Fujairah Welfare Association helps low-income Emirati women in need

Emirati women who are struggling to support their families have been given a helping hand from the Fujairah Welfare Association.

Salema Othman runs a food business from her home. Pawan Singh / The National

FUJAIRAH // Hundreds of low-income Emirati women have been given the chance to set up their own businesses and become self-reliant, thanks to the Fujairah Welfare Association.

Since its launch in 2004, the association has given financial assistance to 326 women and provided vocational training for 881 more.

Maream Abdulhameed, a divorced mother of 10, is one of the women who has benefited.

Two years ago Ms Abdulhameed was struggling to care for her large family by herself, and sought help from the association – who supported her to start a cooking and sewing business.

“After I got divorced, I heard about the association projects and contributions and as I can’t afford to raise my 10 kids alone, I decided to take some cooking classes, which I’m talented at, and start my own business,” the 38-year-old said.

“With a Dh20,000 monthly income through the help of the association, I can prepare all the traditional recipes and people love it.

“I sometimes add my own touch, I promote my food through Facebook and Instagram.

“I also design and prepare children’s pyjamas and party dresses, as well as ladies’ abayas. My two daughters are also being trained to start their own business. One is taking henna lessons while the other is taking female beauty salon and cosmetics lessons,” she said.

She said that without the support of the association, things would have been very different for her.

“I’ve been with the association for two years, they supported me in everything. I took training sessions on how to manage and promote my business, they helped me financially and bought me all the tools and equipment that I needed.”

Salema Othman, 60, also has to support 10 children now that her husband is retired.

She has become a well-known figure in the Fujairah community, especially around Dibba, for her delicious recipes, sweets and wedding hospitality. “ I’ve been in this business for three years, I display my home-made food each weekend, and during Eid and union celebrations in Dibba food fair,” she said.

“I sometimes take food orders from government institutions.

“I can prepare all kinds of traditional food and sweets like khabes, alqemat, balalet and al adasseiah,” Ms Othman said.

“My husband is retired from work and we support 10 children, some of them are studying abroad. I joined the association in 2012. They supported me and my family and promoted my business. I have a team of four women, they assist me in serving weddings. We serve all kinds of tea and Arabic coffee along with traditional sweets and sometimes food, which we call the ‘royal hospitality’.

“The association nominated me to be one of the judges at the Dubai world hospitality championship and I’m proud of that and thankful for their support and help.”

Another woman who has had support from the association is Safiea Abdullah, who has been working as a taxi driver since 2011. Her husband died in 2004 and left her alone with nine children to support.

“When I first knew about the association’s women taxi project in 2011 I applied because I love driving and I don’t mind working as a taxi driver. They gave me a big car that cost Dh74,000. I have to pay Dh1,000 a month to own the car after finishing 90 per cent of its cost.

“I drive ladies almost everywhere – I once dropped off a lady in Oman” Ms Abdullah, 43, said.

Fatima Salem, head of the association’s productive families section, said: “Family development and rehabilitation projects are designed to develop the standards of the families and support them technically and financially.

“In 2004 these projects contained only two families, however, by this year the number of the beneficiary families reached 326 with 881 families being trained.”

The association’s executive secretary, Mohammed Fawzy, said: “We have a research team that works along with our social specialists in choosing and identifying the families in need. Most of them are widowed or divorced women or even with jailed husbands.

“However, some men refuse to work or suffer from a disability so their wives choose to work to support the family.”