Fatima

ARTISAN#: 02

At age thirty-two, Fatima has faced many difficulties in her life. Her husband, a gambler and severe alcoholic, would frequently beat and abuse her. He committed suicide seven years into their marriage and left her alone to support their one-year old son. After her husband’s sudden death, she was ill-treated by her in-laws and returned home to live with her parents in the Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Fatima was not educated and had no viable job skills. She heard about the textile training programs offered by Vijay Foundation Trust and One Thread Fair Trade and joined the team two years ago. Her son is now three years old and is being educated in the Aarti School, Kadapa.

As a fair trade artisan, Fatima stated that she feels braver and more confident in herself. Although she still becomes very emotional when asked about her past, Fatima now says that she can smile everyday because she has real job skills and is financially independent. She has a renewed sense of self-worth and believes in herself. What she wants more than anything in this world is for her son to be a good person and to do something great with his life. With a mother like her, we have no doubt that he will.

FUN FACT: Fatima loves tea time