Editor's Message
For April's newsletter, we had initially planned to focus on the theme of
Pets & Animals
. However, as we are all aware, some other news has taken most parts of the world by suprise: COVID-19. Thus, in order to keep things as lighthearted and joyous as possible during a rough period of time, we've decided to carry on with our original intentions while also including articles that are relevant to the outbreak.
We've got write-ups on traveling with animals, resources for pet lovers living in Riyadh, and advice for those going through social distancing.
A special thanks goes to the government of Saudi Arabia for their diligent efforts to keep us all safe, as well as to the healthcare staff and other essential employees who remain at their workplaces during this difficult time.
I'm happy to announce May's theme leading up to the holy month of Ramadan will be
Pay it Forward
.
Please see the bottom of this newsletter for some suggested topics or check out our
Facebook
/
Instagram
accounts to get in touch. Otherwise, feel free to email us at any time at
info@wsbksa.com
.
Wishing you and your loved ones safety and health,
Andrea Mehringer
WSB's
The Bridge
Editor
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Our Director's Message
Dear friends,
I wondered about the timing of an issue on pets and animals, in light of the very particular pressures felt around the world at the moment, but in fact it feels important to share some different positive news. Also, maybe now is the time to emphasize and reflect on the fact that animals deserve to be respected and treated humanely, and that our existence is connected to that of animals, so I hope you will enjoy this issue with varied articles about animals but also about the current pandemic and how it is affecting women here and around the world.
In light of the crisis affecting us all, WSB has suspended all its events, but we remain positive and hope to launch our membership as announced in last month's newsletter at the earliest opportunity when we have returned to a safer environment.
I cannot share my thoughts without commending the Kingdom's leadership and medical community for its swift action in KSA in response to this unprecedented threat. My thoughts go out to the millions of people and doctors here and around the world who are struggling to stop the spread of this virus.
Stay home, stay safe, and I hope you enjoy our newsletter.
Pauline Khan
WSB Director
P.S. We continue to stay active on social media, so if you don't already follow us, we recommend you do if you want to be informed of our latest news!
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Inspiring Woman
Johann Taylor
FaceTIme Interview by Leigh-Jane Obermayer
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Tell us about yourself.
I moved to Riyadh from the UK to be with my husband John in March of 2016. I’m a mum of 2 girls and 5 grandchildren, and also have 2 stepsons. I have 2 dogs back in the UK and 5 rescue cats here in Saudi. I have a 30-year background in banking & IT working for some of the largest companies in the world. I recently left my last company, AEI, after 4 years working as head of their Support Services division.
I’m a very active, sporty person and have been vegan for 10 years. I love playing netball and am very passionate about health, fitness, and animal welfare.
Tell us a little about your activities/work.
Since leaving AEI, I have dedicated myself full-time to voluntary initiatives, which I already pursued whenever I could whilst working full-time. These initiatives are mainly around animal rescue, TNR (Trap Neuter Return) programs working with my team and other volunteers on compounds in Riyadh, animal rescue assistance, and other events to help those in need. We collect items that people are discarding, clothes, shoes, toys, etc. and these are sent to those who need them.
It was my husband who first introduced me to animal rescue in Riyadh through Open Paws, then operated by Dr Lana with volunteers. We rescued our first cat, Basil, from her and she got me involved in TNR for our compound and 4 of our 5 rescue cats are from Open Paws. There are always people leaving their pets behind, many because of the short notice to leave periods. There are stray cats getting onto compounds that are not neutered or vaccinated, people abandoning pets on the streets, it’s a never-ending story sadly.
Animal rescue is hard work, taking a great deal of emotional strength, dedication, patience, perseverance, and tolerance of others. Once an animal is found, the process of ensuring it is medically and emotionally ready for adoption takes a supportive team of professionals and volunteers to ensure the annual is ready to be re-homed.
