Celebrating ramadan

Celebrating Ramadan
turn to page 3 for more
issue 15 Thursday 26 august 2010
Community Students organizing Iftar to raise money for those affected by floods
Pakistan needs you
Students in Education City are holding an Iftar to raise money for those
affected by the floods in Pakistan.
Organizers hope to attract as many
as 500 people to the event, which will
be held on 31 August.
Students and staff, as well as their
friends and family, are welcome to
purchase tickets, which are priced at
QR30 each.
“We encourage people to come, but
if for some reason they don’t, they can
still purchase the ticket,” said Abdalla
Abdalla, a Texas A&M University at
Qatar senior and organizer of the event.
“We want to collect as much money
as possible, because we know that Pakistan needs billions and we want to
contribute our share,” said Abdalla.
Money raised by the event will be
given to Qatar Charity, a national
charity organization with three branch
offices in Pakistan.
The Iftar will be held at Carnegie
Mellon University in Qatar, and those
who wish to will be able to make donations in addition to the purchase of
their ticket.
“Apart from providing immediate
support through donations, we hope
to raise awareness about this devastating flood in the student community in
Qatar,” said Waleed Ali Khan, a Carnegie Mellon sophomore and one of
Hands on
n QSTP/ Qatar Scientific
Club Summer Camp gives
children the chance to get
to grips with physics and
chemistry. Hashim Al Sada
shares his views on the
value of early childhood
education on page 4
the organizers of the event.
Two student organizations, Education City Charity Trust and Human
Rights Student Organization, are assisting with the event, which organizers hope will turn out to be Education
City’s largest Iftar.
Pakistani authorities say as many as
20 million people have been affected
by the floods, which have left thousands dead and tens of thousands of
villages underwater.
“This is yet another opportunity for
the Education City students to show
the world that we are active, globally
involved citizens,” said Khan.
Tickets can be purchased from the
student lounges at university cam-
»I would invent some kind of
wireless electricity so that my
laptop will never run out of
power again or a personal air
conditioning device that you can
wear and walk around in.«
Stephen Stocks, Senior Officer,
Marketing and PR, Qatar Music Academy
Turn to page 6 to find out more
A helping hand
n International
students can apply for
financial help through
the Hamad bin Khalifa
Financial Aid Program to
get a college education
at Education City.
More details on page 5
puses in Education City.
For more information please call
Abdalla Abdalla on 66865301.
Sidra Ayub, Journalism student,
Northwestern University in Qatar
2
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
News
Iftar: Poetry
event held by
Bloomsbury
n Poets were invited to share
their work at the Bloomsbury
Qatar Foundation Publishing
(BQFP) villa on 17 August for a
special Iftar event.
Mohammed Al-Kubaisi read
his poem and an excerpt from
his essay “Coming to Doha.” He
participated in the Summer
Writing Institute and was a
contributor to Qatari Voices. Currently, he’s a student at Texas
A&M University at Qatar majoring
in Petroleum Engineering.
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
Education Dozens of students learn skills needed for university
Summer courses finish
A total of 40 students took part
in the three-week Summer College
Preview Program at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q),
while the 2010 Georgetown PreCollege Summer (GPS) program
drew 37 students from 22 schools
across Qatar.
Designed to introduce students to
the tougher curriculum of universities, subjects such as English, math
and SAT exams are taught so that
high school students are prepared
for the workload they will experience
at university, including demanding
courses, nightly homework, quizzes,
exams and projects.
“The Summer College Preview
Program gives high school students
exposure to a college-level experience,” says Bruce Volstad, Manager
of Pre-College programs at CMU-Q.
“This program gives students the opportunity to explore an academic area
of interest, while learning how to prepare for the highly competitive college
admissions process.”
The progress of the students is
measured throughout the course of
the program.
“This program is a good experience,” said Mohammed Dauleh, a
student at Qatar Leadership Academy who earned the “most improved
student” award for improving his
SAT total score.
“It taught me how to handle pressure and prepare for the next step
in high school. In my high school,
we learn critical thinking, while here
we are given the problem and need
to figure out how to apply what we
Television Station earns another award for community documentary
JCC wins TV award
He shared the floor with
Fatima Hamour who participated
in the Arabic language workshop
during the Summer Writing
Institute this year. Previously,
she also attended the translation
conference that was conducted
jointly with Carnegie Mellon
University in Qatar. An engineer
of Sudanese descent, she
contributed to the evening with
an original poem with a Sudanese
twist.
contact us
communication Directorate
Rima Ismail, rismail@qf.org.qa
+974 454 0960
Ghada Saade, gsaade@qf.org.qa
+974 454 0961
Editorial
Publisher
Philip Fenton
Editor
Brigitte Scheffer, qft@qf.org.qa
+974 3343 9744
Deputy Editor
Melissa Sleiman
+974 6618 5540
Reporter
Myriam Chandna
+974 5585 2261
Design
Creative Director
Fred Dittlau
Arabic Designer
Mohammad Marei
©Qatar Foundation. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced without the written
permission of Qatar Foundation and the Publisher.
