look forward to working with every one of you to that end. “