What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
I would say there are 3 main areas:
Without a doubt, finding homes for rescued and abandoned animals are the most challenging; very few people want to take on the responsibility of the long term, financial, correct care and attention to a pet. Finding animals that have been abandoned, mistreated and neglected and not being able to find good homes is emotionally challenging. Last year we found homes for 38 rescued animals! It is hard work at the best of times and at the moment very difficult during the travel bans and rumors about animals transmitting viruses. Thankfully the Ministry of Health issued a series of messages educating people about the reality of pets or cats and COVID-19.
@saudiMOH937 – 15th March 2020 – There is no scientific evidence to confirm that pets or cats transmit COVID-19.
On the flip side, I have friends now at home for the foreseeable future who have offered to foster during isolation. Also, residents on the compound are offering temporary homes as they are working from home and keeping their children busy and entertained whilst giving them company.
The costs involved in animal rescue are challenging here in the Kingdom as neutering at a vet clinic costs between SAR 500 – 600 and vaccines are, on average, SAR 350. This is without any additional medical costs or the cost of food and transport. Riyadh Shelter have a clinic as well as the shelter which offers excellent care and rates.
Sometimes animals come to rescue that are just too sick or injured to be saved and the rescuer and vet have the sad and difficult decision to euthanize them. It's very upsetting because had they been taken to a vet earlier, they may have been saved. As sad as it is, it is much more humane to euthanize an animal that is terminally ill or critically injured rather than a lengthy, painful lonely end on the streets.
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Who or what inspires or motivates you?
My husband, John, inspires and motivates me all the time. We have a poster on the wall that says “Be stronger than your excuses, and he often reminds me of it! My children and grandchildren inspire me to be a better person and to set an example of a good role model:
• Doing the right thing
• Helping others
• Being a Vegan
• Helping to put an end to all animal cruelty
I am also moved and inspired by those who triumph over adversity, an example was the 2012 Paralympics. I have so much admiration for people who have such determination and strength to be the best at something regardless of how difficult or challenging it is for them.
Anyone who manages a successful rescue inspires me as well as it’s hard and there’s no downtime. It is an around the clock responsibility, 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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What message would you like to send to our readers?
Being kind and compassionate is a personal choice; spare a thought for the cat or dog on the corner, they may have had a home once and now find themselves in a strange, difficult world. Most house pets that are put on the street will not survive as they cannot defend themselves and are not used to the harsh environment.
With regards to animal rescue – please adopt, don’t shop. Support ethical pet shops for your animal needs. Don’t be fussy with the look or age of a cat or dog, as beauty is on the inside. Sadly, many cats can’t find a home because of how they look, even though they might be the sweetest, gentlest creatures with fabulous natures. Older cats are a great option as they are more settled and just want to relax at home with you on the sofa. Please do consider fostering an animal.
What advice would you give to someone who wishes to get into this line of work or carry out similar activities?
As I mentioned earlier, it’s hard work mentally and physically. Find groups or people who are already successfully carrying out rescue and TNR activities; learn from them, team up, and work together. Get advice; don’t try to do it all on your own...you need a support network. Please do not rescue an animal if you are not prepared to keep it. If you can’t find it a home, you can’t rely on other people to find homes or pay for treatment for an animal you have taken on the responsibility of rescuing. Don’t get disheartened by people; everyone is on their own journey and are in different places, and whilst you might feel let down from time to time, there are lots of amazing, kind, helpful people out there!
Do you have a quote or motto that you live by?
There are a few I use from time to time or have on the wall.
Be stronger than your excuses
is a very powerful one. Others I use are:
it’s nice to be nice
;
a smile is free
;
kindness costs nothing
; and,
always treat people how you expect to be treated
.
Your contact information &/or social media:
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Floki
Floki is a young Saluki who was rescued in the last couple of weeks. He had been abandoned on the outskirts of Riyadh and found by an animal lover who was luckily in the area. The rescuer was frantically searching for a foster home all day otherwise he was going to have to put him back on the streets as his landlord did not allow pets. I have a soft spot for sighthounds and said I would take him and worry about a longer-term foster home later! Luckily I had a couple of friends who came forward to offer to foster him. He settled in well in his foster home enjoying walks and his new temporary family. He had a fabulous nature of which everyone had fallen in love with! I had an offer of a permanent home in the USA but with the travel bans we looked for a home in Riyadh so he could settle in a permanent home. Luckily a perfect family and home were found on the DQ and Floki has settled in well and his new family adore him.
