#OmanPride: Halima’s story becoming a source of motivation for many women

Muscat: Halima Al Shezawi’s story is an inspiration for many—from being an average university graduate to becoming a source of motivation for many women across the country; Al Shezawi has shown the way.
Graduating with a Bachelors in Management from Sohar University, Al Shezawi was registered with the Ministry of Manpower as an unemployed woman until a couple of months ago.
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However, after participating in a female entrepreneurship programme conducted by SAP Mena and Oman Sail, which produced the first group of 80 young graduate, unemployed Omani women in leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that will be essential to the digital economy, she has transformed for the better.
“I remember before I joined this programme, all I ever did was to sleep, eat and wait for a job, however ever since I took part in the program, it helped me believe in myself and improve myself to the best of my abilities.”
According to Halima, the female entrepreneurs programme taught her to set goals, because of which feels like she is on the way to success. “We were taught to set goals and to follow them—this is why I set three goals for myself—to find a job, to reduce my weight and to complete my masters’ degree.”
After completing the programme, Halima registered with a gym, and called her university to secure a place for a Masters degree. “Only after a week of registering myself with Sohar University, I got a call asking me to teach part-time at the University—so I started realising all my goals and it felt great.”
Al Shezawi said her parents have lent huge support to her, “My family is amazing, they support women’s education and they support women for entering the workforce as well, my father sponsored my education for the Bachelors’ degree, and my mother supported me in all other ways.”
At the three-day programme, Al Shezawi learnt several things, but her favourite was sailing.
“They taught us many activities and they taught us how to work in a group, to build our own business and motivated us, but my favourite part was sailing and we really enjoyed that, because I feel that unless you don’t do what you learn in theory, you can’t really understand it.”
Al Shezawi’s concluded by saying, “I want all women in Oman to do this programme, it is something which will let you discover yourself and explore your inner self and believe in yourself, after all these are the factors that will help you achieve success.”