Dubai: A Dubai-based French-Moroccan expat, who claims she has “financially collapsed” after a “difficult divorce” from her former husband, is looking for a job to support herself and her two boys, aged 13 and 12.
With a background in law, Yassmina said she had specialised skills in criminology and the study of human behaviour. She said she was running her own business as a professional trainer and coach, but could no longer sustain it.
Living on dole
She said, “Although I won the divorce and maintenance lawsuit against my ex-husband, I am yet to get the settlement money and am living on dole. Dubai has been very kind to me, but I don’t know how long I can carry on like this. I fear I will be on the streets and end up in jail.”
She said she spent most of her meagre savings on her legal battle.
“When I could no longer afford to pay for it, my lawyer was kind enough to let me work at the firm to be able to pay the fees. That was two years ago. It saddens me that with all my capability, I cannot find a job today.” Yassmina said, “My profile is atypical and it’s difficult for me to find the right fit. I am qualified to work in many fields and am looking for an opening in a law firm, investigative agency, business development, training or communications company. I can speak in three languages - English, French and Arabic – and I am very comfortable working with people from different cultures.”
She claimed she could not go back to France or anywhere outside the UAE as there was a travel ban on her boys.
“I need a job urgently as I have run into a debt of Dh200,000. I have to pay this amount immediately, get back on my feet and secure my children’s future. But I have no idea how I will do it without a job,” said Yassmina, who has been in Dubai for 11 years.
Describing her life with all its ups and downs as “the stuff of a movie”, she said she had embarked on an ambitious project to write stories drawn from her experiences.
“I specialise in the study of human behaviour and personalities. The different emotions we experience change our behaviour and lives. I have more than 500 stories already. I want to present them to the world in the same way Shehrazade did it with Shahrayar in the Middle Eastern folk tale One Thousand and One Nights. I am looking for support with this unique project. But I cannot pursue the book when I am struggling to make ends meet.”
If you wish to reach out to Yassmina, write to editor@xpress4me.com
