A social worker mum who conquers mountains
Published: 05:03 PM,Mar 07,2023 | EDITED : 09:03 PM,Mar 07,2023
Photos by Abhilash Pillai
@theimagegrapher
On March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD). This year’s theme is “Embrace Equity” (#EmbraceEquity). Almost everyone understands the meaning of embracing equality, but what is the meaning of embracing equity?
Equity means understanding that everyone comes from a different background or circumstance and therefore would need different levels of support to level the playing field. It promulgates the idea that sharing resources, support, and opportunities would help alleviate each of our situations in life.
IWD and its topic for the year are unknown to Aisha bint Ahmed bin Hilal al Toubiyah. But, she has been involved in social service, sports, and other volunteer work for close to 30 years because she felt that she wanted to devote her life to Allah in particular. Aisha, who was married at an early age and had four children, was unable to finish her education. In a few years, she separated from her husband, and her late father advised her “life going to be tough and she needs to prepare herself for the struggle to come”. She stayed quiet but inside she was determined to face all the obstacles to come on her way.
The one thing she was certain of was that she would give her children and younger siblings the education that she had not received as a child. She stepped up and assumed all of the family’s obligations after her father passed away. She began offering teachers who were going to universities or schools transportation services.
“Somehow being close to the teachers and the education system kept my hope alive for life,” Aisha shared.
She was able to take care of her family’s needs in terms of money, but her heart was searching for more. Rather than focusing on her own needs, she wanted to help those in need. While operating a modest transportation company, she observed that many kids needed more financial assistance to travel to their educational institutions. She sought additional income since she wanted to offer support to those in need. She then started preparing meals for the teachers and bringing them breakfast and lunch. This marked a turning point, and her company began to advance right away. She started offering free transportation to kids who wanted to learn but couldn’t afford the extra costs associated with travelling to educational institutions since she didn’t forget the motive for growing her business. She was so determined to help and bring equity that she never kept a helping hand for her cooking business to avoid any extra cost.
“Looking at those students and their needs, I didn’t feel like I was neglecting myself or my family despite my schedule and responsibilities being hectic,” she said.
She kept herself busy all day long, yet she never lost sight of her siblings and kids. All of the people she supported are well-established and highly educated; some of them are even seeking higher education abroad. She was determined that everyone must complete their school and pursue higher degrees. She believed that education was the most essential aspect of life. She had such a strong desire to learn new things that she found time to read any book, at any time, despite her demanding schedule.
The more she read, the more she learned and the more she believed that she could do more. She joined several charitable groups because she believed she could accomplish more as her expertise increased. She gradually started regularly volunteering for non-profits including the International Istiqaama Muslim Community, the Ehsan Charity, and many more. She committed herself to enhance the lives of people from less fortunate or middle-class origins through various philanthropic organisations.
She visited places including Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Yemen, the Syrian border, Zanzibar, and Cambodia. She has worked with new moms and taught them nursing skills, encouraged the women to learn Islam including about their rights, and gave social care to the destitute and orphans. She has also tried to spread happiness among the orphan children.
Last but not least, she committed herself to helping those in need by raising awareness, encouraging positivity, and maintaining an emphasis on education and information.
Her health was almost completely neglected as a result of her involvement in so many charitable endeavours and companies. At one time, this left her bedridden; “it was so bad that I couldn’t sit on the ground to give my prayers,” Aisha sadly recalled. However, she gradually regained her confidence and began to walk around her home compound and then five kilometres around the neighbourhood. She knew she could only recover with the right medications and by including exercise in her life.
Her determination is so strong that she started climbing mountains in Oman with some expert teams. She started hiking regularly at the age of 50 and was able to hike the Jabal Shams Summit, the highest mountain in Oman, three times in the five years that followed the encouragement and support of her children and family.
She is currently promoting physical activity, participating in outdoor sports, and the value of sports in everyday life. Her business is succeeding because of her tremendous efforts, yet she is still able to give away free meals and transportation to students who might use a little help and equality in their lives.
We would like to wish everyone a happy international women’s day on this day as well as express our admiration and support for the woman whose modest lifestyle and determination to “not give up” have helped so many people both inside and outside of the nation. Anybody interested in learning more can contact her on Instagram: @oum ahmeed12.
