Sheroes

Stories of women who carried a community, group or idea forward, our saviours and keepers.

No Circumstance Can Stop A Mother

Zenab, 27 Chad

Women are often the most overlooked members of society. Their rights are denied, their education is not prioritized, and still they rise. And it is their sacrifices and hard work that propel many families and communities forward. Zenab is one such woman.

Zenab was born in Nigeria, and so was her husband. But like many Nigerians, she had to flee her home to escape the threats of extremist groups. Over the past seven years, 2.3 million people have been displaced by the threat of violence in Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands have fled to neighboring Cameroon, Niger, or Chad to find safety. This is where Zenab also ended up seeking refuge. Sadly, she lost many loved ones in the process.

“I was born and raised in Nigeria, as was my late husband who was a fisherman. My husband and my father were killed by an attack from extremist groups. At the time I was pregnant with my last child. Before that we lived peacefully in my family home, and since then I do not know where my mother and siblings are.”

Despite the loss of so many family members, Zenab continues to put her young family of five children first. As the head of her household, she struggles to provide for them and tries to find work wherever she can. Despite her harrowing circumstances, Zenab remains thankful for the blessings she continues to count.

“I clean homes and wash clothes to earn some income and sometimes some generous people will give me their remaining food so I can take it home for my children. It is by the grace of Allah that my five children and I are surviving.”

mother to support her large family on an unstable income. She sees the gap between what her children need and what she can provide.

“Due to my limited income I do not even think about eating meat. It is costly and I cannot afford it. My children look weak and their health is not like that of other children around us, I know this is because they don’t get any meat to eat.”

She finds joy in the Eid celebrations that Muslims take part in every year, and is especially touched to receive the gifts of meat from Qurbani and Udhiya.

“Eid al-Adha, we used to call it Eid al-Kabir (the big Eid), is one of the happiest days for all of my brothers and sisters in Islam. It’s a time when even the neediest of people like us can find something to celebrate. The meat we receive will help me and my children for two weeks. I am going to cut it into pieces and cook some of it right away. The rest I will dry, so we can save it and have it on other days. I would like to thank Allah, and thank those who are helping us on this blessed day.”