Happy International Women’s Day! Founded on the premise of celebrating women’s accomplishments and promoting global gender equality, the bazaar team commemorates this special occasion by looking to Kuwait and the pages of issues past to give you bazaar’s women of 2014.
The Authors
Mai Al-Nakib
Author, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Kuwait University
A well-known academic and award-winning author for her fiction debut, The Hidden Light of Objects, Al-Nakib is paving a path for herself as an established female author who shares stories from Kuwait to an international platform. In doing so, she encourages many emerging female writers from Kuwait to follow suit.
Read more on Mai Al-Nakib at THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF OBJECTS: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL on bazaar.townnew.
Nejoud Al Yagout
Librarian, Author, Poet
Though Nejoud holds many titles, it is her love of poetry that has allowed her to create an imprint on her home country. With poems that explore both hope and despair simultaneously, she is an author that truly connects people with their inner turmoils, and strength to overcome them.
Read more on Nejoud Al Yagout at THIS IS AN IMPRINT on bazaar.townnew
Jawa Al Ahmad
Author
Jawa Al Ahmad’s first novel Fay, The Story of A Kuwaiti Bride, puts the real issues of marriage front, right and center. Her work and journey with her first novel enables women from Kuwait and the Middle East to have an honest conversation about the concept of marriage in a conservative Kuwaiti society.
Read more about Jawa Al Ahmad at FAY THE STORY OF A KUWAITI BRIDE on bazaar.townnew.
The Creatives and Change makers
Ghadah Alkandari
Artist
With her canny story telling ability, Ghadah Alkandari has produced various bodies of work that range from large-scale acrylic paintings, primarily figurative, exploring the wide spectrum of human emotion and familial complexities, to smaller, intimate and surreal pen and ink drawings detached and focused on everyday happenings.
Read more on Ghada AlKandari at ANOTHER DAY IN THE OFFICE: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL on bazaar.townnew.
Yara Al Adib
Social designer
Upon Yara’s return to Kuwait, she’s been shaking up the way we perceive design to solve the world’s problems through innovative approaches. With initiatives like the Kuwait Sustainability Jam, this social designer is all about instigating change in a positive way.
Read more about Yara Al Dib at TRUTH OR DARE: THE SOCIAL DESIGNER on bazaar.townnew.
Shahad Bishara
Founder of Design Diwan and Visual Therapy
She’s a modern patron of modern arts. Shahad’s efforts in starting up the art diwaniya, Design Diwan, is constructing an impactful path toward changing our perception of modern and public art. She also showcases her passion for art, and how it positively influences her through an initiative that combines the formats of a website, blog, online gallery and art store entitled Visual Therapy.
Read more on Shahad Bishara at DESIGN DIWAN: BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE on bazaar.townnew.
Sara Al Nafisi, Dana Al Hilal and Hussa Al Humaidhi
Co-founders of Nuqat
Alongside Wakim Zeidan, these three inspiring ladies set out to do what many have shied away from doing: founding a viable platform that serves to foster the Gulf and Middle East’s creative culture. Nuqat was founded and continues to serve the region in an effort to connect, educate and execute change through Nuqat’s annual creative conferences.
For more on the women from Nuqat check out NUQAT ALA AL HUROOF on bazaar.townnew.
Mona Al Mukhaizeem
CEO, Sirdab Lab
The brainchild behind the startup accelerator hub, Sirdab Lab, Mona’s experience in the Silicon Valley inspired her to import the mindset of innovation and creation to Kuwait. Since its inception, Sirdab Lab has gone on to provide a wealth of support and knowledge for emerging startups in Kuwait, changing the future of Kuwait’s Small Business economy.
For more on Mona check out SIRDAB LAB: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL on bazaar.townnew.
Jamie Etheridge
Founder of the publication, Kuwait Mom’s Guide
Arriving as an answer to many moms in Kuwait, Jamie’s work with the local community cannot go by unnoticed. The Kuwait Mom’s Guide provides articles, information, news and a directory of services for moms in Kuwait. From parenting tips to humorous quotes, lists of preschools, pediatricians and places to take kids on the weekends, Jamie’s work with the guide tackles an under looked market segment, helping mothers in Kuwait provide the best care for their children.
For more on Jamie check out EVERYTHING MOMS IN KUWAIT NEED TO KNOW
Noor Al-Qatami
Owner, Saveco
For Noor Al-Qatami, life is about living your dream and giving back to the community. When she returned home to Kuwait from university she wanted to have the same grocery shopping experience she had grown to love in the United States. Today Saveco has not only given us a great place to shop, it has also become an educational center for food. Through her Food Academy, and dedication to introducing healthy options not normally found, Qatami has started to change how this small country looks at food.
For more on Noor Al-Qatami check out FOOD MADE FUN on bazaar.townnew.
– Picture from https://twitter.com/NoorAlQatami
The Foodies
Chef Adlah Alsharhan (Adoola)
Kuwaiti Chef, Founder of Drop Off
She’s Kuwait’s pioneer in all things gastro-chic. Chef Adlah ‘Adoola’ Alsharhan’s innovation and energy are awe inspiring, and just when we thought we said all there is to be said about this bonafide foodie, she delivers us yet another food concept that’s all her. She proves to our readers that her work is constantly in evolution, and that her work in shaping Kuwait’s culinary landscape is always in motion.
For more on Chef Adoola check out CHEF ADOOLA’S DROP OFF on bazaar.townnew.
Noaf Hussein and Budour Al-Qassar
Co-founders of Qout Market @QoutMarket
They gave us Kuwait’s first and foremost farmer’s market. The market is co-organized by Noaf Hussein of Pretty Little Things and Budour Al-Qassar of The Oven Experiments. Two avid foodies at heart, they’ve worked long and hard to deliver a format well deserving of an authentic farmer’s market experience. This initiative, ultimately, helps to support local food producers and encourage people to eat local, seasonal fresh food.
For more information about Noaf and Budour check out IT’S ALL ABOUT THE QOUT on bazaar.townnew.
Michelle Lambros and Caroline Rosinski
Founders of The Taste of Q8
With a vision to bring one of the most exciting events of the year to the country, and the dedication to make it happen Michelle and Caroline have certainly made a name for themselves. The Taste of Q8, held in the first weekend of March has put Kuwait on the map as a culinary destination, and has given homegrown restaurants a new way to promote their great concepts.
For more on Michelle and Caroline check out FESTIVAL OF FOOD, COMMUNITY on bazaar.townnew.
The Musician
Tamara Quaddoumi
Artist and songwriter
Spending time between Beirut, Kuwait and London, Tamara’s passion for music and the performing arts scene has helped in changing Kuwait’s perception of the field. Her courage to go against the norm and follow a career path that is centered around the arts inspires many to follow suit.
For more on Tamara check out TO INTERVIEW A MOCKINGBIRD on bazaar.townnew
The Adventurers
Abrar Almusallam
Professional Showjumper
With an equine passion that knows no limits, Abrar is changing the face and image of Kuwait through her noble showjumping skills in competing in several international competitions every year. She’s living proof that Kuwait does enjoy a promising equestrian culture, where Abrar looks to her colleagues in the field with much admiration and respect.
For more on Abrar check out EQUINE PASSION: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Nora Al-Ruwaished
Co-founder of OXadventure
As Co-founder of this Kuwaiti based non-profit company that was started by the youth for the youth. Nora constantly inspires others when she takes takes participants out of their comfort zones to travel and explore atypical countries while giving back to the impoverished communities through education, sustainable development and income-generating activities.
For more on Nora check out OXADVENTURE and HEART MATTERS on bazaar.townnew.
