Standing tall in the face of adversity

Gaza: With a wild smile and a loud greeting, Fatima Al Halouly welcomes customers to her modest mobile phone store. Headsets and routers are all over the shop with a few Nokia phones. And behind maintenance tools, Fatima sat down.

Disability and conservative traditions of society didn't stop her from making the challenge of being the first girl to own the first mobile store in Gaza.

Dozens of people, mostly girls, come to her shop in the densely populated neighbourhood of Al Sheja'ya in eastern Gaza City, either to check problems in their mobile phones, add credit or buy some accessories.

Fatima, 30, had her leg amputated when she was seven days old after a medical error that cut one of her blood vessels. She got an artificial leg at the age of 16.

Before she got her artificial limb, she went to her government school using a crutch; Fatima has a diploma in social work.

Fatima took part in a special course to bring differently-abled people into the world of business; she was the only girl in the programme, which she finished successfully. As a result, she was named one of the top students and got a grant to start a project.

"I always wanted to depend on myself; I wanted to challenge my disability and to be an active member of society," said Fatima.

"In the application of the grant, I chose mobile maintenance over embroidery and sewing which is more girly, but I never thought of owning a shop," she recalled.

In 2008, Fatima discovered sport; she realised that she was strong enough to throw the shot put and javelin. She participated in the Arab Games in Qatar last December. "I was the only differently-abled girl from Gaza and I was happy to represent my country," she said.

Neighbours are glad that women earn a living in the area. They encourage Fatima by getting everything they need for their mobile phones from her shop.

Hossam Al Harazeen who lives next to Fatima's shop said it was great to see a her in a field dominated by men; specially since she is seen as having special needs.

In a conservative area like Al Sheja'ya, a mobile phone shop with a woman owner makes a big difference; girls there feel more comfortable with that.

One of the neighbours, Sana' Al Harazeen, 31, said that she had never been to a mobile phone shop before Fatima got her shop. "I don't feel comfortable with a male fixing my phone or helping me; I'm so happy now because I can deal with Fatima directly," she said.

Beside Fatima's shop, there's her father's grocery which he inherited from his mother, showing that another woman has run a business in the family.

Ayesh Al Halouly, 52, said that he's happy with his daughter's project and hopes it will grow.

Fatima said she still has time to practise at the sports club. "I do love my work here but still I wish to participate in London Olympics 2012."

The writer is a journalist based in Gaza.