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INSPIRATIONAL housewife Fowzia Al Khozami is using her home-cooking skills and traditional tasty delights to help keep a crumbling roof over her head and put bread on the table for her family.
The 45-year-old Bahraini is selling delicious kebabs and popular local bread 'khobz reqaq' from her home in Qalali ...and interest has grown in Saudi Arabia and Qatar for her produce.
Fowzia, who was taught how to make 'khobz reqaq' and kebabs by her mother, explained: "She used to make them in the house and I started helping her. There are two types of 'khobz reqaq'. One is cooked with flour, sugar, egg, saffron and the second is cooked only with egg, flour and salt. Both are popular and very tasty."
Fowzia, a mother of three girls and two boys aged between three to 22 years, applied for a loan with a micro-finance project in 2002 to help her start up the business venture.
"I heard that this project helps Bahraini men and women with skills to sell their products so I thought to myself, why not apply, I can gain some cash from selling kebabs and 'khobz reqaq'," said Fowzia.
"I started with a BD50 loan and now my loan has reached BD450. I pay a monthly instalment of BD39. It has really helped."
As her business expanded and its popularity grew she has been able to hire help during busy periods to cope with the demand.
"At times I receive very big orders from my customers. I have also some people in Saudi Arabia and Qatar who would look after the orders from the two countries.
"I have taken part in many exhibitions and festivals to sell and promote my products," she added.
Despite all the hard work and success so far Fowzia is still facing many challenges.
She said: "I am the only breadwinner for my family as my husband had to quit his job due to health difficulties. So I am the one financially supporting us, my children, as well as my elderly mother who can't work anymore."
But Fowzia is a battler, having beaten cancer and every obstacle put in her way. She is hoping the Muharraq Governorate will keep its promise to send an engineer to her home for vital repairs so that she can continue with her cooking initiative which has made her family and the local community so proud.
Fowzia can be contacted on 39252562.
For further information about the micro-finance project call Awal Women's Society on 17678974 or visit any branch of Al Eslah Society.
