11 Achievers honoured on Women's Day

Eleven women were honoured at the 11th International Women's Day Excellence Awards held on Thursday. The award ceremony recognised a range of talent in the community, placing women from different cultural backgrounds in the limelight. "The goal is to applaud the woman who does something that benefits the community — the scale doesn't matter. Neither does her position. It isn't a competition. Each woman is an achiever in her own right. We have chosen 11 women from Dubai and Abu Dhabi this year." M.G. Uma, the managing director of Dhwani School of Arts and Cultural Institute, the organising company, told Gulf News. "We have awarded 602 women since the inception of the awards," she added. Awardee Anandi Ramachandran, the Indian director of Asiatic Printing Press, told Gulf News that she is proud of the recognition. "I have helped many through my company and extended help to orphanages and institutions for the blind." Coaching Hala Kazim, Emirati founder of coaching company Journey Through Change, told Gulf News that it is "an amazing feeling. I work with Emirati women, coaching them through experience. For instance, I organise foreign hiking trips to expose them to new cultures and equip them with life skills. I also provide them with an opportunity to leave behind their familiar life." The chief guest at the award ceremony, Emirati Fatima Kazim, was a previous recipient of the award. The retired chairperson of the Dubai International Airport said a gesture of this nature is "in itself rewarding". Fatima, who won the award in 2007, said she fought gender stereotypes. "The Airline Operating Committee never had a female chairperson. I was a team leader. Despite the fact that I come from a traditional, orthodox family, I started working at the airport — unheard of, being a woman and due to the odd hours and the stress." Winners -    Dr Zulekha Daud, founder, Zulekha Hospital -    Anandi Ramachandran, director, Asiatic Printing Press -    Hala Kazim, founder, Journey through Change -    Sumathy Anand, violin artist -    Sunita Menon, videographer, Gulf News -    Dr Shivani Sharma, clinic manager, Dr Batra's Homoeopathy Clinic -    Sree Ganga Ramesh, founder, UAE Tamil Sangam -    Priya Singh, managing director, Chennai Jewellers -    Lalitha Suresh, headmistress, Our Own English High School, Dubai -    Kusum Dutta, executive, Saathi Group -    Khursheed N. Dumasia, primary teacher, DPS Sharjah