AlJazeera Children’s
Channel
(JCC) has been awarded the best
short documentary film prize in Anthropology for Written in the Wind at
the Jade Kunlun Awards, 2010 World
Mountain Documentary Festival of
Qinghai China held on 7 August.
Written in the Wind introduces ‘Silbo’, the language of whistling, which
represents a heritage unique to one of
Spain’s Canary Islands, La Gomera.
This unique method of communication is under threat of disappearing
and has been placed on UNESCO’s
Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The 26-minute film, one of many
JCC productions revolving around
world cultures, illustrates the efforts
made by the people and government
Exuberant, enormously captivat-
Book
corner
ing and exploding with color from
the very first page, Bloomsbury Qatar
Foundation Publishing’s (BQFP’s)
gloriously readable translation of Sue
Heap and Nick Sharratt’s award-winning Red Rockets and Rainbow Jelly is
a vibrant riot of color and energy that
kids will find instantly uplifting.
Using simple language and big,
bold illustrations, Al Sawirikh Al
Hamra Wa Jili Al Qus Qazah tells
the story of two friends, Sawsan and Nader, who like different
colors and things, but who don’t let
those differences get in the way of
their friendship.
The winner of the Nestle Smarties Book Prize in 1998 and the Children’s book Award in 2001, Red
Rockets and Rainbow Jelly has been
described as “brilliant and exuberant” by The Guardian, and also as
“great to look at with wonderfully
ABP welcomes new students
n The Academic Bridge Program held its three-day orientation to
welcome the class of 2011 as the center enters its 10th academic
year. The new students were introduced to the program’s facilities,
policies and activities as well as to the staff who will be working with
them throughout the upcoming year. A total of 350 students from 17
countries were admitted to the course, 88% of whom are Qataris.
of La Gomera to save ‘El Silbo’ by incorporating it into the official primary
and secondary school curricula.
Al Sawirikh Al Hamra
Wa Jili Al Qus Qazah
(Red Rockets and
Rainbow Jelly)
By Sue Heap and Nick Sharatt;
translated by Mahmoud Gaafar
vivid illustrations” by the UK’s National Literacy Association.
Translated into Arabic for the
first time by Mahmoud Gaafar, Al
Sawirikh Al Hamra Wa Jili Al Qus
Qazah is remarkable for its playful
and spontaneous use of the Arabic
language, which is perfectly suited
to early readers and those just starting to read on their own. It is also
great for those learning Arabic.
This is a bouncy and happy book
whose vividly drawn illustrations
make it accessible to young kids while
the simplicity of the language makes
learning colors in Arabic a fun and
learned to get to the solution. We are
learning things here that we will learn
to value soon enough.”
“We’ve designed this program to
sharpen the skills that students will
need to gain admission into universities and then succeed once there,”
said Liz Kepferle, Director of Admissions and GPS organizer. “GPS is
also a great introduction to Georgetown’s major fields of study, in addition to being a powerful tool in preparing for admission and enrollment
in a top university.”
The program’s field trips, friendly
sports matches, and social gatherings also gave students a taste of the
lighter side of what the university has
to offer through extracurricular activities.
The Jade Kunlun Award for best
short documentary is a great addition
to the various regional, national, and
international honors and awards that
JCC has received over the years. The
festival is a yearly event dedicated to
promoting sustainable and community-based development and environmental protection in mountain and
upland areas.
Recent awards include the Ecumenical Jury Award in Berlinale 2009
for its long documentary Aisheen Still
Alive in Gaza and Al Jazeera Golden
Award for Baghdad Angel at Al Jazeera
International Documentary Film Festival, 2010.
easy task. More than anything, this is
an utterly charming picture story that
will have parents, as much as their
kids, smiling with delight.
Sue Heap has also won the Smarties Prize for Cowboy Baby, while
Nick Sharatt has won many awards,
including the Children’s Book award
for Eat Your Peas. He is best known
for his illustrations of the books of
Jacqueline Wilson and Jeremy Strong.
Owned by Qatar Foundation and
managed by Bloomsbury Publishing
Plc, BQFP publishes books of excellence and originality in English and
Arabic, including Arabic translations
of international bestselling children’s
fiction so that children in the region
can enjoy these books for the first
time ever.
Available from all major bookstores
in Doha. For more information contact:
bqfp@qf.org.qa
Dohaland safety milestone
n Dohaland has completed a construction milestone by achieving one
million man-hours on its flagship Musheireb project without losing
time to injuries. Dohaland Project Director Mohamed Al-Marri said:
“This milestone is a reflection of the strict local and international
standards that we have applied throughout the project, and
underscores our commitment to the highest standards of safety.”
