Zeinab, 43, is a mother of 7 living in Jordan. Zeinab is someone who decided to think out of the box when it came to creating job opportunities for her family. “My daughters graduated from university and they tried to find jobs but they couldn’t find anything.” Zeinab realised her village was missing a gym and, with her girls having degrees in sports and nutrition, she decided to give it a try and develop a business where they would be employed. She took out a loan in 2018 and opened her gym. “There wasn’t anywhere where women could go and decompress and change scenery,” she says.
We should move forward and face life with all our energy and power. I tell every woman to look for a job that will benefit them and their children.
After some initial success, turnout plunged. The gym’s infrastructure and equipment were just too outdated. With some financial help and accounting, communication and marketing trainings, Zeinab was able to attract more customers. Opening the gym has definitely been a godsend for her family. “I am very proud that I was able to give my girls an education and that I can help my family, I can provide for them and […] I thank all the people who have supported me and stood by me, and helped me stand on my feet,” she says with pride. She dreams of opening a day-care to welcome the children of the women who would like to join the gym but cannot because they have no one to take care of the kids while they wind down.
