6 January 2014 www.womanthismonth.com letters Never too much “One of the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who you are, what you believe in and where you want to go.” — Sheila Murray Bethel Your interview with Ms Safeya Kanoo in the December issue of Woman This Month made me realise that a woman of substance is a woman with compassion, a woman of effervescence and a woman with talent. In this digital era, we become numb and oblivious of the people around us. Your editorial opened my eyes and made me appreciate the innate qualities of each and every individual. It could not have been easy for Ms Kanoo to juggle her art and philanthropy with her family life, but she made a go of it and I am stunned at how easy she makes it sound. Generally women do not think of themselves as philanthropists. They do not just write large cheques, but also get more involved in various charities and their operations. There are so many women around the world who do so much for humanitarian causes, but are not recognised for their efforts and dedication. There is already too much indifference to the suffering in the world around us. We have to change our mindset and learn from good samaritans like Ms Kanoo. Beth WRITE IN AND WIN Next month’s star letter will win a voucher for two from Joz Salon & Spa. To win this, send us your views on our January 2014 edition either by email to [email protected], by fax to 17 813-700 or by post to PO 20461. The winner will be selected at random. If yours is the star letter this month, please write to the same email address with your full name, CPR number, address and telephone number to claim your prize. Write Here Write Now Just in time I would like to thank Dr Jinan Darwish for her informative article ‘Hard to Swallow’ in November’s Woman This Month on the dangers of choking in infants and young children. As an experienced first aider and trainer with First Aid Box, I would like to add that when a child appears to be choking, in addition to calling an ambulance, it is essential to relieve the obstruction as soon as possible and clear the child’s airway to allow them to breathe. At First Aid Box, we strongly recommend that everyone who is involved in the care of infants and young children should be fully trained in CPR and other life saving procedures, such as dealing with choking. Visit our Facebook page for details of our courses for parents, nannies and babysitters which are held regularly. First Aid Box An expression of love I am writing to thank you for an awesome job putting out a great magazine. It helps women in Bahrain in many ways. I like it that you cover aspects of fashion and design, cultural events and news, and even about Bahrain’s society. Woman This Month is what I read during my coffee break. I hope you keep it up and I wish you all the best for greater issues. Intisar 20 December 2013 www.womanthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com 21 December 2013 FLORAL VIBE The love triangle — red, white and black — is always a safe choice to compose an outfit for any occasion. However, it gets more meaningful at this time of the year. The classic A-line skirt in an animal print is the central character of this look. Save the rouge hue for accessories. Let the neutral shade set the background. A classy bun and subtle make-up finalises the picture perfect look for your Christmas event. Another year comes to an end and happenings around the island are in full speed. Pick your event — an office party or Christmas dinner — and dress to impress. Festive Code FASHION | get the look by FernAndA LAngHAmmer CLASSIC VOLUME 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. red constellation earrings: Atelier Versace Fine Jewellery; 2. White shirt: massimo dutti; 3. golden watch: mICHAeL michael Kors; 4. Wool handbag: Loewe; 5. A-line skirt: CH Carolina Herrera; 6. red pumps: Aldo 1. Burgundy belt: nine West; 2. Light peach pendant: Tory Burch; 3. Floral dress: mulberry; 4. golden rose bracelet: marc by marc Jacobs; 5. Black shoes: dune; 6. Feather handbag: nina ricci 1. Sheer blouse: Weill; 2. double ring: Louis Vuitton; 3. Textured trousers: Stella mcCartney at Saks Fifth Avenue; 4. Blue watch: Versace; 5. geometric clutch: Pull & Bear; 6. Spiked sandals: Steve madden Shades of the sky are the colours of the moment; embracing blues is vital. A sheer blouse and textured cropped trousers delivers elegance in a blink. A touch of gold reminds you of the horizon at sunset. Playing with tone over tone for a ‘wow’ effect is the best trick to steer clear of boring combinations. never dress up in the same shade of clothes and accessories. Be creative and blend the hues. If you don’t want to be too obvious, another classic pick can help — a floral dress. The print can be colourful with big prints or dreary with tiny, graceful sketches. For the season, a piece with a dark background and long sleeves is perfect. To compose the look, use accessories that bring out the colours in the dress’ motif. A thin belt along the waist emphasises the silhouette. This look is feminine and chic. 1 1 2 2 4 4 3 3 5 5 6 6 IN THE BLUES Kristen Bell Kenzo 30 December 2013 www.womanthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com 31 December 2013 Safeya Kanoo has never needed a title to define who she is. Unassuming and quite modest of her achievements, her output as an artist and the numerous awards she has garnered for her charity initiatives in Bahrain speak louder than she ever has. Over the years, her steadfast generosity has resulted in the two major health care initiatives in the Kingdom. She’s the patron of the 20-bed health care home for elderly ladies, the Safeya Kanoo Trust Clinic in Muharraq. In 2006, she built the Paediatric Oncology Ward for treatment of children with cancer at the Salmaniya Medical Complex. Dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Abdulla Khalil Kanoo, the unit has a six-bed ward and is equipped with a surgical room, a medical lab and a clinic for daily checkups. She has added a cheery playroom, complete with bright murals, stuffed toys, television screens and computers. A recipient of many awards from the government, Safeya has most recently been honoured by the Good Word Society under Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa in recognition of her contribution to the local community in Bahrain. At her serene home overlooking the Tubli Bay, Safeya talks about her twin passions — art and philanthropy — which have imbued her life with purpose and meaning. Woman This Month (WTM): Have you received any formal training in art? Safeya Kanoo (SK): Not really, I was a