Inspiring women

Story & photos: Yiwen Zheng

Burngreave women took part in events at the Sheffield Town Hall on Saturday 8th March to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Sheffield Women’s Network Chair, Councillor Jackie Drayton, introduced the event which aimed to encourage girls and women to challenge stereotyping and to believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

The event included a panel of inspirational women including Sue Pearson, Chiwoniso Mukome, Elena Rodriguez-Falcon and Safiya Saeed, who shared their life stories. Safiya Saeed from Burngreave said:

“I was born in Abu Dhabi in 1972 and came to Sheffield in 1985 when I was 13. I learned English in 6 months, went to college, later I got a job in Marks and Spencers and then went on to set up my own business, Saf Saf Hair and Beauty. I won Cosmopolitan’s Ultimate Women's Woman Award in 2007 for the business. I am inspired by my daughters and I hope they see me being strong and are inspired too.”

Responding to a question from the audience about Female Genital Mutilation, Safiya said,

“It is a cultural thing, some women don’t think it is wrong to use a razor and needle on a 10 year old girl. My friend in Cardiff started a campaign against the practice and I am supporting her. It is illegal, and men say they don’t want their wives cut. Education is the most important tool, and I’m going to keep talking about it.”

Closing the event, Jackie Drayton, Councillor for Burngreave said,

“I hope you’ve felt inspired by today and I hope we will hold out our hands to help other women in the future.”