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Lucky (Not So)
Lucky turned up on our compound. He had a hernia, several wounds on his body, was extremely emaciated and generally in a bad way. The vet said that he had such a lovely nature. We neutered him, fixed the hernia and other issues. Re-homing street cats, even friendly ones, is very difficult as they don't look like the kind of cats people want in Saudi. They want fluffy cute cats, not "normal" looking cats. One of our volunteers took a shine to Lucky and decided he was going to be part of her pack. Lucky loved everyone and everything, including other cats and dogs. Sadly after 9 months, he started to get sick and had a terminal disease, so the sad decision to put Lucky to sleep had to be made. Lucky, in his last few months of life, was lucky to have many people who loved him despite his ailments and physical appearance.
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Teddy
A 4-month-old dog was found running around on our compound. He was covered in oil but friendly. We kept him in an outside-enclosed area until we had a chance to decide what we could do with him. As the weather was cool, we could keep him outside and the TNR team took turns in seeing to him and walking him. After a couple of months, one of the residents adopted him, and he is still on the compound. Sadly he had to have an eye removed due to a trauma that he had received when he was a puppy before he was found.
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Cino
A small skinny cat was sitting by our office door at work. It was clearly in distress, so without thinking, I scooped it up and brought him home He was very friendly but had sores on his mouth and something wrong with his teeth. The vet said that many of his teeth on the inside were rotten and had to be removed; he was only around 5 months old. We neutered and vaccinated him and started to feed him up. We called him Cino, short for cappuccino as he was a coffee color. After a few months, he was ready to be re-homed. A Saudi family who already had one rescue and wanted another adopted him. They still send me updates on how he is getting on, and they are besotted with him.
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It is hard work doing animal rescue but extremely rewarding. We have a team of volunteers that feed them twice a day, vaccinate them every two years, and deal with any health issues. We run Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) regularly and all the cats we trap are neutered, vaccinated, and returned as long as they are in good health. It costs a lot to do this as vet care is not cheap in Saudi, but we are lucky we work with a great vet who comes to the compound and works with us. This helps as the costs for vaccines, operations, and food are very high. TNR is the only way to humanely control the population in Saudi, but to do that there need to be more vets, rescue centers, education on animal welfare, and funding.
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Pet Care
Dr. Takura Zihumo
My name is Dr Takura Zihumo. I’m
a veterinary surgeon originally from Zimbabwe. My area of practice is companion animal medicine and surgery, with a special interest in corrective soft tissue surgery. I’m also very keen on exotic animal medicine and surgery. I’ve been in practice in Saudi Arabia for 13 years split over 2 veterinary clinics and more recently pursuing another route in my practice career. I’m married and I’m a father of 3. Outside practice, I’m a tennis pundit!
Pet Care Advice
Advice to pet owners is abundant but as a veterinarian I always believe the well-being of animals is optimum if a balance between the following things is struck:
- Proper dietary requirements depend on age, species, physiological status, and presence/absence of concurrent disease.
- Shelter - animals must be housed in a stress-free environment that minimizes extremes of weather and is hygienic. General care like grooming must be done regularly to avoid suffering. An example is a badly matted coat that can harbor skin infections.
- Social interaction - domestic pets need interaction with their human counterparts. This allows owners to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior and to provide necessary interventions when behavioral changes are noted.
- Medical attention - in addition to the preventative treatments recommended by veterinarians to avoid common diseases, regular vaccination should be afforded to the pets. Pets should also be granted necessary access to healthcare promptly before being allowed to suffer.
- Animal abuse or intentionally allowing animals to suffer through inflicting pain or otherwise should be avoided at all times. Pets do have feelings and they way they express them often eludes human reasoning.
