KARE, A society dedicated to charitable works

Voluntary activities in Kuwait are widely appreciated.  Many people here show deep interest in this kind of practice. In fact, the history of the country is full of domestic societies that do charitable voluntary works to the needy families and individuals. A group of young people recently organized a campaign – under the slogan «Kuwait Deserves it« – that aimed to providing humanitarian help in this line.

The new society, KARE, which was created based on the efforts that were devoted to providing human moral and material support like those given by Shaikha Amthal Al- ahmad and similar pioneering persons in the country -- thus being the first voluntary work group in Kuwait.

Bariq Al-Dana visited and interviewed Abdul Aziz S. Qumber, and his colleague, Taleb Bahbahani, who lead the new society.

First we asked Qumber, student at the Engineering and Petroleum faculty ( KU ) and head of the society and president of the committee for voluntary affairs at the University, what does the word KARE stand for.

« Well, « he said, « Kare stands for the initials of Kuwait Around the World. It is a society that is based on voluntary work by the youth of  Kuwait, focusing on committing research and field studies about poor countries around the world. It allots what ever affordable necessary assistance to the peoples of these countries. In this way we also make familiar in the whole world what humanitarian role the State of Kuwait is playing .»

And when KARE was created?

we asked Qumber.

« Frankly speaking, « he replied, « the idea of creating a charitable society was mine. But of course, that would be impossible if my relatives and colleagues did not encourage me and give us a hand.  As you know, voluntary work now faces a lot of difficulties and challenges because of the crises, conflicts and natural catastrophes that render poor communities in dire need of assistance.»

On his part Taleb Bahbahani, head of the student committee at the engineering and petroleum society at the Kuwait University, spoke about the bases on which the work group is fulfilling its objectives.» The idea of  forming a work group», he said, « to visit some poor countries around the world was originally derived from the conception of voluntarism, by focusing on the youth and children, with due larger consideration of the voluntary activities which run in the interest of a wide class of  society -- the youth. Moreover, we also have the aim of using well qualified people. The society aims at making it well known that our youth are able to commit a large number of activities, and have humanitarian agenda, which is not at all restricted to one nation in the world, and our activities are not commercial. «

Asked about the members of the society Qumber said : Originally they number 8 persons, and can reach 300 members. However, due to difficulties of movement between countries nowadays and the high travel costs some members are forced to withdraw.

And what about your future projects outside of Kuwait? « Well, we visited Kenya  and stayed there 23 days, distributing our gifts. We also committed many other activities to the aim of increasing the awareness of the Kenyans and giving out some material assistance to schools including chairs, desks, tables computers and foods. In the near future we are heading to middle Asia .»

Babahani on his part explained more details saying that during 2008 we donated books, desks and a large tanker for water; we also gave some lectures about our own country and in math, sciences and English classes.

In Sri Lanka, he added, we visited that country after it was hit severely  by the tsunami waves; I visited the orphan house there and gave out books, in addition to a donation to support the local elephant and turtoise reservation in Sri Lanka, as well as building an incubator which hosts 1500 eggs.

But Qumber expressed his sorry for the lack of official support from institutions and local authorities, indicating that it was all an individual work despite the fact that we do not follow any political or religious ideology.  Nevertheless « we highly appreciate the good efforts of Shaikha Amthal Al -Ahmad Al-Sabah in supporting our activities.» He expressed the need to the media support in Kuwait.

« We seek building close relations with all concerned local and foreign authorities « , Bahbahani told us, adding that « we have good relations with the Canadian Universities, as well as the local Islamic commissions, but we stay away of their patronage  in order not to be described as a political  or religious party. «

What support is given to you by non- utility societies? I asked Qumber , and he said that « support from the charitable Islamic societies can by no means be denied.  I would mention with recognition  and appreciation Dr. Y. Al-Hajji for his generous support to our society «.