selflearner from the beginning. I became interested in the works of Monet and Dali and studied their techniques from books. I was working with oil paint and later experimented with watercolours, doing pieces on landscapes and nature. As I got more immersed in painting, I decided to take short courses in art in Rome and Paris, mostly in the form of two- or three-month workshops. That’s the extent of my formal training. WTM: Tell us about your daily routine as an artist. SK: Well, inspiration tends to come in a flash and I quickly start working when it does. When I’m travelling, I make a lot of sketches to capture scenes of local colour. At home, I like to begin early in the morning. Soon after the morning prayers, I settle down to paint from 4-5am, my most productive hour. I forget everything else when I’m working. My room overlooks the sea, which provides wonderful inspiration for such pursuits. WTM: How has your work shaped you over the years? SK: I started out as a school girl, doing basic sketches. As I became more confident, I started experimenting with more complex forms using acrylic paint and charcoal. When my husband passed away, I was heartbroken. More than anything, Abdulla had been a true friend. During those difficult times, painting was like therapy for me, allowing me to create and inhabit new worlds and find happiness there. I believe creativity has been God’s gift to me. WTM: You’ve produced hundreds of paintings over the years. Have you considered exhibiting your work? SK: I think it’s been 20 years since I’ve last shown my work. In recent years, whenever people have asked me, I refused because I can’t dream of selling my work. My paintings are like my children; I cannot part with them. However, there is now pressure from my friends and I am considering holding an exhibition. But again, it’ll only be a viewing opportunity. I won’t be putting anything up for sale. WTM: Tell us about your engagement in community projects. SK: I used to spend a lot of time with a group of elderly ladies and widows in Muharraq, talking about their lives and the old days in Bahrain. I realised how worried they were about their future and then the idea of the elderly care home came up. Every week, I spend one day with them at the centre. If I can’t make it because I’m travelling, they complain that they missed me! The idea for the children’s ward came later. I’ve always loved children and like to take care of them even though I don’t have Safeya Kanoo is a woman of positive influence and meaning. Woman This Month speaks to the long-time philanthropist and prolific artist. Woman of SubStance people | interview Safeya with her late husband Khalil Kanoo children of my own. At Salmaniya, I feel sad when I think of them suffering at such a tender age, but spending time with them gives me happiness and I try to be strong for their sake. WTM: What other forms do you see your community work taking? SK: I’ve built a mosque in Tubli but I want to add a Quran recitation centre in the same neighbourhood. There are not many places around here where you can learn to do this in the prescribed manner. The centre will have an experienced teacher to train beginners. I have some other charity projects in mind, but I prefer not to make any announcements in advance. Let it be a surprise until it materialises. WTM: What is your next step in the artistic sphere? SK: I have too many paintings stacked up at home. Some of these are getting spoilt because I’ve run out of space to display them. I’m thinking of having a studio cum art gallery at a suitable location in Bahrain. Again, I make no prior promises. When it comes, let the work speak for itself. g by SIMI KAMBOJ The elderly care home At a Paris workshop www.womanthismonth.com 63 November 2013 Choking is a prominent cause of injury in children, especially in those of four years and younger. Although the number of incidents involving toys and their parts has gone down in the last 20 years due to manufacturer warnings, the number of food choking cases is still high. Those under five years of age represent two-thirds of all children under 15 who die from choking. For each child that passes away, about 25 children under five are admitted to hospitals due to food aspiration. More than 60 percent of these episodes happens in children of four years and younger. Studies show that toddlers are particularly at risk because they can bite food better than they can chew. While they bite with their incisors, their back teeth, which are used for chewing and grinding food, are not developed enough. This is one of the reasons why choking incidents decrease as a child gets older. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than five years of age should not be given hard candy or chewing gum. Raw veggies and fruits should be cut into little pieces. Young children should be supervised while eating. Make sure they sit down while taking in food. According to a study, foods that cause the most choking incidents are hard candy, meats and bones. High-risk foods, including hot dogs, seeds and nuts, were more likely to require hospitalisations. Hot dogs caused almost three percent of the food-related choking cases. There is a conflict between advocating for children to eat raw, natural and healthy foods and their ability to chew them. It is advised to place warning labels on foods that pose a high choking risk for babies and children. Call an ambulance if a child is unconscious, choking, wheezing or gasping. Look out for signs like his or her inability to cry, talk or make noise. If the face has turned blue or if the child is grabbing at the throat while looking panicked, he or she is certainly choking. How to avoid choking in children: • Have your preschooler eat at the table, or at least while sitting down. Do not let your child run, walk, play, or lie down with food in their mouth. • Keep a watchful eye on your child while he or she eats. • Cut food for your preschooler into pieces no larger than half an inch. Teach them to chew their food well. • Slice hotdogs lengthwise. • Cut meat and chicken across the grain into small pieces. • Slice grapes, cherry tomatoes and other round foods in half. • Cook carrots and celery sticks until slightly soft, grate them, or cut them into small pieces or thin ‘matchsticks’. • Spread peanut butter thinly on bread or crackers. A thick glob can cause choking. column by DR JINAN DARWISH Hard to Swallow From the time your child starts picking things up with his or her fingers until the age of five, you’ll need to be vigilant about choking hazards. STAR LETTER
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