Neutering
Neutering is an elective surgery that involves removal of male or female reproductive organs. In males, it’s called a castration and in females, it’s called a spay. These procedures prevent over-breeding of animals which leads to animal dumping and an increase in the stray animal population. For pet owners, neutering animals reduces the negative behavioral traits that come as animals express their reproductive desires such as urine marking, calling in un-spayed female cats, and aggressive behavior. From an animal welfare perspective, neutering animals is done on a larger scale during trap, neuter and release (TNR) programs for stray animals as this is a humane and sustainable way of dealing with stray animals rather than killing them.
Euthanization
The only acceptable humane way of euthanasia is by use of lethal injections. Pets are first sedated before being euthanized to reduce anxiety and thereby allowing the process to be peaceful and painless. Poisoning (and other ways of euthanasia such as gunshots) cause animals to suffer before death and as such, those methods are now illegal and are highly inhumane.
Message to Pet Owners
Pet owners must be made to understand that keeping a pet is a full time responsibility and must be done with love and compassion. They should be willing to provide their animal companions with the best care possible and to know that these companions are part and parcel of their family.
Contact Information: +966 056 887 4108
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Blue Cappucino, Our Musician
Dr. Norizzati Azudin
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I always have a pet at home. When we decided to move to Jeddah two years ago, the condition I gave my husband was to adopt a cat. I kept browsing and searching to find the one I felt like I would love until...YES, I found Blue Cappuccino. I saw him on Facebook and contacted the one who advertised him for adoption. This guy told me he found this cat somewhere near Rawdah and brought him back home. He had a litter box and was ready to let me adopt my new cat the next day.
We met near the international market and Blue was quietly sitting in his car, too shy to be taken away. I even remember feeling guilty for taking Blue away from where I think he was sitting so comfortably. The guy carried him and put him in my arms. It was like having a new baby. Indeed, he is my baby now and forever!
Blue (named for the color of his eyes) is very attached to all of us. He pays attention to each of us on different occasions. When I ground my daughter to her room, Blue scratches her room door and
meows
at me to open it to let her out. When my husband comes home, Blue rushes to scratch the front door carpet for attention. When my son (who is Blue’s favorite) calls our cat, he comes and sits on his lap and asks for treats. His favorite place for nap? In the thickest carpet at home at the coldest temperature (which is my room).
Blue loves music and will come to us when he hears my husband playing guitar, when my daughter plays the piano, or when my son plays the drum. When I browse through the Facebook account of the guy who passed Blue to me, I can see that he was apparently a musician. What a coincidence! Sometimes at night when we forget to switch off the keyboard piano, Blue decides to sit on it and wake us all up!
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Why I Won't be Eating a Dog or Cat for Dinner
Sandra Downing
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I guess the answer is obvious...or is it?
The reason I won’t be eating dog or cat (or any animal or animal by-product) is because they are all sentient. They all feel sadness, happiness, pain, grief, anxiety, fear, anger – all the same feelings that you and I have. So, I see no reason to treat them any differently than I want to be treated.
How are they different from us? The only way is that they cannot communicate their feelings in the ways that we recognize. That’s it. They are truly no different from you and me.
And before you tell me that we need protein from animals, vegans who eat a well-balanced diet of a variety of vegetables, whole grains, pulses, fruit, etc., get all the protein needed. Most of us have been lead to believe that we need a lot more protein than we actually do and that animal protein is the best.
It isn’t. I have a full panel of blood tests done every year and I am healthier than I have ever been, and I have been vegan for about 4 years.
Plants provide all the nutrients we need. They really do. And avoiding all animal products in our diet will help us prevent 13 of the 14 leading diseases killing us (see “How Not To Die” by Dr. Michael Greger). Because I know the suffering that animals experience for our desires, I have also found incredible vegan makeup, cleaning products, clothing, accessories...everything! There is no reason at all for us to continue to consume animals.
Look into any animal’s eyes, feel his or her beating heart, and you will understand why peace begins on my plate and extends to the rest of how I live.
Questioner: How are we to treat others?
Ramana Maharashi: There are no others.
