Fatma Maged: Champion of women's, elder rights

Forty-two years ago, Fatma left her birthplace of Cairo, Egypt to join her husband in Ottawa. Her husband had arrived here six months earlier, in January 1970, to pursue higher education.

Fatma, an equally avid student, joined the University in Ottawa in 1973 for a graduate degree in economics. Not satisfied, with just one master's degree, Fatma went on to study for an MA in Mathematics and an M.Phil Statistics from the University of Waterloo.

While studying and working ”“ she served as an economic forecaster, and later as policy advisor for the Government of Canada between 1978 and her retirement in 2008 ”“ Fatma raised four daughters who are now all grown up with families and flourishing careers of their own.

But despite these successes, Fatma has experienced a number of challenges in her life. And these challenges are what informs her community activism.

After 19 years of marriage -- her eldest daughter at the time was 17 and her youngest a mere 7 years old -- she and her husband divorced.

"I married a total stranger and remained with this man for 19 years," Fatma says.

The divorce brought a new set of problems when her husband failed to provide any economic support for her and their four young daughters.

"I was very disappointed with the system here in Canada," Fatma says, "I could not get my right of economic support from the father of my children despite my many efforts to do so. It was one obstacle after another as I tried to navigate through the legal system."

What began as a personal battle for her right to child support, became a driving life-long mission to help other women in Ottawa and elsewhere access their rights.

"Women are programmed to protect," she says, "and in the process they suppress their true selves. Women have to first and foremost learn to look after themselves before they can be in a position to help others and that is why I am so passionate about working with organisations that empower them."

Fatma argues that many women are carrying the society and that the economy depends on their many contributions. In fact, on her business card she includes the Chinese proverb: "Women hold up half the sky."

"If we empower women further they can make many more contributions to the well-being of society," she says.

When asked what she means by the term "empower" Fatma responds: "Give women access to information, help them with resources to get started, provide them training and, first and foremost, instill in them the belief that they have value and that they too can make many positive contributions."

In 2008, the year of her retirement from the civil service, Fatma performed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. While on this most sacred journey, she made a pledge to God to serve Him by championing human rights, especially the rights of women.

"I would like to see women get the respect, dignity and equality that Islam has granted them in the Quran and by our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)."

Fatma has lived up to that pledge and is actively involved in numerous organizations including Women for Women International which provides support to women survivors of war;  Dress for Success, an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women in 110 cities across 12 countries; the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers  Campaign, which assists African grandmothers who are caring for the millions of children who have been orphaned by AIDS; and the Alzheimer's Society.

Although she is more involved with projects in the larger Ottawa community, Fatma recently joined the Neighbours, Family and Friends Muslim Project. She says she would like to become more active within Muslim community, particularly on issues surrounding women and seniors.

Fatma is particularly interested in the care of Alzheimer's patients as her 86 year old mother, Zeinab Wahba, is an Alzheimer's patient at the Glebe Centre.

On Sunday, 29th January, Fatma will participate in a walkathon in honour of her mom to help raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County.

"I know firsthand how Alzheimer's disease and dementia can rob someone of their identity and life. My father died of dementia at the age of 92 in 2004," Fatma says.

"I watched this genius and former distinguished Professor of Architecture at Cairo University fade away in a long insidious journey. And now, my mother has Alzheimer's.

When her mother was diagnosed, Fatma turned to the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County for support. She says the society was her “lifeline”.

“My mother's diagnosis came at a time when I was at cross roads. I was paralyzed with fear and confusion,” Fatma says.

"My journey with mom's Alzheimer's is the hardest I faced, but the knowledge I gained from attending the society's workshops has helped me to develop a long-term plan for her care and make the right decisions at the right time."

Fatma says her participation in the Jan. 29 walk is her opportunity to give back to the Alzheimer Society.

"In my younger days, hearing about the plight of families living with Alzheimer's, I used to think this will never happen to my family. Now that I'm older, I've been proven wrong! Both my parents suffered from some form of dementia. Alzheimer's does not discriminate; it cuts across all walks of life," she says. “I not only walk for my mother, but for others like her, their caregivers and family members."

Fatma is currently seeking sponsors for her January 29th walk. To support her, visit:
www.walkformemories.ca.

When asked what were the major influences in her life with regards to work, politics and activism, Fatma says it was her parents who instilled in her sound ethics and values, and that it was Islam and her faith which helped her overcome many personal hardships and disappointments.

Recently Fatma started up a small business enterprise which she calls Sew4giving. Fatma takes on sewing jobs and also offers sewing lessons for anyone interested. All the profits from her work fund and support initiatives that help empower women.

"My dream is to build a network of like-minded individuals who are willing to sew like me," she says.

You can visit Fatma's Sew4giving Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/sew4giving