Fighting for the rights of Muslim women

AMINA ZUBERI grew up as an orphan and got married while still in school. Her tribulations created in her a passion to care for orphans and empower voiceless women; efforts that earned her a presidential commendation. She spoke to KIUNDU WAWERUThey say that the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches most. This applies to Amina Zuberi who Amina addresses a meeting during a visit to Malaysia. [PHOTOS: COURTESY]knows what it is like to be an orphan.After going through many difficulties, including getting married while still in secondary school — a union that ended in divorce — Amina now feeds about 200 orphans, besides championing for the rights of Muslim women."Growing up without parents drove me to have a passion for orphans and vulnerable children," she says.Through her organisation, Tangana Women Development, which she founded in 2000, Amina solicits for food, clothing and sanitary towels, which she distributes to children’s homes around Mombasa. Amina founded Tangana to fight drug abuse and HIV infections in Mombasa. Tangana also campaigns for girl-child education in the Coast. "As was my case, girls get married early, sometimes without a good education and this jeopardises their future," she says.Amina continues: "After getting married while still at Aga Khan High School Mombasa, I gave birth to my first child before I could take up any professional course. Life as a young married woman was not rosy and in 1979, I got divorced. I then found work as a secretary."Professional women’s clubAs early as 1982, Amina was a volunteer with the Kenya Business and Professional Women’s Club.Coming from a culture not known for empowering women, Amina says that she carries women’s issues close to the heart.Amina worked at the district convener for the Mombasa Caucus for Women in Leadership for a decade, during which time Amina created awareness on leadership to women in her community. Fortunately, the local FM stations helped promote her work, which she also accomplished through workshops and seminars."The Caucus for Women in Leadership platform has encouraged women to seek and get administrative positions such as chiefs and divisional officers in Mombasa," says Amina, who is also a life member of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake and Kenya League of Women Voters.Amina also sits on various boards at the Coast and is the leader for Mombasa Water Accountability Campaign that creates awareness on the right to provision of affordable and clean drinking water in Mombasa. Amina’s work has not been easy. She remarried and says that balancing her many callings has been challenging, but she has somehow managed. Her youngest child is now in Form Three and Amina is a proud grandmother."Being an African woman, I am also faced with other responsibilities like taking care of my extended family," Amina adds. "I thank God for giving me an understanding and supportive husband." Working with the community, says Amina, calls for one to have a "big heart in a small chest". She advises leaders to be patient, to be of high integrity and to always accept positive criticism."There are times when one might think of pulling out, but once you are in there with compassion, it is never easy to get out," Amina says.Negative cultural beliefs have also been her greatest challenge. The community still believes that a woman’s best place is in the kitchen. "I am, however, glad to see that Coastal women are now advancing in education," Amina adds.Her efforts have been recognised in high places and in 2006, Amina was awarded a Head of State Commendation for her work.Appreciating efforts"That is when I realised that somebody somewhere is appreciating my efforts to serve the community. The president’s recognition boosted my morale even further," she says.Serving the community has also seen her attend international summits to represent women. Amina says she has come a long way. After remarrying, she and her husband started a business that, sadly, failed. Realising that the failure could have been a result of her poor education, Amina decided to tough it out as an adult student; "I joined DALC college for a graduate diploma in community development and resource mobilisation. I’m proud to say that I graduated early this year," she says. Amina, 54, is tech savvy and has an online diploma in management from Alison, an Australian university. She is also about to start a degree course in community development. "The sky is the limit," she charges.And now, with next year’s general elections looming closer, her community is urging her to vie for an elective post. "I’m still weighing the options and challenges before I make up my mind," she says, adding philosophically; "A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until you put it into hot water."

Fighting for the rights of Muslim women

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