Women’s shelter is a light in the darkness Challenged women find dignity at centre [Archives:2002/43/Reportage]

BY FAHMIA AL-FOTAIH
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
If societies overlook their healthy and productive women in general, and underestimate their abilities, how are women treated if they are handicapped and disabled? Without doubt they are considered a heavy burden.
These women who are fated to live handicapped lives are suffering much, and their families and society find it’s not easy to bear their disabilities.
Still, many say they want a chance and some encouragement to prove for all people they can do things even better than some of those who enjoy health and ability. That’s what I have tangibly witnessed through my visit to Handicapped Women Challenge Association.
Not convinced
Members are not convinced that their disabilities hinder them from participating in community activities. The Handicapped Women Challenge Association stands beside women, where society and families can’t.
The association has many objectives. It tries to rehabilitate handicapped women and incorporate them in the community, as well as provide them with job opportunities to become productive for themselves and society at large.
The deputy of the general manager of the association, Mrs. Enteesar al-Gawfi, has talked about the various activities and services that the association.
“Yemeni Handicapped Women Welfare Challenge Association is distinguished from other organizations in the fact that it has its own internal regulations and objectives that differs from other similar organizations. It is to help women have a chance to practice and enjoy their legal and constitutional rights in every walk of life, practicing their duties and activities in all social, service and cultural fields” she began.
Forgotten issue
“The handicapped women issue is relatively ignored and forgotten so our association exerts efforts to make it publicly by either conducting awareness lectures and preparing bulletins targeting handicapped women rights, or sometimes making awareness campaigns about the difficulties and problems that handicapped face, as well as holding special symposiums targeting handicapped parents and guardians,” she said.
Illiteracy among handicapped women represents about 85% so the association tries to reduce it through qualified and specialized teachers, as well as cooperating with governmental girls schools to incorporate the young handicapped, who have already been rehabilitated, in those schools. According to the illiterate grownups the association tries to educate them within the association, and after that gives them training courses in the sewing, vocational, printing and computer fields.
The handicapped has more obstacles than the association can deal with, said Enteesar. She said handicapped women can’t find jobs despite the Ministers Council’s issue that gives them 5% of the governmental jobs.
Moreover, medical reports that would help understand disabilities are at times hampered and blocked in the Health Ministry and in the Supreme Medical Committee, she said.
Aids total about YR 1000 for each handicapped person, from Social Insurance. It is not enough and does not meet their needs, especially those who are completely disabled or have a double handicap.
Another problem is the parents who have handicapped woman, strongly refuse let their handicapped girls from getting out of the house.
The Yemen Times has tried to shed light on such concerns of some handicapped women’ concerns. Following are comments of some challenge association members who talked about their dreams and hopes, about their experience in their families and society, about the past, the present, and the unknown future.
Saba al-Tairi said, “I am so happy here in the association. It is better than sitting at home. Here I have been learning many things as sewing, printing and computer. The society looks at the handicapped sometimes with sympathy and mercy or they rarely look at him or her as normal,” she said “I wish to get a propitiate job, so I can depend on myself,” she added.
Beautiful girl
Hadhia Ali al-Masswari is a beautiful girl with a lovely voice and she likes singing. She could not believe that one day she may be a singer.
“Frankly, I find myself here for the first time and find people who love me with the same disability I have” she said. “I used to be student at school but, I have been bothered a lot then I have dropped out as no one could accept me as a handicapped.
“Before coming to the association I was so sensitive and relatively introverted, but now I feel that I am so comfortable and confident and I can overcome my problems. Besides my friends and I have been taught many useful things. My wish is to have a job to secure my unknown future.”
Horia al-Matari said, ” I am glad that I am here instead of sitting at home where I feel that I am aloof and useless,” she said.
“In school I have suffered a lot. It was hard to me to walk in the yard of the school and get upstairs to my class. Then I stopped and I came here where I have received support and kindly care. I like drawing and designing, so I learn sewing in which I can apply my drawings and I can see my production.”Zamzam al-Hadhrami refused to speak in the beginning but after insisting, she talked in a deep sound in which I could feel a deep pain. “The normal people look at us with sympathy. They do not let us feel that we are humans who have rights and dignity.
“I like the scientific subjects and I wish to complete my studies, but I left the school which complicated me. The headmistress used to bother me and made it difficult to me to continue as if
I disgraced the school,” she said.
A miracle
Samia Mohammed Ali is a miracle who can paint splendid pictures. I have thought her pictures belong to a famous artist, as they’re hanging on all the walls of the building.
“To be honest, I was nothing at home, but now I feel that I am something and I am so happy that the association has adopted us and tried to make us efficient members in society.
“I thank the association representing in Mrs. Gamala and Mrs.Entessar, and all the staff who make us feel that we are family. I also thank our government represented in our leader and president Ali Abdullah Saleh, as well as the charitable associations for all the help and the support they give to the us.”
“I hope to be educated and to be a creative one for being an efficient member in the society. My sole wish if for all people not to forget us and try to closely know our problems and needs,” she added
Real home
Samah al-Tairy said, “This association is my real home and these girls are my lovely sisters. My family has never paid attention to me. On contrary they let feel that I am not acceptable and I am a big burden on them that they want to get rid of.”Huda al-Garadi is a girl that came from a village where a landmine had taken her legs. “I came from the village where there is no attention in handicapped ones and they consider them as any thing on the way”” I came to the association where, besides learning sewing and other activities, I’ve been helped to learn to depend on myself.”Such are some of the women who live here. Anyone who sits with them and sees their routine life and what they produce, will notice in many ways they are much better than people gifted with health.



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