International Day of Rural Women to be celebrated October 15

AMMAN — On the International Day of Rural Women, which is observed annually on October 15, female Jordanian entrepreneurs from various governorates will come together to share their successes and challenges.

Speaking with The Jordan Times on Thursday, Abla Hajaya, a female Jordanian activist who lives in the Hasa district of Tafilah, said that “I was able to prove myself, although it was not easy to do so, especially given the fact that my village is at least three hours away from the capital”.

Moreover, Hajaya indicated that among the main challenges facing Tafileh residents is the absence of investors and the private sector. Due to this lack, most women in the area turn to home businesses that serve the needs of the local community.

These home businesses can include cooking, pickle making, candle making and sewing, according to Hajaya.

“We are considered an agricultural community in which significant numbers of women work as farmers. And in their own unique way, they positively impact economic growth,” according to Hajaya.

She added that around 35 per cent of women in Tafileh are the main breadwinners in their family, the majority of which are university degree holders that do not work in their studied field. 

Duha Saleh, the founder of the Madaba Women’s empowerment Society, told The Jordan Times over the phone on Thursday that “rural women’s entrepreneurial projects in Jordan are increasing year by year, and that alone is a positive indicator of their marvelous capabilities”. 

Saleh noted that Jordanian women, despite the various obstacles they face from societal expectations or other challenges, have always been capable of redefining their realities.

The International Day of Rural Women has the goal of  “achieving gender equality and empowering women [due to it being] not only the right thing to do but a critical ingredient in the fight against extreme poverty, hunger” according to the UN website.

The website added that rural women play a central role in ensuring the sustainability of their households and local communities, in addition to positively affecting rural livelihoods and the overall well-being of rural villages.