Tell us about the start of your journey working for a social cause. What spurred it on?
It began in November 2016 when my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer and was given a few months to live. Our world was turned upside down, but we were fortunate enough to get access to good treatment from great doctors. We, unfortunately, lost her in August 2020, but she lived for four years and seven months with a good quality of life. This sparked a conversation with my friends who also had personal experiences with cancer. We then decided to do something about it and thus, Sabrcare Trust was born.
Sabr in Hindi/Arabic means patience and endurance when hope seems lost. We chose to focus on childhood cancer especially helping underprivileged families navigate through the highly fragmented cancer treatment journey.
What challenges do women face when attempting to resolve social issues?
We work a lot in public health and government bodies; having our voices heard was a difficulty. But I would like to believe we have somehow carved a path through this issue to be heard by the right agencies.
How important is your family support in your cause?
My family means a lot to me and the other women who have started this trust with me. Family was the very trigger behind this initiative.
What was the toughest challenge you have faced so far? How did you overcome it and what did you learn from it?
Working with the government. One would need to grow a different kind of patience to deal with public bodies. We have adapted and learned through experience and by simply putting ourselves out there, however uncomfortable it may seem. After every setback, we bounced back; after every rejection, we came back twice strong – always learning, always adapting.
How do you juggle your personal and professional life?
There is no easy answer as this cause is very dear to all of us as it has our hearts deeply embedded in it. We are voluntarily involved in this cause, and most of us have a full-time day job. But it’s our passion and enthusiasm to do something that helps us balance our professional lives with our personal ones.
What strategies have you used to face crises?
There is no one size fits all for crisis management, but having an organisation rooted in honesty and transparency can make crisis management simpler.
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