Five dynamic speakers will share their expertise and experience at the inaugural “You are not alone” empowerment workshop for widows and divorcees, which takes place on the 27th of November at Nour, a new venue, situated at 62 Soofie Saheb Drive in Riverside.
Organised by ILM for Women (a branch of the Institute for Learning and Motivation – South Africa, better known as “ILM-SA”), Friends Healing Hearts (a support group for widows and divorcees) and Friends Soul Sisters (a support group for divorced mothers aged forty and under), “You are not alone” is an ongoing series of workshops aimed at giving widows and divorcees the tools and knowledge they require to navigate through the challenges they face. Amina Khatree Jamal who is the founder of the Friends support groups will speak about her journey as a widow. Khatree Jamal is a qualified educator and community worker. She has also studied beauty therapy, body talk and reflexology and ran her own health and beauty clinic “Feminine Forever,” for over eighteen years. She has presented programmes on issues facing women, on community radio stations. She is the founder of the Al-Ansaar Cancer Support Group and has previously served as the Amirah (leader) thereof. Khatree Jamal lost her husband, the well-known community leader Riaz Jamal in March 2013, after a three year battle with colon cancer, inspiring her to initiate the Friends support group.
Qudsia Mall, who is a video creator, author and a feminine etiquette and self-esteem coach will detail her journey through, and post-divorce. Mall went backpacking alone through Europe at the age of nineteen. She settled down in London, where she worked as a makeup artist at Harrods, as well as a corporate IT manager. She eventually married an Englishman, with whom she moved to Saudi Arabia, where she studied Arabic at Princess Nourah University. She later parted ways from her husband and relocated to South Africa, with her two little daughters. Mall has written two books, “Swapping horns for wings,” and “How to background check your man.” Addressing the topic “Life after divorce: how to live it,” is Edris Khamissa, an international consultant in education and human development. Khamissa began his career as an English teacher and his passion and expertise for the subject culminated in his nomination as the chairman of the English Society of South Africa. He has served as a head teacher of three schools. He is also the co-author of “The Art of Public Speaking,” “Embrace the Joys of Public Speaking,” and “Pre-Marital Conversations and Beyond.” Khamissa’s expertise is in self-development and curriculum design.
Psychiatrist Dr Safiyyah Ibrahim will tackle the subject of coping mechanisms for women who have lost their life partners to death. Ibrahim has over twenty years of experience in the field of psychiatry, with a special interest in women’s mental health. She was previously part of a team that was responsible for establishing the first women’s health service in the United Kingdom. She spent six years working with trauma patients in war-torn regions in the Middle East (Syria and surrounding areas). She is a mother of two and has presented papers at various international forums. Finally, Muallimah Farzanah Adam, an Islamic Studies educator, will talk about dealing with divorce and the death of one’s partner from an Islamic perspective. Adam is an Islamic Studies graduate of the Johannesburg-based Madrasa Mueinul Islam. She holds post-graduate qualifications in education and journalism, and is currently engaged in faith-based education for women via the “Do Learning” platform, as well as post-graduate research in minority girlhoods at UKZN. Attendance to the “You are not alone” workshop is free and open to all widows and divorcees, but registration is compulsory, for catering purposes (lunch and refreshments are included) and due to limited venue capacity. Registration will open at the beginning of November. WhatsApp 083 271 4500 or email info@ilmsa.co.za for information on how to register.