@theimagegrapher
On March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD). This year’s theme is “Embrace Equity” (#EmbraceEquity). Almost everyone understands the meaning of embracing equality, but what is the meaning of embracing equity?
Equity means understanding that everyone comes from a different background or circumstance and therefore would need different levels of support to level the playing field. It promulgates the idea that sharing resources, support, and opportunities would help alleviate each of our situations in life.
IWD and its topic for the year are unknown to Aisha bint Ahmed bin Hilal al Toubiyah. But, she has been involved in social service, sports, and other volunteer work for close to 30 years because she felt that she wanted to devote her life to Allah in particular. Aisha, who was married at an early age and had four children, was unable to finish her education. In a few years, she separated from her husband, and her late father advised her “life going to be tough and she needs to prepare herself for the struggle to come”. She stayed quiet but inside she was determined to face all the obstacles to come on her way.
The one thing she was certain of was that she would give her children and younger siblings the education that she had not received as a child. She stepped up and assumed all of the family’s obligations after her father passed away. She began offering teachers who were going to universities or schools transportation services.
“Somehow being close to the teachers and the education system kept my hope alive for life,” Aisha shared.
She was able to take care of her family’s needs in terms of money, but her heart was searching for more. Rather than focusing on her own needs, she wanted to help those in need. While operating a modest transportation company, she observed that many kids needed more financial assistance to travel to their educational institutions. She sought additional income since she wanted to offer support to those in need. She then started preparing meals for the teachers and bringing them breakfast and lunch. This marked a turning point, and her company began to advance right away. She started offering free transportation to kids who wanted to learn but couldn’t afford the extra costs associated with travelling to educational institutions since she didn’t forget the motive for growing her business. She was so determined to help and bring equity that she never kept a helping hand for her cooking business to avoid any extra cost.
“Looking at those students and their needs, I didn’t feel like I was neglecting myself or my family despite my schedule and responsibilities being hectic,” she said.
She kept herself busy all day long, yet she never lost sight of her siblings and kids. All of the people she supported are well-established and highly educated; some of them are even seeking higher education abroad. She was determined that everyone must complete their school and pursue higher degrees. She believed that education was the most essential aspect of life. She had such a strong desire to learn new things that she found time to read any book, at any time, despite her demanding schedule.
The more she read, the more she learned and the more she believed that she could do more. She joined several charitable groups because she believed she could accomplish more as her expertise increased. She gradually started regularly volunteering for non-profits including the International Istiqaama Muslim Community, the Ehsan Charity, and many more. She committed herself to enhance the lives of people from less fortunate or middle-class origins through various philanthropic organisations.
She visited places including Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Yemen, the Syrian border, Zanzibar, and Cambodia. She has worked with new moms and taught them nursing skills, encouraged the women to learn Islam including about their rights, and gave social care to the destitute and orphans. She has also tried to spread happiness among the orphan children.
Last but not least, she committed herself to helping those in need by raising awareness, encouraging positivity, and maintaining an emphasis on education and information.
Her health was almost completely neglected as a result of her involvement in so many charitable endeavours and companies. At one time, this left her bedridden; “it was so bad that I couldn’t sit on the ground to give my prayers,” Aisha sadly recalled. However, she gradually regained her confidence and began to walk around her home compound and then five kilometres around the neighbourhood. She knew she could only recover with the right medications and by including exercise in her life.
Her determination is so strong that she started climbing mountains in Oman with some expert teams. She started hiking regularly at the age of 50 and was able to hike the Jabal Shams Summit, the highest mountain in Oman, three times in the five years that followed the encouragement and support of her children and family.
She is currently promoting physical activity, participating in outdoor sports, and the value of sports in everyday life. Her business is succeeding because of her tremendous efforts, yet she is still able to give away free meals and transportation to students who might use a little help and equality in their lives.
We would like to wish everyone a happy international women’s day on this day as well as express our admiration and support for the woman whose modest lifestyle and determination to “not give up” have helped so many people both inside and outside of the nation. Anybody interested in learning more can contact her on Instagram: @oum ahmeed12.