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Magical Garden at the Sand park

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Every day at 7pm, you can join the authorities to release lanterns into the sky.

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Teddy Bear Hospital Kuwait

GREAT British Week in Kuwait: Programme of Events

The best of British comes to Kuwait with a series of events showcasing GREAT Britain in Kuwait.

The British Embassy in Kuwait is very proud to present the first ever ‘GREAT British Week’ in Kuwait. A celebration of all that is British, and of the historically close alliance between the UK and Kuwait, GREAT British Week will see a host of fantastic events aimed at showcasing Great Britain in Kuwait.

Supported by big names, fantastic sponsors, led by the iconic UK oil company Shell, and based around the innovative ‘GREAT Campaign’, GREAT British Week – actually more like two weeks – will see Kuwait play host to an amazing line-up of events:

1. Internationally renowned fashion designer Maria Grachvogel will hold prestigious fashion and trunk shows at the Avenues in association with top British luxury department store Harvey Nichols.
2. British ‘celebrity chef’ Gary Rhodes will headline Kuwait’s first ever festival of British food – delivering a special menu at Veranda restaurant and hosting a live public cooking demonstration.
3. The GREAT British Week lecture series will see former British Prime Minister Sir John Major speak at Kuwait University on the past, present and future of UK-Kuwait ties. In addition, the world’s fastest man, Wing Commander Andy Green, will speak about the British attempt on the world land speed record and leading young British entrepreneur Rekha Mehr will speak about harnessing great ideas for business success, and British experts in NGOs and Civil Society will talk about how individual activism remains at the beating heart of UK democracy.
4. A lineup of iconic British cars will be showcased in a British classic car parade along Arabian Gulf Street, finishing up with a dazzling automotive showcase event at SIRBB Circuit, Shuwaikh, featuring an array of British motor manufacturers and some breathtaking events on the SIRBB track.
5. World-leading concert violinist Madeleine Mitchell will deliver a breathtaking performance at the Dar Al-Athar’s Al-Maidan Cultural Centre. In addition, cutting edge London music promoter Chaos Theorywill be bringing the latest upcoming bands from the city’s thriving music scene to take part in a mash-up with the best Kuwait has to offer, hosted in conjunction with the LoYAC Academy of Performing Arts.
6. The Grand Cinema at Al-Hamra Mall will host a series of British movie classics for the enjoyment of Kuwait’s cinema-going public.

But these are just the headlines. Other organisations across Kuwait will be organising their own specialGREAT British Week events. The British Council Kuwait is organising its own fantastic roster of GREAT British Week events, including – just in advance of the week proper – a showcase of ‘free running’ at Marina Crescent by a UK performance troupe. And many British retailers will be running special offers during GREAT British Week.

Finally, we hope that the week will also see the official opening of the brand new application centre for British visas, at the Al-Tijaria Tower – further improving the level of service for all those in Kuwait looking to travel to the UK.

 

Great British Week Kuwait will see a variety of events, large and small, right across the country. This programme lists them all:

PROGRAMME

Date	Embassy Events	Partner Events
Fri 14 – Sat 15 March		British Council Parkour display, Marina Crescent, 13:00 – 20:00
Thursday 20 March	Inauguration Ceremony, Grand Avenue Fashion is GREAT: Maria Grachvogel Catwalk/Trunk Show, Harvey Nichols, Avenues (Invite Only)
Friday 21 March		British Council Street Art Performance with Nazir Tanbouli, Marina Crescent, 13:00 – 18:00
Saturday 22 March	Lecture Series: Entrepreneurship is GREAT with Rekha Mehr, in collaboration with the British Council, Radisson Blu Hotel, 09:30 – register athttp://www.britishcouncil.org/kuwait	British Council Street Art Performance with Nazir Tanbouli, Marina Crescent, 13:00 – 18:00
Sunday 23 March	Film is GREAT: Film Festival Day 1, Grand Cinema, Al-Hamra [time and film tbc]. Music is GREAT: Madeleine Mitchell recital, Al-Maidan Cultural Centre, DAI 7:00pm
Monday 24 March	Film is GREAT: Film Festival Day 2, Grand Cinema, Al-Hamra [time and film tbc]	Prof Robert Hillenbrand lecture on Qur’anic Calligraphy – Al-Maidan Cultural Centre, DAI 7:00pm
Tuesday 25 March	Film is GREAT: Film Festival Day 3, Grand Cinema, Al-Hamra [time and film tbc]
Wednesday 26 March	Food is GREAT; Gary Rhodes Cooking Demo, Avenues [time tbc] Food is GREAT: Gary Rhodes’ Afternoon Tea, [venue and time tbc] Film is GREAT: Film Festival Day 4, Grand Cinema, Al-Hamra [time and film tbc]	Green is GREAT: British Council Environmental Symposium, Kuwait University, Invitation Only
Thursday 27 March	Food is GREAT: Gary Rhodes VIP Dinner, Veranda Restaurant, Avenues [time tbc]
Friday 28 March		Cricket Match, Kabed cricket pitch, 14:00 – 17:00
Saturday 29 March	Innovation is GREAT: Car Rally on Gulf Road followed by UK Automotive Showcase, SIRBB Circuit, Shuwaikh 3:00pm – 8:00pm Music is GREAT: Kuwait-UK new music showcase with LoYAC and Chaos Theory, Al Qibla School Building,7:00pm	English is GREAT: British Council Cambridge Young Learners Workshop, British Council Mansouriya, 10:00 – 13:00
Sunday 30 March	Knowledge is GREAT Lecture Series: Wing Commander Andy Green, driver of the Bloodhound world land speed record car – Kuwait Society of Engineers [time tbc]
Monday 31 March		British Children’s Books event, Bayt Lothan, Salmiya 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Tuesday 1 April	Knowledge is GREAT Lecture Series: Lecture and Workshop with UK Civil Society Experts with Injaz Kuwait [time and venue tbc]
Wednesday 2 April
Thursday 3 April	Knowledge is GREAT Lecture Series: Sir John Major on UK-Kuwait Relations in collaboration with the Euro-Gulf Research Unit, Main Auditorium, Kuwait University, 2:00pm

