Fatima Rashad 

Yemen — On her journey toward her dream, the young Yemeni woman Farah Qaed managed to fulfill her childhood ambition of becoming a radio presenter and an artist. Throughout this journey, she never underestimated her dream for a single moment, nor did her passion ever fade; instead, she continued to strive and search relentlessly. 

Farah Qaed is a radio presenter who fell in love with radio broadcasting in her childhood. Her beginnings were through school radio, where her melodious voice resonated as she sang songs she had loved since an early age. 

Farah Qaed is not only a radio presenter; she is also an artist and an oud player in an all-women music band in the Yemeni capital, Aden. She says, “My experience began when I was a school student. That was when I discovered that I had a great potential in this field, and from there a dream was formed—to become a radio presenter in the future.” 

She explained that after studying media, she officially embarked on this path: 

“I chose to specialize in radio and television and pursued my dream in this field. Fortunately, while researching media studies, and during my second year at university, I began writing short stories and articles. I happened to come across a job announcement at a radio station and applied. That was the real beginning of my career in media.” 

Farah Qaed pointed out that in her radio work she focused on community-based programs that directly touch people’s lives, especially issues related to peace, children, women’s rights, and the environment. 

“As a woman, I felt it was my responsibility to speak about women’s issues,” she said. 

An Artistic Experience 

Her relationship with art grew within her from an early age. She listened to songs and music, and her dream was to sing on stage. 

“This dream came true when I joined the women’s music band as an oud player. Although my experience was modest, it left a deep impact on me,” she said. 

She noted that her entry into the artistic field was driven by passion and personal inclination. 

“I searched for opportunities that could develop my artistic skills, and through my work in radio, I focused on artistic aspects. I happened to meet people in this field, and they became my gateway into the artistic world, after which I became known as the artist Farah.” 

Artistic and Media Challenges 

Farah Qaed, who continues to pursue her artistic and media ambitions, affirms that “there were many difficulties standing in the way of my dream. In the artistic field, I faced significant bullying, and there was little encouragement to continue in art. In addition to the political situation, artistic opportunities are limited, and many young people live trapped with their dreams without being able to move forward—I was one of them.” 

She added, “My dream was paused due to the need to earn a living and search for work. I left the artistic field with the hope that one day I would return to it. For now, I am focusing more on my professional career as a media worker.” 

She continued with sadness, noting that society’s view of art—although she personally tries to ignore it—remains one of the difficulties she faced, especially since the financial return is not sufficient for artists to sustain themselves. 

Regarding challenges in the media field, Farah Qaed said they are not very different from those in the artistic field. 

“Opportunities are limited and competition is fierce. While I was fortunate to secure a job in media, many others struggle greatly to find an opportunity.” 

A Women’s Band 

Speaking about the women’s music band she was part of, she said: 

“Our band began as a kind of social surprise. Some people were happy when it was established, while others attacked it and were shocked to see women holding musical instruments. Campaigns were launched against us at the time in an intense attempt to stop the band, but we continued despite that. The only obstacle that eventually forced us to stop was the lack of financial return.” 

Farah Qaed also spoke about a difficult experience she went through, explaining that she was subjected to cybercrime when her identity was impersonated at one stage. She overcame the experience psychologically and now views it as one of the challenges she faced and successfully surpassed. 

She concluded by emphasizing that she continues despite all challenges and still holds onto her dream: 

“To become an inspiration in both the artistic and media fields. I still practice music at home, but on the guitar—I replaced the oud with it for reasons beyond my control.”