December 2015 www.womanthismonth.com 27 PEOPLE | women 2015 THE MUMPRENEUR Pregnant and seeking information, Ghada Salem set up Mums in Bahrain. The rest, as they say, is history. • I moved to Bahrain in March 2007 from Malaysia, I am originally Egyptian. • The friendly people, kids’ activities, food! And the weather in winter and spring! • When I moved to Bahrain, I was expecting my first son. I was online searching for tips, recommendations for hospitals in Bahrain and events to socialise with other mums and expectant mums! That was when I thought to start a website listing activities for kids, recipes, hospitals, salons, etc. Later in the year I started the social media channels of MIB where an online forum for mums was launched at Facebook and another page for classifieds so mums got the chance to buy and sell second hand items. • The best thing about being a mum [which is what Ghada is most known for] is the unconditional love I get from my boys. • Meeting my school friends by chance in Bahrain. How small is the world! That brought lots of good memories. • Studying photography and children's nutrition in order to produce more content for the websites I am involved in. On the family side my plan is to get my boys to learn a new language: Spanish. • Be patient, and try to have at least one day every month where you pamper yourself. Read every day to your child, I found out this is a great way to have a conversation with my kids, build up their vocabulary and learn a lot. Lucy Wozniak Gill Hamblin THE TEACHER Lucy Wozniak loved teaching but felt there was something missing. Working with a child with special needs showed her what, leading her to train for a specialised role. • I have been in Bahrain since 2009 but have lived in the GCC region since the age of seven. • Bahrain is truly a magical place in the Gulf, it has a unique feeling that I haven't experienced in any of the other GCC countries I have lived in. It could be due to the size or simply that I feel it has kept its traditions and roots alive compared to the neighboring cities which have grown a lot more rapidly. • My interest in working with children began after I volunteered with the Make a Wish Foundation and Sheikh Maktoum Special Olympics Foundation. I qualified as a teacher and throughly enjoyed teaching at 'mainstream' schools but I knew something was missing after I taught a child with special educational needs. I knew I had to pursue further training and learn more about the challenges these children face developmentally and cognitively. I returned to studying and am currently completing a masters in child development and psychology. • Seeing the children I teach grow and develop, it doesn't matter how big or small these milestones may be, knowing that you have made a difference to that child's development is the most rewarding feeling in the world. • Beginning training in British and Arabic sign language, it is a beautiful language. The smile you receive when a deaf or language-impaired individual knows you can understand them and communicate back, is an indescribable feeling! • I hope to be able continue to teach and support children with special educational needs in Bahrain and also that my studies and research will be able to make a difference. • Working with children is definitely not a normal 9-5 job, you really give your heart and soul to your profession and are constantly developing yourself professionally and learning every day. THE FITNESS TRAINER At the age of 38 Gill Hamblin, of Reps Fitness Studios, took a leap of faith and retrained for a new career and she has never looked back. • I came to Bahrain in February 2008 to open a global fitness chain. • One reason I came to the island was for the weather and to experience a new lifestyle. The community and the culture are the main reasons I am still here, I have some of the closest friends from all over the world. • From a small girl living in the country I have always been active. I used to go with my mum to aerobics in the church hall, went to the gym and classes, eventually progressing to middle-distance running and joining in Les Mills classes. My career was in textiles until I was 38 but my passion was always the gym. Finally I took a huge leap of faith and decided to study to be a personal trainer and sports massage therapist. It’s the best decision I ever made. • Every day is different, every client brings something different and every class has new highs. Imagine having five or maybe eight oneon-one meetings every day where you have the opportunity to make a difference or a change eventually leading to them [clients] having a more productive or healthier life. • Watching the Reps Studios reach our one-year anniversary and also seeing some of those I have known since coming to Bahrain be inspired enough to go on and train and become certified in the Les Mills programmes they first attended with us, and for them to teach alongside me. • In 2016 I want to, hopefully, grow the Reps Studios further and personally, look at adding maybe two more Les Mills programmes to my certifications and travel. • It’s a tough career, prepare for unsocial hours with lots of time on the computer planning and learning so make sure to take time for yourself. If you want to do something you are passionate about then go for it whatever your age, don’t be afraid that it won’t work out, it’s never too late!” Ghada Salem 8
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