Please note that details of all events listed here are liable to change – please check back on the day for final information.

Back to GREAT British Week: Homepage

The British Embassy would like to thank its headline sponsors:

Shell

Mabanee

thnx to http://ladieswhodolunchinkuwait.blogspot.com/ for the info

Want to learn the Art of Juggling in Kuwait?

“ALWAN” A Live Art Festival Presented By Visual Therapy & Marina Mall Q8

2014 NBK Walkathon

For more details click http://nbkwalkathon.com/

A WOMAN’S WORLD

March 8, is International Women’s Day. A national holiday in some countries, this is the day set aside to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. Of course, just mentioning the day’s existence prompts some to ask “well, why isn’t there an International Men’s Day?” Most countries around the world are celebrate it as a holiday while other countries host parades and set aside time to honor women. TV Channels showing special programmes on women; Special advertisement on women; messages on what sup, face book, phone circulated; airlines wooing women travelers with discounts and all-women crew flights to mark the International Women's Day. Even Google celebrated the Day with an interactive doodle on its home page that is displayed starting March 7 till March 9.  All of a sudden people realize on a particular day that women must enjoy their rightful place in society, be treated with respect and dignity, and should feel safe and secure at all times. That, we must banish discrimination in all its forms and the people who practice it. Women's empowerment, health and education become important for the development of our society. History is witness to the fact that successful women have helped in building progressive societies. Women today should have all the freedom to choose any role they wish to play, be it homemakers, professionals or even super-successful CEOs. 

But the fact remains, if women truly were treated as equals, valued for our contributions, respected for our ideas, and not assumed to be inferior or incapable in any way, then there would not need to be a day to bring attention to the achievements of women. If women commonly weren’t passed over for jobs, paid less for doing the same work as men, mocked for trying to get ahead, and told that they are only worthwhile as nurturers or pleasure-providers then perhaps the reminders of what women are capable of wouldn’t matter.

In such a social set-up , do you think there still exist matrilineal society? Yes, it’s still existing in our very own Meghalaya, the “Scotland of the East”.  India's northeast is an eclectic medley of tradition, ethnicity and cultural heritage. Popularly known as the Seven Sisters, the states Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh are treasure troves of a heady mix of race and rituals. Each state has its own remarkable and distinguishing features. But  Meghalaya with its unique  legacy of a matrilineal society; a heritage that sets it apart from all the other states of not only the northeast but that of the entire country. In a far corner of India, a country where women usually have to cry out for equality, respect and protection, there’s a state where women organize society and everything works better. The two major tribes of Meghalaya; Khasis and Jaintias, are very matrilineal. Their matrilineal society is the icing on the cake of Meghalaya's endless list of treasures. When most states of India are busy shunning the girl child by committing female feticide, participating in bride burning, demanding dowry or in short persecuting the weaker sex, Meghalaya is the only state that is holding a flame, a beacon of hope by putting the weaker sex on a strong pedestal of society. This is the state where woman power is at its peak.

Children take mother’s surname; daughters inherit the family property with the youngest getting the lion’s share and most business are run by women. Known as the “Khatduh”, the youngest daughter anchors the family, looking after elderly parents, giving shelter and care to unmarried brothers and sisters, watching over property. If the youngest daughter dies, the property is transmitted to the next youngest in age. Such a legacy has empowered the Khasi woman to enjoy a position of importance and dignity. In a Khasi marriage it is usual for the husband to live with his wife in his mother in law's house. He does not take his wife home as is customary in other communities. Whatever the wife earns is meant for her mother's house, which is expected to support the entire family. If a man marries a woman of a particular clan his children take the title of that clan therefore there is no illegitimate child in Khasi society as the children take their mother's title. In case of divorce, the man moves back to his mother’s or sister’s house with nothing but does not pay alimony for his children. The Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act protects the matrilineal structure. Some trace the origins of the system to Khasi and Jaintia kings, who preferred to entrust the household to their queens when they went to battle. This custom has continued to provide women the pride of place in the tribal society.  

In Meghalaya, women enjoy great freedom and independence. Many look after their own interest and earn their livelihood with great success. Although as a rule they have no direct say in communal matters, in their own families, they exert a good deal of influence. However, from the above one can conclude that women’s emancipation is evident in all its glory in Meghalaya’s unique women centric society.

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