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
News
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
3
Community Diabetes awareness campaign Community Several initiatives provide positive impact
QF helps needy families
Over 100 families in need have re-
ceived Ramadan food packages
packed and distributed by volunteers
from Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) and
Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA).
The boxes contain information
about diabetes aiming to raise awareness about the disease and how to eat
healthily, especially during the Holy
Month of Ramadan. Qatar has the
fifth highest rate of adult diabetes in
the world, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
“QDA participates in order to
raise awareness about diabetes and
how to control the blood sugar levels
through following a healthy diet and
lifestyle. The QDA team will be answering questions of families and also
will distribute useful brochures about
Ramadan and diabetes,” said Dr Abdullah al Hamaq, executive director
of QDA.
“QDA’s work directly supports
Qatar Foundation’s ongoing commitment to improving quality of life
through progressive education and
health and community services,” he
added.
The ROTA Ramadan project offers volunteers the opportunity to
make a positive difference in the lives
of members of the local community
who are in need.
ROTA’s Ramadan activities
Following a yearly tradition, Reach
Out To Asia (ROTA) kicked off its
series of Ramadan 2010 project by
initiating a home makeover for a local Qatari family, in collaboration with
THE One Furniture Store.
The two-day renovation, performed
by ROTA volunteers and staff from
THE One, involved painting rooms
and installing new furniture and
household appliances.
“ROTA’s Ramadan events, which
we have been actively organizing for
the past four years, are geared towards having a positive impact on the
community in Qatar,” said Hazem R
Idriss, Volunteer Program Specialist,
Community Development, ROTA.
Other Ramadan activities planned
by ROTA include community Iftars
and the celebration of Garangao night
with child patients at the Hamad General Hospital Leukemia ward and The
Rumailah Center’s Pediatric Center.
ROTA will work closely with its
community partners including the
Elderly Institute, Al Noor Institute for
The Blind, and Qasr Al Saada, a department of Hamad General Hospital
dedicated to men with mental disabilities, to organize community iftars
involving ROTA staff, volunteers, patients, and guests of the three partner
institutions.
“We develop a special relationship
with our partners, such as the Elderly
Institute. Many individuals there specifically request ROTA’s service during Ramadan because of how personalized the approach of our volunteers
is,” said Idriss.
ROTA also engages disabled children and those struck by leukemia
in Ramadan activities by celebrating
Garangao with them in their hospital
wards.
Garangao is a children’s festival
unique to the Gulf during which
children go door to door collecting
sweets and presents. According to
Idriss, ROTA aims to preserve this
cultural tradition among children in
Qatar.
“Within their wards, we provide
the children with bags, and then give
them toys, instead of candies or nuts,
since they have dietary restrictions,”
said Idriss.
Through its Ramadan 2010
project, ROTA aims to help local and
expatriate families in Qatar and encourage the concept of sharing and
reaching out to those in need.
“This year, our theme is based on
a phrase we coined, ‘Ramadan across
Asia’, so it is in fact a celebration of
diversity of the communities that live
in Qatar,” said George Tavola, head
of ROTA volunteer program.
Ramadan Tips from the HSSE Directorate to help you keep in shape
How to keep fit
during Ramadan
QF staff and their families enjoyed a fun evening on 20 August at the
Club House. Community Support Services organized an Arabic tent
with majlis, a special dinner buffet at the restaurant, free freshlycooked Qatari food, as well as a free henna corner at Al-Dukhan
Hall. Arts and crafts events were held inside and kids had access to
the games room and camel rides.
Vodafone Qatar Ramadan plans
n Vodafone Qatar is offering a range of Ramadan services, such as
free daily prayer time information by SMS, in English or Arabic, and
pocket-sized Ramadan calendars at stores and partner outlets. To help
motorists break their fast, Vodafone Qatar will be distributing free
Iftar boxes containing dates and water, and they will also be hosting
their Ramadan tent at the W Hotel for the second year running.
Ramadan has arrived, which for
many people means creating resolutions to improve their lives. Some of
the most popular resolutions involve
improving their health by starting an
exercising routine.
Unfortunately, many staffers and
students have difficulties sticking
to a regular workout routine during Ramadan.
But exercises are not limited to
working out at a gym. Here are some
practical, cost–effective ways to increase your physical activity during
Ramadan and allow you to keep up
your fitness routine:
n Ride a bike around your neighborhood.
n Get an exercise partner to help you
get going and keep you motivated.
n Take a 30-minute walk in a pleasant
area in the morning or afternoon
before Iftar and join an activity after
Iftar.
n Take the stairs to your dorm room
instead of the elevator.
n Plan ahead for busy times and
make a workout schedule so that
you can keep up your fitness routine
during those times.
n Identify activities that you like to do
and locations that you enjoy. Don’t
force yourself to work out in a way or
place you dislike.
n Write in your planner when you
will work out and what you will do,
and stick to it as you would any other
assignment.