Speaking again about the role of KARE inside Kuwait Bahbahani told me that « our people locally also needs a lot of voluntary services ; we are used to travel to other countries during the holidays but do a lot of charitable activities in Kuwait during the academic year.»

Bahbahani added that the locally distributed assistance include various voluntary services: visiting hospitals to see patients with cancer and give many donations to the needy families. At present he said they are thinking to focus on environmental, educational and health problems. For that end several special relative committees were formed to give public awareness lectures and campaigns.

But Qumber interrupted and referred to their critcal need of media support, especially by the Kuwait TV. « All we need is 30 seconds of TV promotion to put our activities under spot light « , he said.

Bahbahani then continued that « we can know what problems the young people are facing from our contact with many students in Kuwait Univesity. The internet, the Facebook particularly,  is also an efficient means to know them, Inside or outside of Kuwait. At present we have about 8000 participants in 3 days time.»

I asked them: do not you fear of the of civil conflicts that might break when you travel to Keynia, particularly? And Qumber was quick to explain : « In fact, at the beginning we had such concerns, but with the encouragements we received from our people and with the help of God the Almighty  we  got accustomed to that. A volunteer, however, should not be afraid of penalties and consequences.»

After that I asked about the special health precautions the group members usually take before they set out to travel to other countries. And he explained that certain precautions should be put in mind, depending on the visited country itself. For travelling to certain countries requires some health checks and some related measures.

And what about the participation of women in your work?

« Women nowadays play as a constructive role as men do « , Babehani said, « the election of the 4 women to the Kuwait  National Assembly is indicative in this field. Some women even surpassed their colleague  men in social and public affairs. When the idea was first initiated we expected that it would not apply to women here, espacially that our work requires travelling across the world.»

Do not you as students in a scientific faculty feel that travelling and voluntary work will be affecting your difficult specialization? And Qumber replied saying that «  true, study at the Faculty of Engineering  requires  much work. But a smart student can make a compromise, balancing between his study and social and voluntary activities. Personally, I chose to travel during  the holidays  only .»

What needs the volunteers should have before travelling? I finally asked him, and he told me that « we need material as well as moral support, mainly from the local media. « And he concluded that : any such support should take in consideration to remain far from any political and religious dimensions, which is very crucial to our work in foreign countries.

Hmoud Sarab

is one of the young men in Kuwait who is definitely occupied with rearing wild creatures. Altough he is officially employed in the fire service, the oil sector,  but he combines between fire fighting and bringing up dangerous creaturs, including various kinds of reptiles, birds, fish and other species.

We went to know more about this kind of rather odd hobby directly from him. As he welcomed me I could tell that he is a kind of brave adventurous man, and asked him:

• When have you started your odd adventurers, collecting these animals?

Well, that was years ago. In fact, I was only five years old when I first did it, as much as I remember.

• Was it a talent which you have inherited from a relative of yours, or just a hobby that you developed personally?

No, genetics has nothing to do with this; it is a hobby which I practice personally.

•  But where you bring these creatures, especially that some of them are rare in our Kuwait?

My animals belong to different surroundings, in Kuwait and outside of the country. They are land and sea animals to which I feel special liking. They include reptiles, birds, insects, fish and snakes.

• You told me that you had  traveled abroad to find out new species; what countries you visited for that purpose?

Sure. I went to far places like Thailand and Iran also. Both of these countries have nice environments in which lovely animals can be easily found and imported.

• Fine, and what kinds of animals you have here?

My set includes poisonous and non poisonous snakes, strange kinds of birds and butterflies. In Thailand in particular I collected the largest butterflies ever seen and managed to bring them back home.

• It is said that while in Thailand you performed some athletic movement that brought you good recognition there.

• True, I participated in a kind of jumping there; it was a jump off a high cliff , more that 60 meters, winning me an honorary certificate.

• I see you keep many kinds of these animals inside your house, even in your own bedroom. Do not you feel afraid of the poisonous snakes? How your family approve of this behavior?

