Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Remaining compassionate in the time of pandemic and doing something about it

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Alifa bint Dawood Khan is like a breath of fresh air, articulate, animated, and effervescent, yet socially responsible, modest, compassionate, as demonstrated in her recently created ‘Families in Oman’, Facebook group where charitably motivated individuals can sponsor disadvantaged people by subsidising their Covid-19 vaccinations.


In fact, she empathises with, and is philosophically drawn to the late humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi (1928-2016), dubbed ‘the world’s richest poor man’, who has nothing! Yet, from meagre beginnings his ‘Edhi Charitable Foundation, sponsors 1800 ambulances to work among the poor, is the registered father of 20,000 orphans, and has changed the global concept of care for the homeless, saying, “His selflessness and philanthropy are to be admired in a world where possessions supersede empathy and humanity. If more people followed his example, the world would be a much better place.” Edhi is the only commoner, ever, to be accorded a state funeral.


Muscat born, the youngest of four siblings, Alifa’s late father, Dawood Khan bin Fateh Mohammed Khan, was a businessman, of whom she said “I am continuously inspired by him. He was rough-hewn, and in every way the strongest man I have ever known, never backing down, always standing on the side of right. He had no fear of anything but the Almighty... and he instilled life lessons and values in us that have made us strong and independent.” She also looks up to her sister Atousa, a busy Mum of two children, who also manages her father’s business affairs. The pair share a unique relationship through having donated the kidney for a transplant that allows Alifa the quality of life that she treasures as “Writing, travelling, swimming, and snorkelling in the sea, spending quality time with mum Nafisa, ‘Jeep adventures’ with my hubby, Amin, and I have a little Shih Tzu, Lily, you couldn’t help but love.”


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Meeting Alifa through social media marketplace and was interested to learn about her experience of managing an active social group.


“I didn’t set ‘Families in Oman’ up’’, she explained, “it was being managed by my sister and a friend until 4 years ago, when they got busy with other commitments and handed the group over to me. Building the group, making it a comfortable, respectful, and friendly environment takes effort.” Explaining that everyone who wants to join the group goes through a modest vetting process before they can contribute, and the group is monitored to ensure members comply with the rules.


Alifa went on to say, “Of course it is a misconception that managing a Facebook group is easy, occasionally concerns or issues must be addressed, and that can be challenging, but I generally manage with politeness and delicacy, to not offend, and be fair.


“My goal is to maintain a family-friendly platform for our diverse community, and I believe the quality of a group depends upon its members’’, is Alifa’s response to the best part of FiO.


“Over time, you get to know a little bit about each other. It becomes less of a virtual, almost faceless group, and more like a community. ‘Families in Oman’ is just a big family and growing with each day with people of diverse cultural, professional, and personal backgrounds, with common morality and values, friendly, helpful and caring. Simply put, being human! In a way, it’s a weird connection, strangers who rarely meet, yet still share a feeling of unity.”


“Many current members joined the page when they first moved to Oman, needing essential information such as residential, school and motor vehicle advice. I get lots of good feedback and gratitude from ‘newbies’ for the quality of advice they get from others in the group. Recently however, the group has been significantly focused on providing information about the pandemic’’, she said.


“As my husband is a doctor, his advice in providing the group with vital information on PCR testing, quarantine rules, vaccines, and much more appear to alleviate many of the otherwise mixed messages across the spectrum. He also presents live online sessions for the group where he shares his pandemic experiences and discusses the group’s concerns.”


Educated in the capital, the former taxation consultant was to work in the broadcast media, however like many others, Covid-19 has put that in abeyance for now. “That was disappointing, but I am philosophical about it, and trust that opportunity may come again.”


“So, has ‘Families in Oman’ been a ‘fulfilling’ adventure?” I asked.


“Yes, it has. I’ve been fortunate in voluntarily managing the page, to make good friends, earn a lot of love and respect, and been on the receiving end of prayers and blessings from many members, and despite its challenges, I have no regrets at all. In fact, I want to make myself even more useful, and help others in worthwhile ways, making my presence felt.”


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