Remember:
n Don’t get discouraged if you fall
behind on your goal or miss a week
of exercise.
n Change your routine to avoid
boredom and create structures of accountability to get back on track.
n Above all, have fun and find an activity that you enjoy.
The benefits of exercising
n Exercising has a positive impact on
one’s physical, mental and emotional
health in Ramadan. It can reduce
stress, improve mood and increase
self – esteem, so it’s important to
integrate exercise into your lifestyle
in a way that fits who you are.
Qatar Debate website great success
n The website of Qatar Debate’s World Schools Debating Championship
2010 has seen thousands of visitors since the conclusion of the event
in Doha earlier this year, indicating that their attempts to spread the
culture of debate in the country are experiencing success. The site,
www.wsdc2010doha.com , was launched to celebrate the first time the
event was hosted in the Arab world.
4
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
Perspective
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
column
Hashim Al Sada
Making a lasting
impression
As one of the supervising
volunteers with this year’s Qatar
Science and Technology Park
(QSTP)/ Qatar Scientific Club
Summer Camp, I could not help
but realize the value of early
childhood education. While a
K-12 school curriculum equips
students with the necessary skills
they need to proceed to university
and become professionals,
practical programs specifically
targeted at certain young age
groups are crucial because they
provide children with an extra
edge at an age when their minds
are most impressionable.
What children learn at a tender
age, they are likely to remember
for a long while to come – imagine
the valuable experience they gain
for a lifetime when they become
actively involved in a real, handson, summer science camp.
I work with children between
the ages of 6 and 12, engaging
them in a variety of creative
activities and workshops, such
as physics and chemistry, and
covering topics like sound,
electricity, and power, so that
children can understand the
mechanisms that run everyday
appliances like generators and
light bulbs. Brain teasers and
scientific riddles encourage
children to engage in challenging
»I understood
that the child’s
mind, “young and
impressionable”
as the cliché goes,
is known to be so
for a good reason.
Early childhood
education is such
an important
facet of a child’s and eventually, a
nation’s and the
world’s - sustainable
growth and
development.«
»I realized that
when given the
opportunity to open
up and converse
with someone older
than them, not only
were those children
quick learners, but
also highly sociable
in their demeanor.«
activities and achieve a sense of
accomplishment, which I believe
is pertinent to their future growth
and confidence levels.
With their distinctive
personalities and occasional
quirks, they make quite a handful!
I realized that when given the
opportunity to open up and
converse with someone older
than them, not only were those
children quick learners, but also
highly sociable in their demeanor.
Over time, the children’s carefree
attitude allowed me to gain an
insight of how their experiences
this summer are shaping their
thinking.
I understood that the child’s
mind, “young and impressionable”
as the cliché goes, is known to
be so for a good reason. Early
childhood education is such an
important facet of a child’s - and
eventually, a nation’s and the
world’s - sustainable growth and
development. In addition to a
school curriculum, children in
Qatar need an avenue like this
summer camp to keep them active
and engaged in learning while
having fun, even during summer
vacations.
columnist
Hashim Al Sada
is a volunteer with the QSTP/ Qatar
Scientific Club summer camp.
What do you think?
What are your views on childhood education? Send us your thoughts at qft@qf.org.qa
Community Mini mall offers even more services for QF staff
First supermarket
opens in Education City
The first supermarket in Education
City is open for business.
The new Lulu Express store is located in the new Qatar Foundation Community Shopping Center in Education
City Community Housing (ECCH)
Lot 4.
“LuLu Express is an essential part
of a broader range of opportunities
and services we hope to make available to the QF community,” said Greg
Tighe, Manager Recreation and Community Services, Support Services Directorate.
The new double-storied express
mart sells fresh fruit, vegetables, hot
meals, butchery, and bakery items, as
well as a wide selection of organic, gluten-free, diet, and gourmet products.
In addition to grocery items, a variety
of dry goods such as books, stationary,
and electronics are also available.
“There are close to 85 different nationalities in the QF community, and
we tailored this branch specifically to
cater to the diversity in this community,” said Mohamed Althaf, Regional
Director – Qatar, LuLu Hypermarket
Group.
According to Althaf, LuLu Express
has adopted several eco-friendly practices, such as the installation of LED
lighting and the use of biodegradable
bags.
The shopping center, which also includes a coffee shop and beauty salon,
will be managed by LuLu Hypermarket Group, under a lease from QF.
Officially opened earlier this month
by representatives from QF and Lulu
Hypermarket Group, the store is the
retailer’s 81st outlet.
“We are excited about the new addition to the QF community,” said
Kathleen Bates, Head of Community
Support Services.
“We believe the quality of life is being improved by giving community
members an accessible and nearby full
service shopping center. Customers
will be able to purchase goods or simply relax with a pastry and a cup of coffee or enjoy a treatment in the beauty
salon.”
