Ahmed Bajoaim – Women in Development and Peace
For many Yemeni women, migration wasn’t just a change of location; it was a journey of liberation from the constraints of customs and traditions that had long confined them to limited roles. In their host countries, they found themselves in a more open and tolerant environment, enjoying equal educational and professional opportunities with men. In the scientific, medical, and engineering fields, the names of Yemeni women emerged as role models for many Yemeni women within their homeland.
Yemeni women in the diaspora have become active in many countries around the world, particularly in diplomacy, business, arts, politics, sciences, and other fields where they have managed to make a name for themselves despite the challenges.
However, it’s crucial to develop a forward-looking vision that focuses on maximizing the potential of Yemeni women in the diaspora. This vision should explore how to leverage their skills to promote sustainable development and innovation within Yemen and how this female force can be an engine for developing the local economy. Their diverse experiences can also enrich various aspects of public and private life. Creating a clear vision will open doors to new opportunities for Yemeni women, both at home and abroad, to contribute to improving the stereotypical image of Yemen and women in particular, in various fields locally and internationally.
Successful Female Role Models
A report by Al-Jazeera Net highlighted several Yemeni female role models who have achieved significant accomplishments internationally under the headline: “Despite Conflict and Violence. Yemeni Women Achieve Local, Arab and Global Success.” The report indicated that many Yemeni women have reached global recognition after overcoming struggles and challenges with determination and strength, establishing themselves in their host countries.
Among these role models mentioned in the 2019 report is inventor Dunia Al-Mashhari. She invented herbal remedies for tumors resulting from Achilles tendon ruptures and bone fractures, which help boost the body’s immunity. She also worked on extracting cosmetic products from honey and developed chemical compounds effective in balancing the activity of body cells (balancing blood glucose levels) in 2015. Furthermore, she innovated vitamin A for corneal ulcers in 2015 and a chemical compound that activates dormant liver tissue cells.
Dunia received the ISOC Doctoral Fellowship in Chemical Research in 2017, after obtaining her Master’s degree in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of Peace, Austria 2017. According to the report, Al-Mashhari’s achievements extended beyond these innovations. She garnered numerous awards and recognitions, most notably the UNDP Youth Award in October 2013, the WIPO Award for the Protection of Intellectual Property in 2014 as the best Yemeni inventor, and the Grand Prize of the International Federation of Inventors from Germany at the International Inventors Conference held in South Korea in May 2014. South Korea honored her with two medals, one gold and the other silver, and the Shield of Excellence for the Arab Youth Council Award from the League of Arab States in 2016. She also received a special shield from the Yemeni government, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2016 as the best Yemeni inventor, the gold medal from Bosnia in Medical Chemistry (Liver Chemistry) in 2019, the gold medal from the Korea International Exhibition for Chemical-Medical Inventions in 2019, and the special award from Peru (Liver Chemistry) in 2019, among other awards.
Dunia was not alone in her successes abroad. In 2017, Yemeni journalist Hadeel Al-Yamani received the Courage Award in Journalism from the International Women’s Media Foundation in New York State. Hadeel was the only Arab woman to receive this award that year. She serves as a role model for diligence, demonstrating how to work effectively under pressure and overcome challenges.
The report highlighted Dr. Manahil Thabit’s exceptional success story, emphasizing her role as a global icon in science and economics. She inspires and encourages thinking about the potential of Yemeni women, even in light of the challenges they face. Her story is not just a story of individual success but a saga of achievement and challenge. From a girl with autism, she became a scientist who overcame all difficulties to reach the pinnacle of glory in the world of finance and business.
Dr. Manahil’s life story reminds us that disability is not a barrier to achieving dreams, and that determination is the key to success. She transitioned from a young woman with autism in her childhood to a woman dubbed the “Queen of the Stock Exchange” globally. She is allowed to trade on Wall Street and many other stock exchanges around the world, at a time when only a select few were allowed to do so.
Additionally, the Palestinian “Nisa FM” radio station presented a detailed report entitled “Stories of Yemeni Women Who Emerged from the Rubble of Conflict to Global Podiums” in October 2021. At the beginning of 2020, Yemeni researcher Dr. Iqbal Da’qan achieved the title of the youngest scientist in the world in the field of chemistry. She is an Associate Professor of Vitality and Nutrition Sciences at Agder University in Norway, holds a PhD from Malaysia in 2012, and received the “Cultural Bridge Builder Award” from the Norwegian university where she teaches. She has been described as possessing a cultural competence worthy of celebration.
Dr. Iqbal has become one of the Yemeni women who have distinguished themselves with their significant role in science and excellence in their field, achieving what no woman in any other country has been able to achieve. These successes have strengthened the spirit of optimism and hope among women at home, and the strength to become like them in the future.
Success Reflected in Local Reality
Rami Al-Aubathani, an academic and professor at Al-Rayan University, believes that Yemeni women have received attention and care in the diaspora, becoming effective partners and achieving qualitative successes scientifically, economically, politically, and socially. Their role for Yemen lies in supporting the national economy and comprehensive development plans and contributing to enhancing competitiveness regionally and globally.
He continues, “In my personal opinion, Yemeni women in the diaspora play a significant role in promoting societal awareness, both directly and indirectly, for women in the homeland. They contribute to building the capacities and skills of women and girls across the country in all fields, and guiding more women and girls in political, economic, social, and cultural spheres.”
Al-Aubathani added that in the diaspora, Yemeni women can engage in various economic activities that empower them to manage family resources and income sources. They also gain access to markets, job opportunities, and important economic sites, participate in economic decision-making, and enhance their financial independence through earning. Among the positive aspects achieved by women in the diaspora are: enhancing awareness, culture, and knowledge in the political field, which grants them the right to political participation and engagement in government work at local or international levels.
He concluded his statement by saying, “The diaspora empowers Yemeni women who are capable of facing challenges with the right to social participation outside the family sphere. On a larger scale, it provides them with access to a wide range of educational options, contributing to eradicating illiteracy in many fields. This, in turn, improves their image, roles, and achievements in society. Moreover, Yemeni women in the diaspora enhance the future vision of Yemeni women within the homeland and nurture their aspirations in various fields. They also serve as a center of strength and protection for novice women to engage in appropriate fields.”
In conclusion, the achievements and successes of Yemeni women in the diaspora create a positive future vision for women, both locally and internationally. It opens up new opportunities for their future and enables them to transfer these successes to their homeland and develop them. However, this requires a supportive environment for the success of women’s projects. Among the most prominent needs are: achieving peace and stability, developing national plans and strategies that enhance the status of Yemeni women, and eliminating obstacles, whether social or otherwise, to enable women in the country to succeed as they have in the diaspora, and for their homeland to become a haven for their aspirations and a supporter in achieving them.