Ghadah is a finalist
and People's Choice Award winner in the 2009 YBI
Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
More on the competition.
"Being self-employed shows me
that nothing is outside my reach with perseverance and hard work.
Nothing can beat the joy of seeing the eyes of a child light up
when he or she learns something new."
Ghadah Baaqil
Ghadah Baaqil:
Ghadah Medina Autism Centre, Saudi Arabia
Supported by: The Centennial Fund
When Ghadah Baaqil realised that there were no facilities for
autistic children in Medina, she decided to set some up for
herself. After gaining a degree in dealing with the condition she
created the first centre for autistic children in the city,
providing invaluable support not just for the children but for
their families as well.
As the first enterprise of its kind in this field in Medina,
Ghadah had to fight countless misconceptions, parental aggression
and initial resistance to even use the word “autism” in the title
of her centre.
Throughout, her motivation was her desire to help the children,
and her great efforts to this end have won over many and moved the
wife of the Governor of Medina to award the centre a bus for
transportation.
The centre meets the specific needs of each child and educates
parents in understanding their child’s condition. Parents pay to
attend the centre, but the Ministry of Social Affairs also
contributes.
Ghadah has also sponsored an autistic child from a poor family
who could otherwise not attend the centre, and helps families who
cannot afford to pay to find donors.
At the age of just 31 Ghadah has helped to demonstrate that
women can be successful entrepreneurs, and has also provided
employment for 17 women in her centre, two of whom are divorced
single mothers.
More about the Entrepreneur of the
Year Award 2009