LuLu Hypermarket Group has installed 81 staff members in its ECCH
Lot 4 location to assist customers with
their shopping needs.
“Qatar is a very important market
for us. The kind of support and patronage we have been receiving from
both locals and the expat community
here had been tremendous and we look
forward to providing them world class
quality and service at our new store at
ECCH,” said Yusuffali MA, Managing Director of LuLu Hypermarket
Group.
The ECCH Lot 4 also houses the
American Hospital-run QF Care Clinic and QF Pharmacy.
“We wanted to provide the
QF family with as complete and
satisfactory an experience as possible,”
said Tighe. “This shopping complex
plays an important role in achieving
that goal: it complements the EC Club
House, and lives up to fully developing
each initiative,” he said.
Your Thoughts:
“I really like it.
It’s a great stop
on the way
home.”
Ralph Pruitt,
Director of The
Learning Center.
“Very clean,
beautiful, and
convenient!”
Paula Grossman,
Math Instructor,
Academic Bridge Program (ABP).
“It is a neat
facility with a
nice variety of
products, and
is conveniently
close by.”
Lindsay Coco, Campus Life
Coordinator, Office of Faculty and
Student Services, Education Division.
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
QF Spotlight
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
5
How do I...?
QFTelegraph helps
make your life at
Education City easier
n Where can I get health and
wellness tips that will help me
maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Across Education City (EC) you will
find posters and flyers distributed
by the Health, Safety, Security and
Environment (HSSE) Directorate
that will advise you on keeping
healthy. For additional information,
contact Dr Eman Mahmud, Staff &
Student Health Specialist at HSSE.
You can email her at emahmud@
qf.org.qa.
n What steps can I take in order to
quit smoking?
Upsetting your smoking habits by
changing some daily routines could
help you beat smoking. When you
combine this with anti-tobacco
medication your chances of success
are likely to increase.
n How should I deal with nicotine
withdrawal symptoms?
Try to plan activities that help keep
your energy level high. Physical
activity often helps reduce negative
feelings. Drinking water or eating
candy is a way to ease the coughing.
Financial Aid Helping students to finance their studies
Bearing the cost of education
As the new academic year begins,
the Financial Aid Office at Qatar
Foundation (QF) gives international
students the chance to acquire a college education with financial help
through the Hamad bin Khalifa Financial Aid program, which has been
available for almost a decade.
“The Hamad bin Khalifa Financial
Aid is a need-based loan, designed to
assist qualified non-Qatari students attending one of the universities at Education City, who could not otherwise
meet the cost of tuition,” said Aljohara
bint Saud Al-Thani, Acting Financial
Aid Head, Education Division.
Eligibility for this loan requires
that the applicant has been accepted
at one of the university branch campuses based in Education City, is enrolled as a full-time student intending
to obtain their degree at the university, and has provided a statement
indicating they have not defaulted on
loans previously borrowed from QF.
Upon graduation, students are expected to either repay the total sum,
work in an organization designated
by the Financial Aid Committee for
no less than one year and no more
than six years, or repay the total sum
by paying 15% of their total net income in US Dollars on the first day
of each month.
“Students have a good variety of
repayment options, but it is important to know that the Financial Aid
Office does not guarantee employment,” said Al Thani.
»The Hamad bin
Khalifa Financial Aid
is a need-based loan,
designed to assist
qualified non-Qatari
students attending
one of the universities
at Education City,
who could not
otherwise meet the
cost of tuition.«
The amount of the given loan –
which is paid directly to the university - depends on the cost of the university program the applicant wants
to enroll in, their overall ability to pay
tuition, and the final amount they are
able to contribute towards the tuition.
Outside the academic circle at EC,
little is known about the facilities
provided by the Financial Aid Office, which according to its officials,
is often mistaken for the Financial
Aid Committee.
“We at the Financial Aid Office are
the reviewers of the financial aid applications which we receive prior to
each academic year,” said Ren Natour, Financial Aid Officer.
“The Financial Aid Committee is
a separate entity, and is on a higher
scale. We merely review and submit
the applications to the Committee,
who make the final decision and also
deal with any appeals made by students who feel they did not receive
fair financial aid,” she said.
The Financial Aid Office consists of a Financial Aid Head and
three officers who explain financial
aid options to students and review
their applications.
The office also manages meritbased scholarships awarded to students by their university or by governmental entities to Qatari citizens.
There is no limit to the number of
students who can be eligible for QF
provided financial aid but students
are encouraged to apply between
January and May.
“There is no quota. We give everyone a fair and equal chance and whoever we feel is deserving will receive
financial aid from QF,” said Al Thani.
“We treat each case individually. For
example, if an applicant also has another sibling enrolled in university,
we consider those extra expenses,”
said Al Thani.
“We plan to enhance the Financial Aid website for potential students, keeping in mind that these
students and their parents may
come from parts of the world where
they are not used to online applications. Future changes will make the
application process much smoother,” said Natour.
n What can I do to reduce my chances
of developing heart problems?
