Ibtisam Ighfir

Benghazi - Naima Aqwia was a journalist and writer but she changed her career. Now she is a teacher for children in Benghazi, city of Libya. She says she is happy and proud of being a teacher.

She decided to be a teacher after she participated in cultural activities for students by the Education Office in Benghazi.  During these activities, the education office chooses talented students for the literary studies, such as reading poems or telling stories.  Naima said, “I did have no thought of staying away from writing, but my destiny brought me where I am now.” 

I can't depend on men

Naima Aqwia wanted to develop her idea and she asked questions to specialists on children to learn more. The specialists motivated her to open a special school for children.

She named her school, "Al-Nida Al-Rafi". She worked on registration, license, legal and administrative procedures to open the school for a year.

Her project helped her to earn an income for her and her husband while the economic situation in Libya was very bad due to the civil war. She said, “I am an independent woman who tries to achieve her goals. I refuse to depend on men to run my economic affairs.

 "I had no intention to change my career”

 Naima Aqwia graduated from Benghazi University "Qaryounis" in 1997, and she worked for most of the Libyan newspapers at that time, and she also wrote stories.

Now, she wants to write her first novel about her story, how she decided to work with children, parents, and teachers.

She has currently prepared a radio program in the name of al-Hakim and she has also worked on a new cultural program.

 Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on her work

Naima has been affected by the lockdowns imposed in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  But she has kept working despite the challenges she has faced. "The most important thing is that I will keep working on my project and I will do my best to develop it,” said Naima.