Khawla Al Sheikh, centre, the first female plumber in Jordan, with her colleagues Aisha Amayrah, left and Rehab Hamzeh. Courtesy Charlie Faulkner
Khawla Al Sheikh, centre, the first female plumber in Jordan, with her colleagues Aisha Amayrah, left and Rehab Hamzeh. Courtesy Charlie Faulkner
Khawla Al Sheikh, centre, the first female plumber in Jordan, with her colleagues Aisha Amayrah, left and Rehab Hamzeh. Courtesy Charlie Faulkner
Khawla Al Sheikh, centre, the first female plumber in Jordan, with her colleagues Aisha Amayrah, left and Rehab Hamzeh. Courtesy Charlie Faulkner

'It's typically considered to be a man’s job': the documentary spotlighting female plumbers in Jordan


  • English
  • Arabic

A gaggle of happily chattering women make their way out of the training centre in Amman, having just completed a morning tuition session as part of a six-week plumbing course.

The college is run by a women's plumbing co-operative and offers courses for and taught by women only. At the helm of the operation is the remarkable Khawla Al Sheikh. The first female plumber in Jordan, she is the organisation's founder and pioneered its courses. It is a particularly admirable achievement considering how few Jordanian women work outside the home – 18 per cent, compared to 60 per cent of men. Married women are often expected not to work and those who want to earn a living frequently face many barriers. Al Sheikh is also focused on raising awareness about water efficiency – a crucial topic in Jordan, which is among the world's most arid countries.

It started in 2002, when Al Sheikh was volunteering for the United States Agency for International Development. "I would visit housewives to teach them how to use water-saving devices," she says.

Al Sheikh explains that in Jordan, men unrelated to the family are not allowed to enter the home if the "man of the house" is not present. "During one of these visits, a lady told me she had a water leak and asked if I could fix it. I said I couldn't, which meant her husband would have to take time off work to call in a plumber."

It was a life-changing moment for Al Sheikh. "I realised the importance of women learning to be plumbers – it's women who are the ones dealing with water in the home because their husbands are out at work, and they are the ones who can pass on that knowledge to their children and change the attitude around water efficiency." 

Al Sheikh convinced USAID to provide a plumbing course for women – to which 16 people, including herself, signed up. But she was the only trainee to continue with the trade after the course – the other women did not have the same confidence to face the societal pressure that comes with breaking away from the norm. "This was a new concept here," Al Sheikh says. "And this is typically considered to be a man's job. In the beginning, it was very difficult for people to understand this idea and I faced a lot of negativity."

Al Sheikh started offering free workshops to mothers from a handful of schools, funding them out of her own pocket. Then, in 2007, she launched the first female-only official plumbing course, taught by a woman, from her home. From there, Al Sheikh's efforts continued. With the help of NGOs, training courses were launched in other areas of Jordan, and in 2015, she created the Plumbing and Energy Co-operative for Women.

Khawla Al Sheikh, left, leads the way in this scene from ‘Waterproof’. The documentary, shot in Amman, follows the fortunes of Al Sheikh and fellow members of her NGO for female plumbers
Khawla Al Sheikh, left, leads the way in this scene from ‘Waterproof’. The documentary, shot in Amman, follows the fortunes of Al Sheikh and fellow members of her NGO for female plumbers

Its 19 members, each of whom Al Sheikh had trained, began working with the government to clean and repair water tanks in schools, medical centres and mosques. Initially the women would be met with disbelief – a female capable of plumbing work was beyond many people's imagination.

In her office at the training centre, Al Sheikh is joined by colleagues Aisha Amayrah, 40, and Rehab Hamzeh, 47. The tutors are close friends and there is a lot of joking and laughing when they are together.

Before Amayrah qualified as a plumber, she was struggling to feed her children as a widowed mother of three, and was often forced to ask neighbours for food and money. Learning the trade led to a backlash from people in her community initially – they said she should have waited for an offer of marriage from a man, not be doing the work of one – her place was in the home. But she persevered, soon gaining confidence and financial stability – no longer needing to ask them for help. Amayrah had such an impact on her family that her son – aged 18 at the time – once phoned Al Sheikh to thank her for the opportunity she had provided.

This was a new concept here. And this is typically considered to be a man's job. In the beginning, it was very difficult for people to understand this idea and I faced a lot of negativity.

"It felt good to have contributed to a change in a teenager's attitude about women and his opinion of his mother," Al Sheikh says.

In the training centre's reception area hangs a large poster featuring the three friends. As a result of their work, they are the stars of a documentary, Waterproof. First shown at film festivals in Germany and the Netherlands at the end of last year, it will go on general release in Germany on Thursday, March 5. The documentary not only centres on these women's achievements but also on how these women, all over the age of 40, seek a new focus in their lives as they navigate the tricky balance of business, friendships and day-to-day water shortages.

Film director Daniela Konig says she was working on a photograph series of outstanding women in Jordan – taxi drivers, artists, politicians and so on – when she discovered Al Sheikh.

"She had a low-budget YouTube channel called Fix Your House with Khawla," Konig says. "She was teaching a guy how to paint a wall and I thought this was amazing. I started visiting her workshop every day to film her."

The documentary took three years to make, and in 2017, won the European Women's Audiovisual Network Development Prize.

It was also nominated for Best German Documentary at the Dok Leipzig festival, where it received its premiere.

Aisha Amayrah, seen with her daughter, supports her family after being widowed. Courtesy Kloos & Co
Aisha Amayrah, seen with her daughter, supports her family after being widowed. Courtesy Kloos & Co

"One of my goals was to make the film funny and light. Documentaries are often about complex, heavy topics, but this makes the audience giggle," Konig says.

The three plumbers flew to Germany for the premiere – a dream come true for Konig – and she says the women were a hit during the post-screening Q&A session.

"People were saying, 'Wow, I had a total misconception of Arab women. I kind of had to question myself and my beliefs'," Konig says.

"In Amsterdam, a woman came up to me and told me she'd been a plumber for 30 years and had faced similar struggles being in a male-dominated profession. It's a story about women over 40 and we met a lot of women in that age group trying to find a new focus – they felt empowered by this."

Konig says she hopes the screenings in Germany next month will continue to change people's perceptions of the Arab world.

The Old Slave and the Mastiff

Patrick Chamoiseau

Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale

THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

The Uefa Awards winners

Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)

Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League

Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)

Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)

Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona

CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%0D%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%0D%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%0D%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%0D%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%0D%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%0D%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%0D%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%E2%80%AF%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%0D%3Cbr%3ENaomi%20Osaka%20(Japan)%20-%20wildcard%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20-%20wildcard%3Cbr%3EAlexandra%20Eala%20(Philippines)%20-%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Martin Sabbagh profile

Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East

In the role: Since January 2015

Lives: In the UAE

Background: M&A, investment banking

Studied: Corporate finance

Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a  month before Reaching the Last Mile.

Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
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The%20specs
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The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Fresh faces in UAE side

Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.

Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.

Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.

Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.

Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.

MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

The biog

Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha

Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude

Holiday destination: Sri Lanka

First car: VW Golf

Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters

Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars

Traces%20of%20Enayat
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Iman%20Mersal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20And%20Other%20Stories%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3C%2Fp%3E%0A