Try to develop healthy eating and
exercise habits. People aged 30 and
above should keep an eye on their
numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure,
and ideal weight. If your numbers
are within normal limits, you have a
good baseline for comparison as you
get older. If your numbers put you at
elevated risk for future heart disease,
now is the time to work with your
health care provider to manage your
lifestyle and lower your risk.
n How do I keep my body hydrated?
Try to drink at least eight glasses of
water per day. If you want to check if
you are well-hydrated, simply look at
the color of your urine. Light-colored
urine is an indication of a wellhydrated body.
n How can I get healthy eating tips?
You can get a tailor-made
nutrition program by visiting the
nutritionist at the EC Club House.
The services of the clinic are
provided on an appointment only
basis. Requests should be sent to
clubhousenutrition@qf.org.qa.
Email us your work related
questions at qft@qf.org.qa,
and we will do our best to help you
Focus
Stephen Stocks, Senior Officer, Marketing and PR, Qatar
Music Academy, on personal air conditioning devices and
always looking on the bright side of life.
If you were in charge of QF’s research
budget, what would you like to invent?
Name: Nigel D’Souza
Title: Community
Support Administrator, Support
Services
Years at QF: 1 year
Either some kind of wireless
electricity so that my laptop will
never run out of power again when
on the move, or a personal air
conditioning device that you can
wear when walking outside in the
summer weather here.
Describe your role: My job
changes with the demands of
every event. You might find
me as a ‘guide’ on a farm trip
somewhere north of Qatar or
MC’ing the Kids Carnival. The
last event I organized was the
month-long EC World Cup
Fever and brought together
people from all over QF under
one roof. When I’m not thinking
up new events, I am in front
of my computer completing
reports, researching the latest
entertainment that we could
use, facilitating workshops, or
communicating our events to
the rest of QF.
What kind of tea/coffee do you order
every day?
What I like about my job is…
What’s the last QF event that you have
been to?
It’s not a routine job. There are
always new challenges ahead,
and that is a lot of fun. I’m also
fortunate enough to cross paths
with many interesting people
with Community Support and
to get to work with a great,
supportive team. Strong black coffee with no sugar,
and each morning I need as much
of it as I can get. At the weekend I
grind my own beans, normally from
Indonesia.
What did you want to be when you
were little?
I always wanted to be a pilot and
I was mad about planes. Recently,
I took flying lessons in the UAE.
Taking off was easy, although I
scared myself so many times landing
I thought it best for my safety and
those on the ground that I stop.
What makes you smile?
Watching the things my two-year-old
son gets up to. It’s quite amazing the
mischief he can get into.
QF
no
t at
Stephen Stocks
f
ta
What s
My QF
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
What’s your favourite
sport?
I am more of an
fd
’r armchair participant
ow
y
hen the
in sport! I particularly
Where do you normally take your
lunch break?
You can normally find me eating
cheese and tomato sandwiches at my
desk.
What food do you like?
e
6
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
enjoy Formula 1 and of
course, the recent football World
Cup.
What would be your theme tune?
Always look on the bright side of life!
What book are you reading at
the moment?
It has to be Chinese food, which I
love. Thankfully, my wife is Chinese
so I eat Chinese food for every meal.
Even breakfast!
The seventh and last instalment
of Stephen King’s Dark Tower.
I’ve read the whole series of
books over the past couple
of years so I can’t wait to see
how it ends up.
What is your favourite sweet?
My favourite sweet on the other
hand is decidedly British – bread
and butter pudding, which I can
never resist.
Where do you like going on holiday
and why?
Other than the UK and China,
where our families live, one of my
favourite places is Australia – I like
the laid back lifestyle, beaches and
big cosmopolitan cities.
Qatar Music Academy’s recruitment
event for our program of
complimentary after school music
tuition. The musicians of QPO gave
fantastic performances and inspired
many children to join our new
course.
Want to be featured in MY QF?
Send us an email at qft@qf.org.qa
Environment Scientists at WCMC-Q believe bacteria could prevent desertification
Stabilizing shifting sands
Scientists from Weill Cornell
Medical College in Qatar (WCMCQ) and Ithaca, US, are working on
a method to stabilize dunes to stop
desertification. They believe that microbes may live in the dunes, and that
they could hold the key to stopping
them shifting and reclaiming the areas we inhabit.
The team recently won a grant
from Qatar National Research
Fund (QNRF) upon presenting
evidence that they had found RNA,
a molecule that exists in living organisms, between sand grains. In
order to continue the research,
QNRF awarded the project a $1
million grant through its National
Priorities Research Program
WCMC-Q’s team comprises of
three scientists - Chris Ogden, Senior Lecturer in Biology, Joel Malek,
Instructor in Genetic Medicine and
Director of the Genomics Lab; and
Renee Richer, Visiting Assistant Professor in Biology. The project is led
by Michel Louge, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
at the university in Ithaca.
