www.thepeninsulaqatar.com CAMPUSCAM | 4 FASHION | 8 ENTERTAINMENT | 1010 DeBakeyDeB students Fashion moment Point Break: A hhostost event with for plaid extends to thriller packed BesBestt Buddies home decor with action MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 the peninsula newspaper @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar DIGITISING HISTORY P | -3 Qatar Digital Library portal provides access to over 650,000 pages from the British Library’s collections with descriptions in both Arabic and English. MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 | 03 COVERSTORY Digitising thousands of rare historical documents By Fazeena Saleem The Peninsula he Qatar National Library (QNL)’s Qatar Digital Library (QDL) project aims to digitise 1,125,000 pages of rare, historical documents in a Tbid to contribute to current un- derstanding of the Gulf’s regional history and the Arabic and Islamic World. Digitalising the pages will be completed by 2018. QDL was launched in 2014 and through its website www.qdl.qa, users can find a wealth of diverse information relating to the history of Qatar and the region. There are digitised letters in English from the 18th to the 20th century with information about life in the Gulf region, administration and pe- troleum companies, as there are important manuscripts of Arab and Islamic scientists which were hidden in the British Library. “Our aim is to make this information and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, along with Qatar National Library’s team knowledge about the Gulf freely available during the Heritage Collection Open Day in 2015. for everyone — from those with a general interest in the history of the Gulf to the Claudia Lux, Qatar National Library’s Project academic researchers undertaking ground- Director told this newspaper. breaking historical research. The QDL is an Presently, the online portal provides important contribution to the study of the access to over 650,000 pages from the Gulf history, improving understanding of British Library’s collections with descrip- the modern history of the Gulf, the Arabic tions in both Arabic and English. This cultural heritage and the Islamic world,” Dr includes 625,000 pages from the India Of- fice Records and 25,000 pages of medieval Arabic manuscripts digitised and made ac- The Heritage Collection cessible online for the first time. The Heritage Collection of the QNL is comprises some of the a unique contribution to Qatar’s cultural rarest and most valuable landscape. texts and manuscripts The Heritage Collection comprises Qatar National Library’s team hosted engaging activities for children and families some of the rarest and most valuable texts at Qatar Foundation’s tent in Darb El Saai in celebration of Qatar National Day related to Arab-Islamic and manuscripts related to Arab-Islamic last month. civilisation. civilisation. The growing collection currently includes books and periodicals about the be find here as well as Arabic religious and children and teens academic and social Arab world in many European languages. scientific manuscripts, maps and globes, excellence,” she added. First books printed with Arabic letters can as well as instruments and tools related to In 2015, in addition to hosting a range travel, and a selection of early photography. of interactive monthly events for children, QNL recognises that Qatar’s youth need families and the general public in Qatar, to be equipped with the necessary resourc- QNL’s successful participation in the 26th es, knowledge, and skills to preserve the annual Doha International Book Fair where nation’s heritage, while driving their com- it received nearly 1,500 new member regis- munity into the future. trations was a remarkable highlight of the “QNL provides access to digital re- year. sources for young people through its “It shows, that there is a growing reading children and teen collections. There are culture in Qatar. Furthermore, throughout picture books and fiction with beautiful the year, QNL has registered thousands of stories and non-fiction for all kind of in- users wishing to gain access to the library’s terests from pyramids to dinosaur and wealth of learning resources,” said Dr Lux. astronomy. There are music and graphic Residents of Qatar with valid Qatari IDs novels as animated Arabic learning fea- are able to access all databases of QNL free tures,” said Dr Lux. of charge after registration through QNL’s “Additionally, through a range of in- website: www.qnl.qa. There is a wide range teractive children and teen events, QNL of online databases for all kind of inter- aims to create an ambiance conducive ests from medicine to engineering, from to learning, self-development and crea- history to music or with lots of interesting Qatar National Library’s Heritage Collection has some of the most unique tivity. The skills acquired through these fiction that can being accessed through the historical manuscripts, including one of the oldest copies of the Holy Quran. programmes and events are helpful for library’s website. 