Happy New Year!
This month I had a procedure and had 16 injections to alleviate the pain in my left shoulder.
I attended the January 2022 virtual IKEA LIVE Lagom session, Waste Not Want Not and wrote a my blog for World Cancer Day 2022.
Another painful month and a stressful month with my left shoulder.
I went to see an orthopaedic consultant who recommended I have injections to alleviate the pain in my left shoulder.
I attended the virtual World Pulse Community Mentor Graduation 2021 and after 4 years wrote my personal experiences about Invisible Disabilities and Chronic Pain.
My name is Sabeena, I love fair trade chocolate, travelling and writing blogs and producing films and about the fair trade producers and artisans I visit when I'm well.
I've lived with invisible disabilities for 30 years and chronic pain for last 4.
I've tried to keep the video short because my left shoulder is very painful.
Its been frustrating explaining my invisible medical disabilities and chronic pain to individuals who couldn't care less.
I'd like to change the narrative!
Another painful month and a stressful MRI scan and multiple appointments to see my orthopaedic consultant. My left shoulder has been excruciatingly painful.
I was happy to receive my copy of Bruce Crowther's book 'Not In My Lifetime.'
I attended day one of the annual International Fair Trade Towns Conference 2021.
This month I continued to heal from all my surgeries. Another painful month with my shoulders causing me stress and pain.
I published my blog and videos about the World Literacy Foundation Ambassador Program in English and Urdu. This blog took 5 months to write and translate due to my painful shoulders.
I attended the Ethical Consumer Week online conference 2021 and wrote a summary of some of the sessions I attended.
I was chosen to attend the IKEA Lagom Live 9 month sustainability program.
I received my certificate for attending the Muslim Mental Health and Wellbeing Alliance Conference, Muslim Mental Health in an Unequal World.
This is my humble effort to reduce my plastic consumption and waste for Zero Waste Week 2021.
My health has been challenging with a painful left shoulder and social anxiety.
Typing, mobility and anxiety has prevented me from going out.
I hope to support the Zero Waste movement with zest and vigour next year.
This month I continued to heal from all my surgeries. Another painful month with my shoulders causing me stress and pain.
I celebrated International Literacy Day 2021 online with the World Literacy Foundation.
I attended the World Pulse Community Mentor Midpoint Check In Zoom webinar with other mentors and mentees.
My Plastic Free July 2021 Summary.
This year was a painful and difficult Plastic Free July, my shoulders caused me severe pain and typing and posting was very difficult.
I've tried my very best to continue to live a plastic free lifestyle and am making gradual changes.
This month I continued to heal from all my surgeries,
I raised awareness for World Day Against Child Labour and attended a few webinars.
The first webinar at the beginning of the month was 'Wave of Hope Crafting Session' with the Fairtrade Foundation UK and the Arts University Bournemouth teams and the second 'Preparing your Board Ready CV' with Lara Oyedele.
Many thanks to Sabeena Akhtar for my signed copy of 'Cut from the Same Cloth.'
As a fairtrade campaigner I believe it is my duty to support fairtrade organisations using fairtrade ingredients in their products and for this reason I have searched long and hard for products that suit my acne reactive skin.
I am relieved to have found a mask that works for my skin.
I apply the Odylique 3 in 1 Maca Mask to my skin every 4-5 days which is particularly helpful before you feel a cystic bump appear before your menstrual cycle.
This month I continued to heal from all my surgeries, celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 21 completed my 9th Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind the Label, and
participated in International Women's Day 2021 with The World Fair Trade Organization.
Acne does not define you!
For those struggling with acne please be kind to yourself, find your tribe and those who love you and help you to achieve your dreams and ambitions.
This blog is an honest review of the Facetheory Acne Range tried and tested November 2020 to present.
This month I continued to heal from surgery and ordered acne products from a vegan, paraben and cruelty free company called Face Theory based in Sheffield UK.
Hello, I'm Sabeena, a fairtrade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur.
I've also had cystic and hormonal acne, reactive and sensitive for over 30 years.
For all those who suffer with or have cystic and hormonal acne, I empathise and understand the physical, mental and emotional stress and pain you experience on a daily basis.
Its affected my confidence and how I felt for most of my life.
In this blog I write about my acne journey and hope it will help those struggling with cystic and hormonal acne.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Participated in Zero Waste Week 2020.
Continued learning about literacy on the prestigious World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 Program and
visited the Makers Market West Didsbury, Manchester.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Participated in my second Plastic Free July 2020.
Was accepted on the prestigious World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 Program and
completed my Future Learn MOOC - The Power of Podcasting For Storytelling.
For the past 30 years I have lived with Endometriosis and PCOS.
This is my personal insight of living with Endometriosis and PCOS.
Most female social entrepreneurs I know are multi talented, ambitious and innovative.
I feel blessed to be a member of an exclusive club of makers and doers. All action, brain storming, endless ethical learning, strategy and conversations.
I love that part of my life!
However, there is a part of my life that most people don't know about.
The days where I can't get out of bed, struggle to get household chores done and don't have the energy to answer emails, WhatsApp messages or call family.
This is my reality most days of the week but you would never know looking at me.
Hello, Assalaam Alaikum, peace and blessings,
My name is Sabeena and this is my message for World Cancer Day 2020!
My beautiful mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer March 2012, she was 59 years old.
Mum courageously received 4 years of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before she returned to her maker April 2016, she was 62 years old.
This January I decided to start my year of self-care, healing and fulfilling ambitions by supporting a fantastic social enterprise Goumbook.
It also reminded me of my mothers love for nature and gardening.
On a beautiful Saturday morning I headed over to the Sustainable City, Dubai to participate in the Give A Ghaf Tree Initiative.