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Importing a Pet
Jane Welsh
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Bonjour from Paris!
We moved here in mid-January, and I would like to share our experiences of exporting our family cat, Luna, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Paris, France. We had very short notice in moving from Riyadh, and I’m so glad I started the process a few months earlier just in case. I would recommend that you start the Pet Exportation process as soon as possible if you expect to leave in the next 3-4 months.
To be clear, my experience is based on the criteria for
France
– please ensure that you research and investigate the laws and protocols for your arrival country (as they all differ).
In September 2018 we adopted Luna, a two- year old Himalayan cat from Dr Lana at Open Paws. Our son is absolutely devoted to her. Here are the steps we took:
1) Visit your vet for cat Rabies vaccine followed by
Titer Test
. The Titer Test is a blood draw from the cat that tests the effectiveness of the rabies vaccine. It is taken 30-days after the vaccine and sent to an approved lab (overseas). Luna’s blood work was sent to Germany, and it took 3 months to process. I have this listed as #1 because this can take 3 months or longer.
2) Research French government pet import requirements: paperwork, vaccines, etc.
3) Research airline protocols: we flew with Saudia Airlines. Their website is pretty ambiguous, so we also rang (took forever, and the result was that we had to book Luna at the airport) and visited the Customer Services desk at the Riyadh airport. Investigate the size and dimensions of the cat baggage carrier (for in-cabin). We used her normal hard-sided case we use for the vet. A soft case will be easier to get under the seat.
4) Visit a reputable vet: We took Luna to Elite Vet; however, I am sure that other reputable vets can also provide information and care on pet exportation.
As part of the visits to the vet, always take previous vaccine records or Pet Passport. For moving to France, Luna needed a Health Certificate (for the visit to the Ministry of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia):
- Microchip #
- De-worming
- Rabies vaccine and Titer Test
- Vaccines for Nobivac Tricat Trio Vaccine (Coryza and Typhus)
5) Visit the Ministry of Agriculture with your cat.
Ensure you have updated your cat’s vaccines and have a new health certificate, before going to the MoA for the Pet Export Permit. The Ministry of Agriculture is located opposite NADEC. Check on their website before trekking there for opening hours and prayer times. They have a coffee machine, but take some snacks with you as it could take an hour or two. Ideally go with a friend because you have to make multiple stops in offices for different bits of paperwork, and the cat only needs to go to one. The rest of the time, the cat can stay with the other person. Again, take your cat with you. I’ve read some posts that say you don’t need to bring your cat, but that wasn’t our experience.
- Visit the vet at the back of the building in the MoA car park. They will ask a few questions and look at the cat. The vet will approve the Health Certificate from the vet.
The overly helpful vet’s assistant (who might ask for a bribe at the end of the session), will offer to show you where to go in the MoA for paperwork signing and stamping (you will go upstairs for paperwork signing and downstairs for paperwork stamping). Return back to the MoA vet for final approval. You then have a certain amount of days before you have to travel abroad with your pet.
Note: We did not return to Elite Vet for final review (some people might need to return to the family vet).
6) Buy a cat carrier bag: Buy one that meets airlines cabin requirements. We flew from Riyadh to Paris with Luna
in the cabin
. If you want to have your pet in the cargo, the crate size can be larger.
7) Airport:
Take the cat in its airline approved cabin bag to the airport and visit with Saudia staff at check in counters to ensure that paperwork is correct, bag size is correct and that you can take the cat in the cabin.
8) Day of flight:
Go to the airport early, at least an additional 30 minutes. We gave Luna “cat calming treats” (I got them in Australia) about 30 minutes before leaving the house. At Security, they asked my partner to take the cat out of the carrier, which was challenging. Be prepared. Luna did NOT want to come out of the carrier. The best way is to gently tip the carrier with the opening down. Our son had to help in the process.
9) During the flight:
We had a bowl and treats for Luna; however, it probably was overwhelming for her (sounds of the plane engine and passengers, new smells, etc).
10) Arrival in Paris: We did not have to go through special customs clearance in France at the airport when our flight arrived – however in some countries that is the case. When we arrived in France, Luna was vaccinated against Leucose (vaccine required in France for Feline Leukaemia Virus) and FiV/FelV (Feline AIDS and Leukaemia Virus.
She has settled in nicely in our new apartment.
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Pet Tips & Resources in Riyadh
Claudia Gonzalez
Note: This is a non-exhaustive list of resources, current and valid to date.
Veterinary Clinics
Advanced Pet Clinic (APC) -- www.adpetclinic.com / info@adpetclinic.com
Veterinary Home Consultations
- Dr. Takura Zihumo -- +966 056 887 4108
- Dr. Paggio Munyanyi -- +966 55 403 9228
Home-Based Pet Sitting and Boarding
Tail
Aahd Kadiri (dogs & cats)
Meowriott Cat Hotel (cats)
Amaal Habbash
Second Home Cat Boarding (cats)
Norah Nasser
Mariam Muse (cats)
Pet Sitting Exchange Riyadh
Pet Supplies
Aleef
Pet House KSA
Zarafa
Pet Transport (Import/ Export)
Ex-Pat Logistics
David Alexander
Al Tayyer
Mohammed Mushtaq Ahmed
Facebook Advice Pages
Bring Them With You – Export Pets from KSA to USA and Canada
Next stop EU - Exporting your pets from KSA to EU
Animal Rescue, Trap-Neuter-Return, Adoption, Foster
Riyadh Shelter
Hearts Animal Rescue
Pets in Need (P.I.N.)
Riyadhcats
Mercy Paws Riyadh
- Instagram @mercy.paws.riyadh
Saudi Cats For Expats
- Instagram @saudi_cats_for_expats
Hope Cats (boarding) Saudi Cats (Rescue)
- Instagram @hope_cats
- Instagram @saudi_cats
Animal Abuse Reporting Hotline
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture
- 800 247 0000
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The Elephant in the Room
As discussed in our Editor's Message and Pauline's Director's Message, there's an elephant in the room which is hard to avoid at least mentioning at a time when (as of March 25th)
about 20% of the world's population is under some kind of lockdown
. Here are some articles which are relevant to both the themes of COVID-19, as well as to WSB's monthly theme of Animals & Pets.
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Book Reviews:
Once Upon a Time and
Everywhere by Halla Bint Khaled
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If I were to ask you to guess what animals lived in the Empty Quarter over 5000 years ago, what would your answer be?
If you said hippopotamus, then you are right on the mark. This fact had me completely dumbfounded when Professor AbuZnada (The first head of the Saudi Wildlife Commission) showed me the fossilized hippo teeth they found in the world’s second largest desert. I decided to read into the history of flora and fauna in Saudi Arabia, and as my research progressed more and more ideas for stories revealed themselves to me.
It is my firmly held belief that the best way of educating children is through the use of imagination and storytelling. 'Once Upon a Time' is a collection of beautifully illustrated stories featuring anthropomorphic animals that are deeply rooted in geological, archaeological, botanical and zoological evidence.
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When my three-year-old dragged a little stool over to the fish tank, climbed it, and put a straw in the water fully prepared to suck in, I yelled: “Darling! What are you doing?”
Her response was: “I want to thee if the watew tatheth fithy..”
I tried to convince her that there were tiny monsters in the water that we can’t see, but she defiantly said: “The watew lookth clean Mama! What do they look like?”
A child who licked her baby kitten because it was “time for my baby’th bawf”, who constantly picked up foul-looking things from the ground needed to be deterred quickly. So, I made this book in order to bring those tiny invisible monsters to life. Fortunately, it worked!
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Helping the Family Stay Positive in Rough Times
Eram Zeeshan
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The recent outbreak of the coronavirus has been so devastating for the majority of humanity living on the planet. This sudden catastrophe has had serious consequences on not just the global economy, but also on health sector. Fear and anxiety regarding this disease has had an overwhelming effect which has resulted in strong emotions in adults and children. Being a mother of three growing kids, I can feel that fear of unknown or strong emotions of stress & anxiety. At the same time, I strongly believe in the power of positivity and gratitude that can bring miraculous contentment to any mother living under the threat of COVID-19.
