Maryam: A Saudi Woman’s Journey from Shadow to Light at the Heart of National Transformation
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At the heart of Riyadh, where ambitions are being transformed into tangible reality, women’s success stories are redefining the role of women in Saudi society. Among these narratives, the journey of Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Husseini stands out—rising from a public school teacher in Jazan Province to become the first Saudi woman appointed to manage a fully government-funded sustainable development project, a milestone among the most significant achievements of Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Program 2030.
Maryam began her teaching career in 2010 after graduating from Umm Al-Qura University with a degree in education. She worked at a secondary school in Bisha Governorate, where she observed low academic performance among female students, particularly in science subjects. Rather than accepting the status quo, she launched a local initiative in 2018 called “Noor Al-Ilm” (Light of Knowledge), aimed at supporting female students from low-income families by providing textbooks, e-books, and academic mentoring sessions. According to a 2021 report by the Ministry of Education, the initiative boosted student academic achievement rates at her school from 62% to 89% within just three years.
This initiative was more than a local effort—it caught the attention of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, which in 2020 approved 5 million SAR in funding under its “Empowering Women in Society” program. In June 2023, Maryam was appointed Executive Director of the project, transforming it from a school-based initiative into a national program spanning 14 regions and benefiting over 12,000 female students, according to October 2023 figures released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Riyadh newspaper, Maryam said: “Education is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right. When women are given the opportunity to contribute with awareness and structure, they don’t just change the life of one student—they reshape the entire future of a community.” She added: “What we are experiencing today is not a miracle; it is the fruit of political will and institutional support never before granted.”
According to a report by the General Authority for Statistics, women’s participation in the labor force rose from 20% in 2016 to 36% in 2023. Successful women-led initiatives now top the list of projects supported by the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF), with 67% of funded projects led by female managers.
Today, Maryam stands as a living embodiment of the Saudi woman who does not wait for change—she shapes it. Since taking charge of the project, she has developed a digital platform enabling students to access tailored educational content, hired 45 academic mentors who are Saudi university graduates, and established six mobile development centers in remote regions.
At the conclusion of her journey, Maryam says: “We did not start with a project—we started with a mission. Our mission is that no one should be excluded from learning, and no one should be barred from leadership.”
Maryam did not merely change a chapter in a textbook—she rewrote an entire chapter in the history of Saudi women. From teacher to national project leader, she is proof that real change does not begin solely with laws, but with individuals who believe that opportunity must be for everyone.
صحيفة عكاظ اليوم ، موقع إخباري شامل يهتم بتقديم خدمة صحفية متميزة للقارئ، وهدفنا أن نصل لقرائنا الأعزاء بالخبر الأدق والأسرع والحصري بما يليق بقواعد وقيم الأسرة السعودية، لذلك نقدم لكم مجموعة كبيرة من الأخبار المتنوعة داخل الأقسام التالية، الأخبار العالمية و المحلية، الاقتصاد، تكنولوجيا ، فن، أخبار الرياضة، منوعات و سياحة.