Rania: From Illiterate Widow Mother to Professional Photographer

منذ سنة

Taiz – in a war-torn and impoverished Yemen, Rania’s story is a beacon of resilience and determination

The 45-year-old single mother has overcome adversity to become a successful photographer, never giving up for her dreams and the future of her children

 Rania is a widowed mother of three children, a daughter and two sons

She lost her husband when she was young, and has been raising her children on her own ever since

Rania’s life has been marked by hardship, from her childhood in a poor family without access to education to her early marriage, which failed to live up to her hopes

Rania is not the only one in this situation

According to a report by the United Nations Population Fund in April 2022, the number of households headed by women in Yemen has reached 26% of the total displaced households, estimated at 4

3 million people

This is a significant increase from 9% before the conflict in 2015, due to the loss of male breadwinners in the war

Rania is a devoted mother who is determined to provide for her children and ensure that they have a good life

Her love for her children is the driving force behind her determination to provide for them

  She says, “I can’t just leave them like this

They have no one but me

So, I’ll do whatever it takes

” Yet her unwavering devotion to her children transcends her own personal pain and loss

Ambition Rania started her journey from scratch by working as a domestic worker

She worked long hours for meager wages, and often had to feed her children with the leftovers of the families she worked for

Rania’s children wore hand-me-down clothes

She did not see this as a sign of shame

  “When they grow up, they will be able to provide for themselves

For now, the important thing is that they survive this difficult stage in their lives,” she says

 Rania often takes pictures with simple cameras or mobile phones available to her

She loves capturing the beauty of everyday life, and she hopes to one day turn her passion into a career

“A single image can capture our emotions and experiences that words often fail to describe,” she explains

   Amani, a friend of Rania, says “Rania’s determination to pursue her dream of becoming a photographer at a photography institute, despite the challenges she faces, is truly inspiring

” Amani also believes that mothers like Rania are few, as they face the challenges of life head-on, but still manage to keep their dreams alive

She describes them as “extraordinary

”Despite her initial failures, she finally got into a photography school after two years of on-and-off attempts

But it wasn’t easy

Her daily obligations got in the way

She needed time to study, but she was working nonstop to feed her kids and provide for their daily expenses

Rania explains: “It was exhausting

I tried to balance providing for the family’s expenses and paying for the photography institute

I couldn’t, and I was forced to choose

Family expenses was the only option available

”In order to achieve this balance, Rania worked in more than three houses as a cleaner, which helped her join the institute to learn the basics of photography

Despite her inability to afford specialized tools for learning, Rania used the institute’s cameras and her mobile phone to take pictures, as a feasible solution, and she excelled in creating imaginative images that express her state and feelings

Rania improved her skills and mastered the profession as quickly as possible, despite being illiterate

She graduated from the institute and began looking for job opportunities in the field of photography

Rania’s journey to becoming a professional photographer was not easy

There are so many experienced photographers with the latest cameras and equipment

But Rania was determined

She took advantage of every opportunity that came her way, whether it was shooting weddings and events, or doing outdoor or indoor portrait sessions

Rania’s instructor, Wael Al-Samawi, describes her desire to learn as a “true struggle

” “Despite being older than her classmates, and with her limited resources, she was always willing to learn

She was the most inquisitive and detail-oriented student in the class

I was really impressed by her,” he adds

 Rania’s name quickly spread throughout her neighborhood, and her reputation grew

She became the go-to photographer for many families, and her new profession became not just her source of income, but also her passion

Rania’s efforts did not stop there

She remained a constant shield for her children, balancing work, study, and emotional support for her children by attending their school awards ceremonies as their guardian to share in their joy

Rania is a single mother who is both a mother and a father to her children

She is a source of pride for them, as she has always prioritized their education and pushed them to succeed

Her daughter has been accepted to a prestigious university to study journalism, and her twin sons have received scholarships to study abroad

At the age of forty, Rania was able to change her circumstances from an illiterate woman to a professional photographer

She says:  “Age is just a number, and will is what makes miracles happen

I am a widowed mother, but I did not give up on my circumstances

I faced them with hard work and learning

Behind every great child is a great mother, and I am proud to have been a role model for my children

”ليصلك كل جديدالإعلاميون في خطرمشاورات السلام كشف التضليل التحقيقات التقارير