Afrah Borji – Women in Development and Peace
Despite the ongoing conflict and the impact of its repercussions on Yemeni citizens, particularly women, across various aspects and sectors, there are stories of success and excellence achieved by women that inspire great hope. These stories demonstrate that there are women capable of facing all challenges in a country suffering from the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The story of Dr. Thuraya Muhammad, from Al-Hodeidah Governorate, confirms that difficult circumstances are not an obstacle for those who want to achieve their dreams, especially when it comes to education. Her dream since childhood was to become a doctor. Upon graduating from high school and receiving a scholarship to study abroad, she faced many challenges, which she was able to overcome to migrate to Britain.
Thuraya’s journey was not easy. The moment the plane landed in the British capital was difficult for her, as her feelings were mixed between joy at achieving her dream and fear of the unknown. It wasn’t long before she found herself in a completely different world that she wasn’t fully prepared for, a world dominated by the English language in all walks of life, new customs and traditions, and different social habits.
Thuraya also faced a major challenge represented by the cultural difference, the pressures of studying, and the difficult financial conditions, all of which increased the difficulty of adapting to the new life. Despite this, she did not give up and insisted on continuing her path towards achieving her dream.
During her studies at the university, Thuraya was subjected to a wave of bullying by her colleagues, and the most painful was the bullying of some Arab students. Hurtful words followed her everywhere and greatly affected her personality and Yemeni identity.
Fighting for the Dream
Thuraya did not rely only on the scholarship but worked in various jobs to finance her studies in Britain. She worked as a waitress in a restaurant, designed logos remotely, and worked long hours while studying at the same time. She was happy because she was getting closer to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor.
After years of struggle and challenge, Thuraya succeeded and graduated from university, obtained British citizenship, and today she works as a doctor in a British hospital and contributes to providing healthcare to patients.
Thuraya’s story is a story of inspiration for everyone who dreams of achieving the impossible. It is a story about willpower and determination, and a story about overcoming difficulties. It is a story about a young Yemeni girl who challenged her circumstances and became a source of inspiration for many people.
Challenges for Women in the Diaspora
In search of a better life, many mothers leave their homelands and head to diaspora countries. With this geographical transition, new challenges emerge, most notably the mothers’ endeavor to secure a bright future for their children in education, the dream that every mother aspires to.
Afaf Abdullah is one of those mothers who currently lives in Egypt. She is a media professional and short story writer who expresses her suffering, saying: “The biggest challenge I faced was how to ensure that our children entered university, especially since they do not hold Egyptian citizenship, and the costs of private universities there are very high, and we think with great concern about how to provide this huge amount.”
Afaf confirms that the challenge of providing financial costs for university is not limited to her, but is shared by many of her Yemeni friends. Although some of them have succeeded in enrolling their children in university, this achievement came after a long struggle with difficult financial conditions.
She adds: “Some of them had to drop out of school due to lack of money, but they learned a new language, and this is the ultimate goal of immigration for many. Egypt is considered a transit station towards a better life in European countries such as Canada, Britain, and America.”
She said: “I found in Egypt an environment suitable for creativity, as life here is smoother and simpler, and the availability of basic services such as water and electricity greatly contribute to achieving psychological stability, which allowed me to continue writing and producing two short story collections for children.”
She adds: “My brother has been living in Canada with his children for about five years, and they are about to obtain Canadian citizenship. Although they have begun to integrate into the new society, they face great challenges, most notably the children’s loss of the Arabic language, in addition to feeling alienated and isolated due to the lack of parents and relatives. This emotional and psychological void greatly affects them. They are also concerned about returning home due to the difficult conditions and the setback they may face regarding education and security.”
She continues: “Some veiled women in diaspora face a unique struggle, which is maintaining their Islamic identity through the hijab, in the presence of multicultural societies. Although the Hijab is no longer strange in these societies, there is a challenge in building a new, positive image of the veiled woman.”
She pointed out that many veiled women strive to present themselves as educated women, working in various fields such as medicine, education, and engineering. They see the hijab as a symbol of their Islamic identity and strive to preserve it with all their might, which has imposed respect and appreciation in some societies.
She indicated that some veiled women face greater challenges; they resorted to migrating alone with their children after divorce in search of a better life. They spent years in refugee camps before obtaining asylum, and they faced great difficulties in providing a decent life for their children. They also fear returning to their home countries due to the difficult circumstances they experienced previously.
Representation of Women in Host Societies
“The challenges of life in the diaspora are the same for both men and women, but women may face additional challenges such as the loss of family support, especially in certain situations where a woman desperately needs her family members to be near her, such as when she or one of her children is sick, or during special and public occasions like holidays,” said Amal Ali, a media professional residing in Turkey.
She explained that the representation of Yemeni women in the diaspora is weak compared to other Arab communities. This is due to the nature of Yemeni society, which does not encourage women to engage in work, political activism, and social life, especially in the diaspora.
Amal added that the interaction of Yemeni women with host communities is limited, and perhaps their most prominent participation is limited to within the Yemeni community, such as interaction and participation in the community’s events, activities, and work. They also play an important role in raising their children and in promoting and preserving their national hobbies.