Having studied sand dunes in
North Africa, Louge came up with
the idea that tiny organisms could be
living in the desert.
“We tested the hypothesis on socalled ‘marching dunes’ – moving,
shifting sand dunes,” recalls Richer.
“We identified small, undisturbed
dunes out in the desert. A few students helped us. We measured moisture levels, did some extractions, and
tested the samples in our labs.” Soon
enough, they found evidence of bacteria living in the dunes.
They may be partly responsible for
the creation of hard sections in dunes
that contain moisture, explained
Richer. “These bacteria can secrete a
bio film, like a sugar coat, which holds
sand grains together. This helps them
conserve water, needed for their survival.” In turn, that bio film and moisture among the sand grains could
prevent them from being blasted
away by the wind.
The team’s first step will be to collect more samples in the desert as
they are trying to get a basic under-
standing of the living communities.
After that they will look at the applied
aspect of the research.
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
Time Off
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
Ramadan Special Exclusive to QF Radio
This year QF Radio brings you
n Sports Global: A Ramadan Perspec-
several innovative programs to guide
you through the Ramadan season.
Programs under development include:
tive on Activity and Sport. n Ramadan Was Like That: Different
Views and Experiences.
Plus, Ramadan Music throughout
the day…
Qatar Foundation in numbers
There are close to
85 different
nationalities in the
QF community. 100
Join us this Ramadan for an exclusive
line-up, only on QF Radio 91.4 FM
Find us at www.qfradio.org.qa “Enjoying a Healthy Ramadan” in association with Hamad
Medical Corporation.
The Hamad Medical team explain how to stay healthy during Ramadan. First Show
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9.30pm.
Over
families in
need received Ramadan food
packages from ROTA and QDA.
The new 2 storey Lulu
Express opposite ECCH
12pm – 1pm Music and the best of
Fun & Games
QFTelegraph is searching for submission of Arabic-language cartoons to fill this space! Please send artwork to qft@qf.org.qa
Monday
7.30am – 8am Dr Kerr’s Casebook
thursday
7.05am – 8am T5 Movie Review with
Eman Al-Hadi
Friday and Saturday
24-hours A summer “brain-fest” of
5
8 6
7 5 6 2
Puzzle by websudoku.com
Puzzle by websudoku.com
solution
2
7
5
9
3
8
4
1
6
9
4
Fill in the grid so that every row, every
column and every 3x3 box contains the
digits 1 through to 9.
1
8
3
7
6
4
5
9
2
In winter, I like to go camping in the
desert, but in summer I like to camp
by the sea. My favorite locations
are in the south of the peninsula,
near Sea Line and Al Adaid. I go
with some friends and we really
enjoy ourselves. As for my favorite
food, there are two things. I love
makbous, it’s simply the best, and
I really like pressed dates from Al
Hassa in Saudi Arabia but they are
hard to find here.
The Rules are Simple
9
4
6
5
1
2
3
8
7
Warehouse manager, Procurement
5 4 8 7
2 6
5
6
1
4
1
2
9
su do ku
6
5
2
3
8
1
7
4
9
Mohammed Al Dossari
6
8
7
Puzzle by websudoku.com
My Favorite...
4
8
9
4
6
2
7
1
3
5
interviews and music
7
3
1
4
5
9
6
2
8
12am – 7am Music and the best of
QFRadio programs
7 – 8am Summer Doha Briefing current
affairs and music
8am – 9am Sports Global with Saad
Al-Hudaifi – Supporting Bid 2022
9am – 11am Music and the best of
QFRadio programs
11am – 12pm Lakom Al Karar – from
the TV show
81st outlet.
3
2
9
1
7
5
8
6
4
Sunday – thursday
QFRadio programs
1pm – 2pm Sports Global with Saad
Al-Hudaifi – Supporting Bid 2022
2pm – 6pm Music and the best of
QFRadio programs
6pm – 7pm Sports Global with Saad AlHudaifi – Supporting Bid 2022
7pm – 9pm Music and the best of
QFRadio programs
9pm – 10pm Doha Debates alternating
with From the Podium
10pm – 11pm Sports Global with Saad
Al-Hudaifi – Supporting Bid 2022
11pm – 12am Music and the best of
QFRadio programs
Requests for inclusion and submissions of material must be made no later than two weeks in
advance of publication. Requests and submission of information may be made by email only directly
to the relevant QFTelegraph journalist or to qft@qf.org.qa. Any articles written will be treated as
correct and approved by the Sender and his or her Department/Center, as will recorded interviews.
Interviews given may not be recalled or changed unless containing substantial errors of fact.
Interviews and information received will be treated as confidential until published. The publisher’s
decision on all matters of content and style is final.