Today, we are more concerned about the psychological impact of this crisis on children. The growing minds that are not expressing these emotions of fear but are somehow under the influence of it. Being parents, we need to make sure that our kids are well aware of the situation without getting unnecessary stress. In this era of social media, repeatedly, reading & hearing about this pandemic can be upsetting.
Everyone has a different reaction to coronavirus. “We don’t want our children to feel like the world is so scary,” say psychologists, because that might keep them from being curious and engaged. While having the discussion of COVID-19 with our growing kids, we must keep in mind that the content we share with them should be tailored according to their age. If your child is under six and has not heard about the virus yet, don’t try telling him about it. Try to explain to your elder kids that this pandemic requires certain care, and hygiene rules are to be followed very strictly. Take the opportunity to teach them about small but important things about hand washing, bathing, and personal hygiene in detail. At the same time, explain to them that being sick is normal to human beings, but all the while, building immunity through diet and exercise is critical too.
I would greatly emphasize the importance of positive thinking by seeing this crisis as an opportunity to spend quality time with your children. As their parent, working from home provides them with a feeling of novelty and newness to their routine. Encourage them to focus more on creative thinking and soft skill development by introducing them to the various intriguing concepts of personality development. Introducing or emphasizing the importance of journal writing is a profound habit to develop in your kids that will pay off in a great way in times to come.
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Blog Feature:
Syeda Maria on How Coronavirus is Affecting Women's Lives
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Disclaimer: The views & opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Women's Skills Bureau. Any content provided by our authors are of their opinion(s) and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.
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If you have any story ideas on the theme of
Paying it Forward
for May's newsletter, please do share! We would love it if you could send a
brief bio
(1-2 sentences) along with
a picture or two
and
your social media handles
(if you'd like us to promote your page). Most articles are
around 350 words
. Please send articles before the
deadline of April 20th
!
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Welcome! The Women's Skill Bureau (WSB) inspires and empowers women of all nationalities living in Riyadh by providing them with tools, resources, and career guidance to allow them to thrive in various aspects of their lives. We are a community that connects experience, knowledge, and skills with individuals. Likewise, WSB supports women and enables them to realize their potential now and in the future. WSB offers many opportunities for female entrepreneurs to promote their businesses.
How you can get involved:
WSB Newsletter
: Issued the 1st of each month - contributors on any topic welcome. Email
Andrea
at
info@wsbksa.com
WSB Volunteer
: Connecting passionate members with causes that matter. Email
Yousraat:
volunteer@wsbksa.com
Survive and Thrive
: WSB's annual orientation for newcomers.
WSB Connect
: A monthly networking program for ladies looking to connect professionally and socially.
Find and Be Found
: A date for the diary. Connecting Non-Profits & Corporates with skilled women.
Sign up for the WSB mailing list at
www.wsbksa.com
to get our newsletters and mailers.
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Community Groups in Riyadh
Life in Saudi
News and Blogs
Additional Facebook Pages
Applications
Riyadh Community Groups
SaSa Saudi Arabian Scandinavian Association
The Corona Society
Offers friendship, support & advice to expat ladies
OASITALIA
Italian Cultural Association
CCOR
The Canadian Community of Riyadh
The Caledonian Society Scottish Society
Nordiska Klubben for Nordic people in Riyadh
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland
Riyadh Choral Society
Riyadh Community Theater
Riyadh Toastmasters' Club
American Business Group - Riyadh
Expat Ladies' Group - Riyadh
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About Us
The Women's Skills Bureau is an organisation which helps people in Saudi Arabia navigate the country. WSB inspires and empowers women of all nationalities living in Riyadh by providing them with the tools, resources, and guidance to allow them to thrive in all aspects of their lives. By creating a community that connects experience, knowledge, and skills with individuals, WSB supports women and enables them to realize their potential both now and in the future. Learn more at
www.wsbksa.com
or at our events.
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