04 | MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 CAMPUS DeBakey students host event with Best Buddies eBakey High School stu- dents hosted a social event at Darb El Saai with Dtheir Best Buddies group members from Step By Step Cen- tre. The students toured Darb Al Sai festivities and participated in the shooting range games, archery, fire safety seminar, falcon petting, and radio voice recordings. This event was a continuation of the relationships developed throughout the school year. The Step By Step students also received handmade greeting cards from the DeBakey students. DeBakey students are required to complete a minimum of 100 volunteer hours before gradua- tion, and such activities help build character and social responsibility awareness. The activities are de- signed with the theme, “They are just like you and me,” in effort to break away the thought that chil- dren with disabilities want to be dealt with any differently. ACS Doha to hold Open Morning CS Doha invited all to attend an informal Open Morning for prospective families interested in visiting the school and find- Aing out how the IB can enable pupils to gain places at the best universities. The ACS invited all to meet current families and students, as well as the Head of School. The open day will be taking place on January 16, 2016 from 9am till 11am at the school located in Al Gharaffa. To reserve your place today please register via our website: http://bit/1meKTSq or to find out more visit: http://www. acs-schools.com/open-mornings-acs-doha MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 | 05 CAMPUS/COMMUNITY Stafford International holds sports meet he Annual Senior Sports Meet for their respective Houses. of Stafford International School A group of students from Primary was held recently at Al Sadd School and the Western Band added TSports Grounds. glamour to the occasion with a drill dis- The Meet opened with the torch be- play and a Band display respectively. ing symbolically carried by the School Thereafter, the squads of all three Hous- Games Captain Anuji Senalka. She was es marched around the track. Chief joined by House and Games captains Guest SugathThilakaratne, President from representing three houses. Fol- of Sri Lanka Athletics Association and lowing the oath by the athletes, the Principal Rienzie Nanayakkara received meet was declared open by the school’s the Guard-of-Honour. Chairman Kumudu Fonseka. Thilakaratne was flown in from Sir The three houses of the School, Lanka to be Chief Guest and Sheikha Emerald, Garnet and Topaz, competed Zulfa Al Thani, Guest of Honour joined against one another to raise the Cham- the events. Secretary of Al Sadd Sports pions Trophy. Athletes competed in Club, Ahamed Saiid, also attended. individual track events that included At the close of the meet, Topaz relays in several exciting rounds. The House were adjudged Champions Students from the Topaz House receive the Championship Trophy from Chief Guest spectators were treated to thrilling mo- for 2015. Emerald House emerged Sugath Thilakaratne, President of Sri Lanka Athletics Association, and Rienzie ments when athletes performed with first Runner-Up and Garnet second Nanayakkara, Principal of Stafford International School. vigour and determination to earn points Runner-Up. FFD launches Manika Dolls Enchanted he Filipino Fashion Designers of showcasing Filipino creativity in the field of Qatar (FFDQ) recently launched fashion. FFDQ was established November “Manika, Dolls Enchanted” , an ex- 23 and was accredited by the Philippine Thibition of miniature dolls whose Embassy on December 8. clothing were designed by FFDQ. The dolls The association consists of young and are on display at the Plaza Inn Doha until innovative fashion designers including Mon January 15 from 8am to 11pm daily. The Sarmiento, Chairman; Rholand Debuque, exhibition is organised in cooperation with Vice Chairman Internal; Vhong Taasan, Vice Plaza Inn, headed by General Manager Jo- Chairman External; Alain Geli, Secretary chen A Schmid. Internal; Rhon Santos, Secretary External; Len Tan, the Marketing and PR Man- Mhel Borres, Treasurer; Jamilah Ahmed, Au- ager of International Hospitality, has been ditor; and PRO’s Zandro De Vera Adriano Filipino Fashion Designers of Qatar members. instrumental for FFDQ to fulfil its dream of and Federico Jorge. IFF winter gathering he Indonesian Family Forum of Dukhan or Paguyuban Masyar- Takat Indonesia di Dukhan led by Bangun Widadi recently organised the IFF Dukhan Winter Gathering with the theme ‘Together... We Strong and Warm’ at Dukhan Water Sports (DWS) South Beach. Around 500 people at- tended the gathering. Indonesian Ambassador,Deddy Saiful Hadi and Mad- ame Endang Deddy Hadi were Guests of Honour. Indonesian embassy staff also attended the event. 06 | MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 MARKETPLACE Domasco sponsors Ustad Rahat concert oha Marketing Services Com- pany (Domasco), a leading multi-brand company, has Dsigned up as the exclusive Diamond sponsor for“Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan” live concert in Doha.