4
1
7
8
9
6
2
5
3
radio
Lot 4 is the retailer’s
Conditions of submission
5
6
8
2
4
3
9
7
1
n A Muslim Story: Musa Cerantonio
talks to QF Radio’s Saad Al Hudaifi
about his journey to embrace Islam.
n Ramadan @ Work: How to cope,
what’s accepted and expected during
this special time.
7
8
Listings
Georgetown
Volunteer
Iftar Drive
Tue, 31 Aug, 5.30pm
Georgetown will host its first
Volunteer Iftar Drive, bringing
together volunteers to
distribute boxed Iftar meals
to the needy throughout local
communities. For more information, please
call 44578300 or email:
sfsqcomm@georgetown.edu
facilities
timings
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 26 August 2010
Write to us: qft@qf.org.qa
Sun: 5pm – 11pm
SOCIAL
Basketball
Ramadan Hours:
Tues: 7pm – 9pm
HEALTH & FITNESS
Badminton
Fitness Center
Wed: 6pm – 9pm
Fri: 10am – 1pm
Sun – Sat: 6am – 12am
Squash
Ladies Fitness Room
Thurs: 5pm – 7pm
Ladies: Sat: 4pm – 5pm
Sun - Sat: 6am – 12am
Indoor football
Swimming Pools
Wed: 5.30pm – 7pm
All pools (EC Members):
Sun – Thurs: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 1pm – 10pm
Ladies Swimming (EC
Members)
Location for all activities:
Recreation Center, call
4454 0805 or email
recreationservices@qf.org.qa
events
AUG-SEP 2010
Ramadan Soccer Tournament
Sun, 29 Aug-Thurs, 2 Sep,
9pm-12am
Come watch Education City
teams compete this Ramadan
at the soccer tournament!
EC Club House
For more information, please
call 44540805 or email
recreationservices@qf.org.qa
Ramadan Hours:
Club House
Sun-Wed: 6am – 12am
Thu-Sat: 6am – 1am
Mon, 23 August, 9am-1pm, (for
EC students and staff)
Tue, 24 August, 7.30pm-10pm,
(for all QF members)
The HSSE Directorate
will offer a wide range of
information and services
to QF members, including
SQUASH COURT
Pool
Sat: 11am – 12am
Daily: 6am – 10pm
Daily: 9am – 11.30am,
6.30pm – 11.30pm
Nutrition services
Dining facilities
Sun: 1pm – 8pm
Mon,Wed: 1pm – 5pm
Tue,Thurs: 9am – 1pm
Spa
Ladies Timings:
Sun, Mon: 2.30pm – 7pm
Wed-Sat: 5pm – 12am
Gents Timings:
Sat-Mon, Fri: 3pm – 12am
Wed-Thurs: 2.30pm – 7pm
Fitness Room
Mini-football Pitch
Daily: 6am – 12am
(Fitness instructor available)
Daily: 6am – 12am
Aerobics Room
Tennis, and Basketball Courts
Daily: 6am – 12am
Georgetown Monthly
Dialogue Series
Mon, 30 Aug, 8pm
Georgetown’s Center for
International and Regional
Studies will hold the first
session of this year’s Monthly
Dialogue Series - a lecture by
Daniel Westbrook, Assistant
Professor of Economics
entitled, “Education and
Market Transitions in
Vietnam.” LAS Building
For more information, please call
44578400 or email cirsevents@
georgetown.edu
Health, Safety, Security and
Environment (HSSE) Ramadan
Campaign
ec club
house
informative brochures,
consultation, and general
health check-ups such as
sugar monitoring and blood,
vision, and hearing tests.
Mon, LAS Building and Tue,
EC Clubhouse
For more information, contact
Dr Eman Mahmud at
44541285 or email emahmud@
qf.org.qa
Recreation facilities
Daily: 6am – 12am
The Grill
Daily: 8pm – 11pm
Meseika Snack Bar
Daily: 8pm – 11pm
Lebaina Restaurant
Breakfast served daily:
6am – 9am
Games Room
Sun,Tue,Wed: 1pm – 12am
Thurs: 1pm – 1am
Fri: 11am – 1am
Community Support
Services
Sun: 1pm – 12am
Tue – Wed: 1pm – 12am
Thurs: 1pm – 1am
Fri: 11am – 1am
Sat: 11am – 12am
LULU EXPRESS HOURS
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Georgetown Student Activities Fair
Wed, 1 Sep, 4pm-7pm
Georgetown will host its sixth
annual Student Activities
Fair, during which students
of Georgetown in Qatar will
be exposed to the university,
Education City, community
organizations, clubs, and
other social involvement
opportunities. The Student
Activities Fair is an annual
event that allows organizations
ranging from the Cricket
Club to Qatar Debate and the
Doha Film Institute to peddle
their wares to students and
anyone else with a few spare
moments. LAS Building
For more information, please call
44578300 or emailsqcomm@
georgetown.
Have your event listed. Send
us an email at qft@qf.org.qa