The legacy of courage

The legacy of courage

The best gift you can give your kids—well, second best—affection and attention always tie at the top of the gift list—is being a role model. Rima*, a mom of 2 girls, is a role model to her daughters and all the women around, not just because she’s a former accountant who now volunteers with vulnerable women, but mainly because she is the very embodiment of women’s empowerment.

Having escaped an abusive marriage with her young daughters in tow, Rima set out to re-establish herself in the UK and achieved more than anyone could have dreamt of. When she relocated to the UK, she used her scars to heal women in trouble, simultaneously ensuring that her daughters’ education continued smoothly. Talking about it, she says, “My older one very luckily got into university; she studied computer science. I started volunteering; I started understanding what's happened to me.”

Rima has been volunteering for the cause of domestic abuse survivors seeking asylum and refuge. She says, “I have worked with a wide range of victims of gender-based violence in girls and women. I currently also co-run a migrant women's group here in Salford, where we help women with their mental and physical well-being.”

A mindfulness teacher who uses her skills to help women, Rima also believes in using her voice for women’s rights.

“I'm especially interested in making a change in the domestic violence laws in laws all around the world. Hopefully, they will start to look similar anywhere that a woman is. And I'm quite vocal around social justice, especially when it encroaches on women's rights.”

The Master’ student in Counselling and Psychotherapy is also passionate about women’s health, having been a researcher with various universities.

“I've done a few researches on menopause and vitamin D and how that affects pregnant women from South Asia. I think the last one I did was how South Asian patients approached the NHS during COVID when they couldn't come face to face because a lot of South Asian culture depends on actions and depends on non-verbal communication.”

Rima certainly has created ripples of courage; her walk towards empowerment has automatically put her daughters on the path of self-possession. Speaking of them, she says, “They have a very, very good life. They have an excellent future in front of them. And absolutely, they will never, ever go through what I have gone through, never, ever. And they cannot imagine a life like that. But they know if something like that happens, how to look after themselves. Because they have an education behind them here. They have the system behind them. And that's enough.”

Rima rightly expresses as much conviction in her daughters’ ability: “Very capable, strong young women, except extremely, extremely motivated to change the world and bring about good things for other women who probably are starting off where they were. That is my hope and dream for them—that they find a purpose beyond themselves.”

*Name changed as per request

Photo: by Polina