Through its "Haith Al-Insan" program in its seventh season, Tawakkol Karman Foundation has supported a woman who has opened doors of hope for women in the city of Marib, a refuge for people from all over Yemen.

In her small home, where she lives with her five children, husband, and mother-in-law, Aisha welcomes a group of women daily to work in her pastry and confectionery business. Thanks to this initiative, many women now have a source of income to help support their families.

Ibtisam Murshid, one of the women working in the project, shared her story: "I met Aisha during a women's gathering and asked her for an opportunity to work with her. She didn’t hesitate to accept me. This project helps me cover my children’s educational expenses. Sometimes the income is enough, sometimes it isn’t, but it remains our window to a dignified life."

She added: "Aisha is a hardworking woman. Despite the challenges she faced in the early days of her project, she never gave up but kept pushing forward until she succeeded."

A journey of displacement and resilience

Aisha Sultan, who was displaced from Ibb to Marib, found herself facing a new reality full of challenges. With her husband imprisoned for three and a half years, she had to take full responsibility for supporting her family. She worked in several fields, from sewing to hairdressing, but none brought her the success she sought until she discovered her passion for pastry and confectionery.

"We suffered a lot after being displaced, from high rent costs to financial instability. I tried several businesses before turning to baking and pastry-making, starting from home and selling to local grocery stores," Aisha said.

But her ambition extended beyond just working alone—she aimed to expand the project and include other women, especially widows and those with limited incomes, providing them with a sustainable source of livelihood.

From a home-based dream to an independent bakery

One of the biggest challenges Aisha faced was the limited space in her home, where her husband and children had to leave during working hours to make room for the workers. The ideal solution was to secure an independent space equipped with the necessary tools.

That’s where the "Haith Al-Insan" program stepped in, renting and renovating a suitable shop, equipping it with modern electric ovens, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, transforming it into a fully operational bakery named Bent Belqees Pastry Workshop.

Aisha expressed her joy, saying, "The difference is huge—production has increased, the variety of pastries and sweets has expanded, and we have a broader customer base. Before, we only sold through home delivery, but now we have a proper storefront. This project hasn’t just changed my life; it has changed the lives of many women in need."

Thanks to the support from Tawakkol Karman Foundation, Aisha Sultan has become a model of resilience, turning hardships into opportunities and opening doors of hope for her community.