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Bahraini widow Salwa Al Jooan’s constant dedication and commitment to raise four children into respectable and productive members of society has won her the coveted 2019 Ideal Mother of the Year Award.
The 52-year-old from Gudaibiya, who is one of the many widows supported under the Royal Charity Organisation’s umbrella, was nominated by Al Hawaj management and a six-strong jury as part of the company’s annual ‘I Love My Mum’ campaign celebrations.
The group wanted to show its appreciation to a loving mother who has sacrificed, struggled and persevered even when times were tough. The RCO passed on three inspirational stories published in their Rawahel book that highlights life experiences and testimonials by different widows.
Salwa’s story touched the organiser’s hearts and a trophy and gift was presented to her at a glitzy event staged at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, in the presence of the Minster of Health, Faeqa bint Saeed AlSaleh, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Social Development Sabah Salem Al Dosari, other VIPs and ambassadors, on Sunday evening.
“I feel grateful, blessed and honoured by Al Hawaj, the jurors and, of course, the RCO,” Salwa told GulfWeekly. “It was especially a delight to be honoured by the Minister of Health because the same day that I received my award, my daughter Aisha, 24, started her first day of work at that actual ministry!
“My dream and wish is to one day represent the RCO at the United Nations and to also be an ambassador for empowering other women. I would like to thank everyone for the honour yet again. Seeing my children succeed in life is what truly brings me joy.”
Salwa’s husband, Khaled Al Doseri, who worked in marketing with BAPCO, suffered a fatal heart attack at home at the age of 39.
“I was out that day but my husband was home with the kids who were studying for their exams,” recalled Salwa. “It came on suddenly and he collapsed.”
Her son Duaij, now 29 and a three-starred officer with the Ministry of Interior, was only around 16 at the time.
“He tried to save him,” said Salwa. “When I got home, the children rushed to me saying that their father was not moving. I called the ambulance but unfortunately it was too late.
“That day, I felt as though I aged another 20 years. I was thinking to myself; how am I going to do this without him? We had so many plans. He was such a great man and father.”
Salwa, who was working at a kindergarten and received a lowly salary that was barely helping her make ends meet, had to quit her job in search for better pay to support her family.
She began fending for herself by making craft giveaways for weddings, Ramadan and other occasions and selling them at various fairs and markets around Bahrain. She also received support from an array of charitable societies.
The family was also constructing a home at the time and she had to focus on finishing the work using her late husband’s retirement pay and taking out a loan.
“I wanted to give them everything they had when their father was around,” explained Salwa. “The most important thing, in my opinion, was getting a good education and I made that my mission. Knowledge is power and education can help you grow. The more educated and productive we are; then the more we can help the country we love grow too. Our children are our future and we should invest everything we have in them.”
Her hard work definitely paid off as Duaij graduated from the Royal Academy of Police with excellence. “When he graduated, it was the first beautiful moment since my husband’s passing where I felt things were finally going our way and I had hope,” added Salwa. “I’m proud of all of them.”
His sister Badriya, 26, is studying human resources at the Royal University for Women, Aisha is studying at AMA University and Mohammed, 16, is studying at AMA International School.
In her free time, Salwa volunteers at the RCO and comes to the aid of anyone in need. She has also returned to school and is working to gain a diploma from the Bahrain Training Institute. “I wanted to finish studying as well because I believe you cannot grow as a person if you do not learn new things,” said Salwa.
Salwa would also like to thank His Majesty King Hamad for his support as well as Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the representative of His Majesty for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, the chairman of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and president of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.
Salwa was also awarded with another prize at Cairo University through the Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation as the ‘Ideal Mother for Bahrain 2019’ in an official ceremony held in Egypt alongside mothers from around the globe.
The luxury retail group staged a competition in celebration of Mother’s Day in which 12 moving messages written by shoppers were handpicked by a jury featuring Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, the secretary general of RCO, journalist Anwar Ahmad, Bahraini TV presenter and journalist Shaima Rahimi, Bahrain Journalist Association president Ahdeya Ahmed, author Youssef Salahuddin and actress Shatha Sabt.
The winners will receive a special perfume bouquet from Al Hawaj and the top three will also walk away with cash prizes, sponsored by CrediMax, with first place taking home $1,500, second receiving $1,000 and third picking up $500.
The winners of the ‘I Love my Mum’ campaign will receive their awards, at a date to be confirmed, at the Al Hawaj Group offices.
The winners were:
• 1st Winner: Sakina Ali Alhaiki
• 2nd Winner: Dr. Hanan Nasser
• 3rd Winner: Narjes Yousif Radhi
• 4th: Amina
• 5th: Dennis Mirandilla
• 6th: Ahmed Alhalwaji
• 7th: Nora Alsalman
• 8th: Kamal Mohamed Habib
• 9th: Glenn Mar L. Miguel
• 10th: Fatima Ramzi Alshowaikh
