virtual communities are the first point of contact for these uae mums
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Virtual communities are the first point of contact for these UAE mums

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Virtual communities are the first point of contact for these UAE mums

Megan Al Marzooqi (in a blue scarf) with Holly Bennie and
ABU DHABI - Arab today

Informal online forums are the first point of contact for mums in the UAE, thousands of whom come together virtually every day to offer each other information and support.

As the world marked Inter-national Mother’s Day on March 21, XPRESS found that these web platforms have helped mums of different backgrounds in the UAE forge formidable communities of their own, making them a force to reckon with.

“Where else would you have a complete stranger offer to cook you some fresh meals because you have just delivered a baby? Or have another mum offer to collect your children from school and take them for a play date as you sleep in sick? Around 95 per cent of our members are expats, and being an expat in the UAE isn’t easy by any means, but virtual communities try to fill the gap,” said Megan Al Marzooqi, who founded Real Mums of Dubai (RMD) along with Holly Bennie.

She said the group is a melting pot which has 6,709 mums and a waiting list of 580. “We created the group with the philosophy “it takes a village” as we believe that motherhood is a sisterhood too.

Struggles of motherhood

 

We wanted to create a virtual supportive village where women can come to ask questions, get advice, vent and even have a laugh at the funny side and struggles of motherhood. We have hundreds of posts daily from simple things like a mum asking where to find a certain formula, to needing advice on schools or nurseries, vents on toddler tantrums and sleeping issues. No question is off limits.”

It is the same principle that binds other groups together too. Besides being UAE residents, mums on such forums are cemented by a common thread - be it a specific neighbourhood or a certain interest or purpose.

Deepika Gupta, who started Dubai Marina Mums - an offshoot of a playgroup in a park - nine years ago, puts it in perspective. “In the olden days, we would go to our neighbour’s place if we wanted a cup of sugar or something else. Today, we turn to our virtual communities for anything we want to ask or share. Dubai Marina Mums gets over 200 posts a day about what, where, when and how things are happening.” Little wonder then that a member of the online platform described it as her very own Google. “It’s the go to place for anything I want – whether it’s information on the nearest doctor or support during a family crisis,” said the mum of two.

Clementina Kongslund who runs Dubaimums.com, which has over 7,500 followers, says online communities have become “essential” in a mother’s life in the UAE.

“I see them at the first level of the pyramid after food, water and shelter, especially in a place like the UAE where people, away from their families, have a lot of questions to ask. One tends to get lost if one goes searching for information on the Internet, but it’s much easier on such forums. ”

Besides virtual interactions, Clenmentina said the platforms also bring mums together in person through events and get-togethers.

As Megan said, “We love putting together events for members. It’s lovely to watch them put faces to names and meet women who have helped them through tough times.”

Deepika said the challenge before online forums is to safeguard their prime purpose and keep the community together without any commercial motives. “As admins of such groups, we have to be careful not to let commercial considerations come into play. But over a period of time, the community knows what to expect.

source : gulfnews

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

virtual communities are the first point of contact for these uae mums virtual communities are the first point of contact for these uae mums

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

virtual communities are the first point of contact for these uae mums virtual communities are the first point of contact for these uae mums

 



GMT 15:36 2017 Monday ,09 January

Major EU-GCC meeting in Riyadh today

GMT 17:19 2016 Thursday ,22 December

KFMC surgeons remove 28 kg tumor from woman’s uterus

GMT 17:33 2017 Wednesday ,16 August

Damac reports decline in property development sales

GMT 09:16 2018 Monday ,01 January

Seoul leaning towards military measures

GMT 01:05 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

No guarantees on French-German initiative on Ukraine

GMT 21:00 2017 Sunday ,17 September

Saif bin Zayed approves adoption of 'Emirati Reader'

GMT 02:10 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Bahrain Stock Index Drops 3.47 Points

GMT 02:05 2017 Thursday ,28 September

July24th-August23rd

GMT 04:17 2017 Saturday ,11 November

Laulala out to prove All Blacks worth against France

GMT 02:42 2017 Friday ,14 July

NATO Tripoli strike kills civilians

GMT 05:47 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

Mohamed bin Zayed attends opening of ADSW 2017

GMT 05:40 2016 Saturday ,26 November

Oil falls 2% on OPEC cut uncertainty

GMT 16:48 2016 Tuesday ,11 October

Greek police escort refugee children to school

GMT 09:42 2017 Saturday ,12 August

Prince Charles Promoted to Highest Military Rank

GMT 13:07 2017 Monday ,25 September

Iran blocks all Iraqi Kurdistan flights
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday