Female students in the English Language Centre have proved that Qatari women are really an integral part of the entire Qatari society. They feel responsible for their country at all times, especially at the time of the blockade. They are not only students who passively sit at their desks in the classrooms, but they are also successful in their homes as mothers and housewives and they are very active employees at different Qatari institutions. As an instructor teaching Level 2 students in the foundation program, I have observed real life examples of creative, energetic, brilliant, and insightful students of different ages who are working hard to improve themselves, their families, and their homeland, Qatar. Unexpectedly, I got to know students who spend their daytime between college, work, and home. I was also surprised to know that many of our students have launched their own projects or even businesses which they themselves totally manage so that they can work in unity with other citizens who shared them the same blood, ambitions and future prospects in promoting national products at such a time of blockade. Some of their businesses started small and developed into very successful and profitable undertakings.
One of the requirements of the course I have taught recently is that students should prepare PowerPoint presentations about different topics that I assigned for them. There were approximately 10 topics for students to choose from. One of them was to write about a family business if a student has one. To my amazement, a great number of students selected this topic and wrote about their own businesses. It was the first time I saw students very enthusiastic and passionate to present a topic. They even included pictures and videos about the products of their businesses. They speak English fluently as if they wanted to tell me thatwhen topics were related to their own interests, they would excel and they would talk and talk to tell the world that “WE ARE THE QATARI WOMEN THAT NO BLOCKADE WHATSOEVER WILL HINDER US TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY”. Sara AlYafei has started a small business from home. It is “RP Sweets’. Noura Al-Aswaad has a business where she also makes sweets and sells them via Instagram. Rouza has a big tailoring workshop and an exquisite boutique where she has employed many workers to design and make fashionable Abayas and wedding dresses. Nour Al-Thani has opened a business called “Coffee and You” for making different kinds of coffee, cookies, cakes, and pies. Many other students are painters, and fashion designers. Some produce hand-made face and body cosmetics using natural materials. Some others have the talent of designing accessories made of precious stones. A lot of students have completed culinary projects.
After the class, I spent time listening to their successful stories. To tell the truth, I couldn’t hide my tears when I saw the determination, sense of purpose, commitment, and persistence, these young ladies’ have shown towards their work. Our students can really be successful business entrepreneurs.
Many students invited me to see their businesses. It happened that there was a fair in the Educational City-Qatar Foundation on Saturday, Feb 17 where some of my students had booths to display the products of their businesses. I went there to support them. Surprisingly, I saw a great number of booths organized by young Qatari women from different educational institutions and the private sector, which is a sign that women in the State of Qatar feel responsible to their families and country. They were so passionate about what they were doing because they tended to create businesses around things they enjoyed. What really surprised me in the fair was that they used English to communicate with visitors. They were so proud of their work and showed great courage to start such businesses.
I know that there are several examples of prosperous Qatari women in all fields of life. I know they have important positions in various industries. I also know that they proved themselves as successful engineers, doctors, lawyers, economists, educationalists, bankers, diplomats; culinary professionals, fashion designers, and business women. But, I never expected young ladies who are still studying at colleges or universities to launch their own businesses, no matter how big or small these businesses are. A student showed me a picture of Her Highness Shaikha Moza drinking the coffee her small business produces. In fact, HH Sheikha Moza Al-Thani, the First Lady in the State of Qatar, gave high priority to all aspects that promote the role of Qatari women. The site www.Ashghal.gov.qa reported two news stories to prove that the government of Qatar has supported women’s business and economic projects. As quoted from Asghal.gov.qa, “HH Sheikha Hanadi Bint Nasser Al Thani managed an investment company for ladies in 1998 that was a joint venture between a group of Qatari ladies and Qatar International Back.” Through this companywomen in the financial services industry became more prominent. The site also reported that,“in 2000, the Qatari Business Women Forum was established. Within the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, it is a body that aims to create a favorable environment for women to contribute effectively in the development of projects and enhance their role in economic decision-making for the betterment of the Qatari economy and its society.”
“The State of Qatar stresses the importance of providing all resources to assist in the empowerment of women in all fields as part of the Sustainable Development Goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on achieving gender equality, empowering women, and promoting inclusive economic growth,” Ibtihaj al-Ahmadani said. (source: (http://www.gulf-times.com/story/582044/Achievements-of-Qatari-women-stressed).
I now realize that our young ladies are inspired by their remarkable model of ambitious insights, commitment, and allegiance that Her Highness Shaikha Moza has been practicing. May God bless them and their work because their determination and their government support will inevitably lead them to the bright future they deserve.
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