8th March 2011. Women's day celebrated it's 100th anniversary with events held in more than one hundred countries. On the day I was standing at The George Hotel in Paceville, amongst another ninety-nine women, expecting the start of the press conference which would launch my book.
It was the day which would mark the end of a special journey, an unrivaled experience which will never be erased from my mind and my heart.
Everything started on March 8, 2010 during the Women's Day Lunch organised every year by Mr. Vassallo, Chairman of CareMalta Group and CEO of Vassallo Builders. During her speech, Natalie Briffa Farrugia, CareMalta's CEO, mentioned that 2011 would be marking a centenary from the first celebrations of Women's Day. Her wish was to be able to commemorate this day with something special, like the collection of 100 stories from women who resided in CareMalta's facilities. Her eyes had a special spark, reflecting the wish for a dream to become true. She looked over in my direction and a smile curved her lips - could it be I was getting the right message here?!
Natalie was aware that I had started a journalism course and had a passion for writing and deep inside, hoped that I would catch this challenge - and I did! A couple of weeks later she asked me whether I would wish to embark in this new adventure and I accepted whole heartedly.
I started interviews in June 2010 and carried on till the end of the year. I met 100 incredible women, women who warmly welcomed me as if I was a member of their family. It was fascinating to hear their stories and an honor for me to have them sharing their lives. I was given a key that opened a door to a whole different world, completely different to what we have today, but yet so real.
These women are an inspiration - they dedicated their lives to one common cause - loving their families. They all went through very difficult times : war - famine - poverty - lack of opportunities - sickness...yet they all made it, in some way or another, never loosing themselves along the way.
Holding my book for the first time had an overwhelming feeling over me - I could not believe that I had managed to realise another one of my greatest dreams, even now I have tears running down my face when I recall it. I have to thank my CEO for trusting me with this project as well as all the women who made this book an amazing one. Needless to say, Yakof walked all the way with me, constantly encouraging me.
The press conference went smoothly, I was impressed by all the praise the book was being given. Now that it's over I feel a sense of accomplishment and yet, I do miss those women as, every time I walked out of their rooms, I felt a complete sense of peace. I learned a lot from their experiences and hope that, those who read the book, will appreciate and be inspired by them.
Feature on The Times of Malta
Feature on Business Weekly