• Well, I should say yes; some have protested to my behavior. They always criticize me too for that, my mother in particular. She urges my father to warn me for much indulgence in this concern. However, I used to hide from them the fact that my snakes are poisonous. But day after day my parents got accustomed to that and began to encourage me to collect even more strange creatures.

•  Have you been exposed to moments of danger or fears that you might remember?

• In my early days I was very careful nearing the snakes and crocodiles especially. But everything has changed with time; now I do not feel afraid of them at all, and can even approach them without any hesitation or fear. However, once a poisonous snake was missed inside my home; I felt very anxious for that, but two days later it was found coiled under my own bed.

• How could you show off this hobby of yours in Kuwait? i.e. is not there any scientific clubs or museums that are interested in such an occupation?

•  I have not participated in any of such parties. I am rather very busy in my work in the oil field. My work hours are not regular too. However, I wish I could find the time to do that.

• What is the most favorite animal you have here or you wish you collect?

• I feel special liking to Penguins. But because of the very hot days in Kuwait I think it is very difficult to have one in my place.

• I see that you give special interest to reptiles, which are nice animal.

• Well, reptiles are plenty everywhere in our country or else, because these species live mostly in the desert.

•  Do not you agree that your hobby is more or less strange to our types of living?

• In Kuwait, where there is little greenery, yes. But generally speaking it is well known in other places of the world.

•  Do you encourage others to rear wild animals in Kuwait?

•  Life has many occupations, and rearing animals is only a matter of hobby. If somebody feels he likes it, well, why he will refrain. So in this way people can exchange experts in life.

Erzouqi sisters: Real Heroines of Kuwait

The heroic deeds of the young girls, each with a different field of achievement , make firm proof  that Kuwaiti females can be competitive in different aspects of creativity, even in dangerous sports.

The 3 Erzouqi sisters can be deemed « knights «  in the field of gun shooting.  For many years now, since their childhood, they have trained themselves hard so as to achieve higher ranks in this game. Their persistence was beyond description, and reflexes  good hope and firm aspiration towards heroism.

Sisters Erzouqi:  Niran, Meriam and Taiba are the pride of Kuwait for the prizes they have won in the game of shooting, as if they have paved the way to the peak by the lead they used and the sweet that they spilled out in the field ground.

When I met them I understood all that at once; so I asked them about their beginnings, and they told me their long strife for that;

• And did you all participate at the same time?

In fact, the three of us used to accompany our cousin, May Arzouqi  to the shooting club. Here we began our hard training on the gun, more than with the pistol. But May preferred the pistol to the gun. And I remember that was during the summer holiday. However, everything started as a hobby to kill the leisure time.

• This means that you have not originally  inherited the game from your family ?

•       Of course not; even though to our surprise we have found out that our father loved and practiced hunting. Moreover, my mother used to accompany him and learnt a lot about the game.

• Have you been encouraged to shooting?

•       Sure. Our parents were always careful to encourage us to do the shooting, using the rifles my father possesses. He used to oversee our work and that moved us to train ourselves in the club. Now, as you may notice, shooting is different from any other sporting games; it needs much training time as well as relaxation.

• I knew of your championships inside and outside of Kuwait. What major chances every one of you participated in during this period?

• Meriam has participated in the international tournament which was held in China during 2009. She came eighth in rank.

As for me « I am of lesser achievements than  Meriam «, Taiba interrupted, « due to my study. The most important championship I fought was in Kuwait, when they organized a tournament under the auspices of Sheikha Naimeh Al-Sabah. Our achievements were remarkable : we won 1st place in the GCC region, but won second place in the late Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s  Previous Amir of Kuwait.

•  You have won many awards, cups and medals and proved to be the pride of your country: are you received and rewarded well by the club or the general Authority of Youth and Sports?

