Award-winning Qatari author to lead creative writing workshop

Award-winning Qatari author to lead creative writing workshop For the first time, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP) author Dr Kaltham al-Ghanim will offer aspiring writers the opportunity to participate in a creative writing class rooted in folklore. Dr al-Ghanim is best known for her BQFP-published children’s picture book Hamda and Fisaikra, which is based on the Gulf version of Cinderella that has been passed down in the region for generations. The two-day course, to be held from 4pm to 7pm on March 30 and 31, will revolve around traditional stories as a means of expression and a form of inspiration. The Arabic-language workshop will focus on best practices from Dr al-Ghanim’s experience of writing a children’s book, including how to develop better writing skills and the importance of researching one’s oral history when writing folkloric fiction. Speaking on BQFP’s creative writing workshop, Arend Küster, acting director of Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation, said: “We are proud to be working with Dr al-Ghanim and helping local writing talents, as well as nurturing aspiring writers in Qatar. The story of Hamda and Fisaikra is deeply rooted in the local oral traditions of this region, which we are keen to preserve and bring to a wider audience.” The workshop will be offered by BQFP free of charge. Those interested in enrolling in the course should e-mail bqfp.events@qf.org.qa to obtain an application form. The application deadline is at noon on March 25. Successful applicants will be notified by e-mail. Dr al-Ghanim is a professor of sociology at Qatar University and has worked in several areas of anthropological research in the Arabian Gulf. She is the winner of many awards for her research.

Charity work leaders attend Doha forum QNA /Doha The Second Humanitarian Work Partners Forum begins in Doha today under the auspices of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. The four-day forum is organised by Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah for Humanitarian Services (RAF) under the title “The Excellence of Performance and Sustainability in Giving” at the Torch Hotel. More than 150 personalities are participating in the forum, including senior leaders and executives of charity and humanitarian work institutions who are partners of RAF Foundation in 100 international organisations across the world. This year’s forum is being held under the auspices of several Qatari companies and institutions, including Ezdan Holding, Qatar International Islamic Bank, Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar Petrochemical Company, Qatar Electricity and Water Corp and Qatar Airways. Dr Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, the Executive Director of RAF Foundation, said: “The Foundation has exerted all its capabilities and its expertise so that this forum will be in the best picture and the best form benefiting from the recommendations and the results of the forum of last year.” Sheraton, Dafna roundabouts opening today QNA/Doha The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) announced that road works on converting Sheraton and Dafna roundabouts to signal-controlled intersections were finished and the Corniche road will be completely opened to traffic today, two weeks ahead of schedule. Ashghal thanked all road users who have been tolerant with traffic congestions for the past two months. It also expressed its gratitude to the traffic police and Lekhwiya who worked relentlessly to ensure the traffic flow without hampering the construction and infrastructure works, as well as Qatar General Electricity and Water Corp (Kahramaa), and other government entities for their support. This support helped Ashghal finish the works sooner than planned.   As the Corniche Street is one of the most vital and dynamic arteries of Doha, Ashghal expedited the construction works by deploying about 60 machines and 600 workers around the clock. The project teams worked relentlessly to complete the project, and they succeeded in finishing the works two weeks ahead of schedule without the full closure of the Corniche area. In addition to converting the roundabouts to signalised intersections and expanding some parts of the Corniche Street, the project also included extending infrastructure utility works, including Treated Sewage Effluent pipes in the Corniche Street’s median and old roundabouts locations. Qatar condemns Egypt attack Qatar has condemned and denounced the attack that took place in Shubra Al-Khaima in Egypt yesterday, killing six police, an official source from the Foreign Ministry said. In a statement to Qatar News Agency, the source said Qatar strongly condemns such acts which target the security and stability of Egypt. The source also reiterated Qatar’s firm stance which rejects all forms of violence.