SOUL works to improve Yemen by empowering women

SOUL meets to discuss ways of improving vocational and educational opportunities for women in Yemen.

The hurdles women face in pursuing careers are huge, say Arwa al-Deram, Afrah al-Zouba, and Subhiah Abdullah, the founders of the SOUL organization—an NGO concerned with empowering women to pursue their educational and vocational goals. 

Cultural beliefs and traditions, such as early marriage, combined with a lack of government support make the pursuit of educational and vocational goals especially difficult for women. Because of this, the women have banded together with others to create SOUL.

Al-Deram was employed by the Ministry of Health when she came up with the idea of creating SOUL. “I got to know many international NGO’s,” said al-Deram, “but they were mainly focusing on things like giving clothing to people. We thought it necessary to create an NGO that used a developmental approach, as this approach helps the people to help themselves.” 

“They say, information is power,” said al-Deram, “and it is through Information Technology that SOUL is providing impoverished Yemeni women with the power to contribute to support their family and society.” Al-Deram believes that SOUL gives women a chance to get better jobs, and support themselves, and, as she put it, “it enables Yemeni women work for the betterment of themselves and their family.” 

When al-Deram was a child her family told her that she would only be permitted to study until the sixth grade. At that moment she feared she would become one of the many Yemeni  women who never have a chance to pursue their passions and accomplish their life dreams Although she was young, she spoke honestly to her parents and brothers. "They saw my devotion to learning, and it convinced them to let me continue," she said. On many occasions her family suggested that she stop her educational pursuits, but despite their dissuading suggestions she continued, and gradually she gained their respect by her persistence and willingness to achieve in high school, and beyond. 

Despite the difficulties al-Deram faced, she graduated from high school, which for most Yemeni women indicates that the time had come to get married, have kids, and live a life of domesticity, but this is not what al-Deram had in mind.  

“When I graduated from high school I was surprised that my brother and father agreed to pay for me to attend college," she said. "They agreed that it was good for me to continue my education.” With the support of her family she attended college in Yemen and eventually traveled to America, where she studied at the University of Minnesota. Her story shows how a supportive environment can assist Yemeni women to achieve great success. But this is rarely the situation in Yemen. 

Subhiah Abdullah, principal of the Khadijah Basic School and High School tells the story of a 7th grade student who was due to be married, but wanted to continue with her studies. “The student wanted 30 days off for her honeymoon and she wanted to make up any missed homework, classes, and exams," Abdullah said. But such accommodations could not be made and her request was denied. "As a result of her 30 days off, she missed a great deal of class work, and eventually dropped out," said Abdullah. 

Afrah al-Zouba, a member of SOUL who has a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceuticals and a master’s in public health, said she wanted to work as a professional, but was never given work opportunities. "I wanted to work in public health to help poor people, but they didn't provide the actual work, and research for me to do,” she said. A lack of resources and funding, and a lack of support from the Ministry of Public Health prevented her from helping the poor. "I wanted to develop medicine for sick poor people," said al-Zouba, but when poor people came to her she was unable to help them. "I felt embarrassed because I didn't have medicine to give to them.” al-Zouba believes that it is because of corruption that she wasn’t able to help in the way she’d intended.” It is simply corruption. The money doesn't go where it should," she said. 

"I knew one lady who used to work, but her family would force her to give her money to them," said al-Zouba. According to al-Zouba, the woman was from a broken family, and "when you have broken families, financial corruption is a problem.” 

SOUL functions on the idea that it is not just women, but the whole of Yemeni society that stands to benefit from enabling Yemeni women to realize their ambitions. This is a view supported by others in the community.

"I think it is good for Yemeni girls to work because sometimes the men at home can't work,” said Mohsen Abdullah Ali Hadi, 22, an English teacher. He believes that Yemeni women are sometimes encouraged to work because of poverty, and if women work they can increase the household income. Although Ali-Hadi supports the right of women to work, he also represents a culture that is resistant to women and under-values the role they may play in society. “The role of a secretary or receptionist is best for women,” said al-Hadi. “Some jobs require women to be brave, and they are not suitable for these positions. It is in the way of the Prophet Muhammad that men are the leaders of the community,” said Ali-Hadi.

Al-Deram, who also has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota, accepts that careers in business or politics, for example, can be challenging, but sees no reason why women cannot excel in these fields if given the chance “You have to manage your priorities,” she said. “If a woman has a good sense of priority and if her husband supports her she can do anything.” She strongly believes that women can be assertive when dealing with difficult decisions, and one’s gender does not interfere with a person becoming a professional.

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