No doubt. We usually are received very well by all the managers and sports leaders in their relative fields, especially H.E. Shaikh Salman al-Sabah, wherever we are. He always supports us and provides us with all what we need in our occupation, not to mention the material compensations we have.

•  What difficulties you have met with ?

In fact there were some difficulties on track; but still the main difficulty relates to our balancing between study and training times. You know we are still at school, so it is difficult to allot enough time to training.

However, we have to do very hard in order to overcome the related  problems of study and training.

• As young female champions in this game in Kuwait, what advices can you give to other young Kuwaiti girls who are ready to enter such adventures, so to speak, to develop their abilities in this or similar fields ?

Well, we feel that we have much to advise these people, not only the females, but the young boys and old people as well. Our advice for them all is that they should work very hard and continually. They should always put in mind that when they decide to do something they must not think of failure; rather, they should work for the aim of success and better achievement, which requires devotion and dear sacrifices too.

Movie Reviews

Based on a true story, North Face is a suspenseful adventure film about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. Set in 1936, as Nazi propaganda urges the nation’s Alpinists to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Swiss massif — the Eiger — two reluctant German climbers begin their daring ascent.

Europe, 1916. Baron Manfred von Richthofen (MATTHIAS SCHWEIGHÖFER) is, at the age of just 24, the crack pilot of the German aerial combat forces – a legend in his own time, a hero at home and a man both feared and respected by the enemy, including Allied Forces’ Canadian pilot, Captain Roy Brown (JOSEPH FIENNES). Von Richthofen and his fellow officers, Lieutenants Voss (TIL SCHWEIGER), Sternberg (MAXIM MEHMET) and Lehmann (HANNO KOFFLER) see their duels in the sky as tactical, almost sportsmanlike, challenges that, at least at first, obscure their view of the horrors of the battlefields below.

An ambitious young New Yorker (KRISTEN BELL), disillusioned with romance, takes a whirlwind trip to Rome where she defiantly plucks magic coins from a fountain of love, inexplicably igniting the passion of those who threw them in: a sausage magnate (DANNY DEVITO), a street magician (JON HEDER), an adoring painter (WILL ARNETT) and a self-admiring model (DAX SHEPARD). But when a charming reporter (JOSH DUHAMEL) pursues her with equal zest, how will she know if his love is the real thing?

His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion Felson (Ron Perlman) are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl ¬believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague to a remote abbey where her powers can be destroyed. Behmen agrees to the assignment but only if the peasant girl is granted a fair trial. As he and five others set off on this dangerous journey, they realize with mounting dread that the cunning girl is no ordinary human, and that their mission will pit them against an evil that even in these dark times they never could have imagined.

TECHNOLOGY

Manufacturer’s description

Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a bright, 3-inch screen that allows users to not only show off music, pictures and video, but also to customize the experience with personal pictures or themes to truly make the device their own. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white.

Every Zune device creates an opportunity for connection. Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.

HP TouchSmart IQ816

The next-generation, touch-enabled PC combines a 25.5” diagonal high-definition widescreen with a powerful energy efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processor in a single, integrated design. It comes with webcam, media card reader, and premium speakers for fast, easy access to photos, videos, music and application

Nokia N96

This product is designed for great video and live TV. Turn on and enjoy prime time mobile entertainment that suits your schedule.

You can enjoy high-quality video on a large bright display with superb sound, store more of your videos, musics, pictures and maps with massive storage, and choose from several high-speed connectivity options to access content and services.

Speakers for iPod

Take the guesswork out of buying audio accessories.

When you’re shopping for speakers, headphones, and hands-free headsets for Mac, iPod, and iPhone, what you really want to know is how they’ll sound in person.

Now when you buy from the Apple Online Store, you can try out your new audio gear for up to 14 days. If you don’t love it, we’ll take it back and refund your purchase.

Free Pickup and Return Shipping

To make the process incredibly easy, we’ll even pay for return shipping — just arrange for FedEx to pick up the gear at your convenience. (Terms and conditions apply.*)