Page 14 CentralBeat / PowerfulWomenOfCentral
Fadia Ali: Beloved teacher in the Charlieville community
By Saeeda M Ali
May 2017
One of the most beautiful kinds of people in the world is a woman who is in control of, and totally contented with her life. One such woman is Fadia Ali of Charlieville, known to many as‘ Miss Fadie’ and the owner of the Islamic boutique,‘ Just for You by Fadia’.
At 64 years, she calls this time the best of her life.“ Age has made me more mature, sensitive, caring, but it hasn’ t made me old. I’ m always on the go,” she says.“ I involve myself in organisations, go to the mosque all the time, take Islamic classes, and make myself available. And once I know someone’ s sick or there’ s a death in the community, I make sure to prepare some food and visit them. I also like to hop on a plane when I get an opportunity!”
‘ Miss Fadie’ is a past teacher from Charlieville ASJA Primary School where she taught from 1972-1984. These teaching years cemented her reputation, for grandparents, parents and children call her Miss Fadie and treat her with utmost respect.
“ I like to be among children. They’ re so innocent and you can mould their minds. Teaching is the love of my life. I never believed in abusing a child. I believe in making each child feel important. I used to clip the nails, trim the dirty hair, make them share the books and give them chores to do – make them feel like they’ re noticed.”
Although she is no longer an official teacher, her teaching days are not over. She still runs camps during the vacation and on odd days for non-English speaking foreigners in the Muslim community, and helps in the Arabic classes once she is available.“ I love children- I just love them!”
The drive for business runs in Miss Fadie’ s family, as she was the manager of Money’ s Worth Supermarket for a short while before deciding to open her boutique in 1992 to service the Muslim community; it was the first of its kind in Central.
“ I bring in goods from Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Canada and America and any part of the world I go – I just came back from South Africa, and Dubai. I always look out to see something gorgeous and unusual for my customers, and select my things instead of buying wholesale.
“ It’ s been 25 years since it opened, and was the only Islamic boutique for a while. People used to line up and wait for my doors to open, and during Ramadan we used to break fast together. It was so hectic – but oh, it was beautiful. In my boutique a lot of Muslim women started to wear hijab for the first time. I wasn’ t wearing hijab then and it’ s when I made my first trip to Saudi in 1994 I started. My 3 kids would say to me,‘ Mummy, you look beautiful in your hijab, keep it on.’ I used that line on so many customers. It’ s better than any hairstyle! We’ re not oppressed when we wear hijab.”
Religion plays a major role in her life. She cites Saudi Arabia as her second home with 19 visits and 10 times for the holy pilgrimage.“ Whatever religion someone follows, all religion teaches good morals and values. We might have differences with the interpretation of God, but all religions run parallel to each other when it comes to teaching morals and values. Once I feel sad about something, then I pray, I cry out to my lord and read the Quran, I feel so relieved. People ask me, what makes you strong? Strength and guidance and successes in
Faadia, right, and her three children at left.
life and material wealth, everything belongs to God. And if you can believe that, you won’ t have a big ego, be ignorant, insult people, or commit crimes. Religion has kept me alive,” she says.“ When I was going through some serious troubles in life, my sisters advised me to attend Islamic classes and seek knowledge, and that was the best advice. The only thing that could have helped me was to fill my mind with seeking religious knowledge and being among spiritual people. I focused on getting to know God.”
Although everyone experiences hardships, she has no regrets.“ Life is a journey and every day is a new beginning. For me when I wake up I don’ t know what to expect, because whatever happens is the will of God. And if you can feel like that, it is so easy to accept whatever happens in your life. You must be contented and satisfied with what you have and know that you are trying your best. You cannot please everyone, but I have learned to understand that if someone doesn’ t like me, I step back. I will never hold a grudge and spite someone; I will always give them my best. I would not want to make anybody feel uncomfortable, and instead try to make them feel welcome and loved.”
It was certainly a wonderful opportunity to interview this outstanding lady, who, as she says, declines interviews now, preferring to leave the spotlight for the youth. She strongly believes in investing in the younger generation.“ Because as we get older we’ re going to lose our strength and energy. And if we can make a bond with the younger generation, each generation will know who you are when you die. I want to sit together with them, eat and talk together, and form that bond that I want to form with the children. Because I want to know them, and I want them to know me before I go out into the sunset. Because we are getting older. And if along
Faadia at her 50 th high school reunion with classmates at the Holy Faith Convent in Couva.
Some of the fashions at Faadia’ s boutique.
the way you have an opportunity to teach somebody something, you take it.”
“ I didn’ t know what you specifically wanted to hear today,” she laughs,“ so I brought a couple of things I’ ve done before.” This included a large stack of newspaper and magazine clippings featuring her, book reviews, letters to the editor, poetry, and countless old speeches. In addition, Miss Fadie has been on IBN several times and has done numerous fashion shows for many places. As a gregarious person, she feels no fear speaking to large crowds and is always called upon in ceremonies to share words of wisdom – which she thanks God for. Having reached this point, she now wants to downsize her life and print her own book of poems, photography, and interpretation of the Quran with the messages that have helped her through tough times.
What are words of wisdom she would like to impart?“ Whatever problems you’ re going through in life, don’ t make the wrong choices to find relief. Know who you’ re taking advice from. You must find a way to come to terms with problems without turning to the negative things in life. Don’ t let peer pressure decide who you should have as your friend. Don’ t let your problems get the better of you. Talk to someone you trust – family, a spiritual leader, counselling. And put God in your life – that is the greatest medicine.”
“ Age has made me feel like life has become more peaceful. My children have grown; my five grandchildren have good parents and good futures. I feel contented that now I’ m living alone and don’ t have the regular worries and responsibilities. I choose what I want to do, when I want to do it and go on a vacation where I want. That is the best aspect of my life, that I can extend my generosity to whomever I wish to, whenever I wish to and how much I give is entirely up to me. Whatever we give is with the intention of pleasing Allah and I don’ t have to account to anyone with what I do with my time and money. I’ m all about making others happy and making a difference in their lives. It is a wonderful feeling.”