Satisfashion UG’s Woman Crush Today Is Faridah Ashaba

'Change maker'

Faridah is a Ugandan female Commercial pilot and CEO of Bambino life foundation; an organization that promotes girl child education and empowerment, she is also the brand ambassador of Sky Plus young aviators club; an org that encourages children to join the aviation sector and the director of STEM queens Uganda, an initiative that encourages young girls to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, also being a chair global goodwill ambassadors Uganda chapter and a member of the ninety nines.

Faridah attended Shimoni Demonstration School, Bright Day and Boarding Primary School, Wanyange Girls Secondary School, Kyeizoba Girls Secondary School and St Peters Senior Secondary School Nsambya.

“I wanted to be in aviation but initially did not dream of becoming a pilot because I was not aware that Uganda trained pilots. I went to Soroti Flying School to study a diploma in Flight Operations and management but when I saw the pilots, I was excited. There were a few girls and I felt challenged.

President Museveni visited the school and asked to meet the students. He offered state scholarships and I forwarded my name. I finished my course and began looking for a job. It took two years for the scholarship list to come out. Eight students had been accepted and I was the only girl.” – Faridah said in an interview with Monitor

She is the daughter of Hajj Nsereko Mutumba, the spokesperson of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) – but was brought up by a single mother .Ashaba converted to Christianity and considers herself a proud remnant. There was a time when I had lost hope, and my spiritual Father prophesied that he had seen me in a cockpit. I was already flying but the small plane I fly does not really have a cockpit. A cockpit is for big planes. So, his prophecy encouraged me. I have found comfort in Christianity

Soaring high, Faridah Ashaba has already been where many dream of going but fear to tread. “I get a sense of freedom away from congestion and traffic. I am in a different world way, from everyone.”- Faridah Says

Her first solo flight in 2015 was a daunting experience. She flew around the circuit in Soroti in a Cessna 172 G1000 Glass Cockpit, a four-sitter high-wing trainer aircraft. Flying with an instructor is much easier because he tells the student what to do and what speed and power to use. Alone in the cockpit, Ashaba had to remind herself of all these things.

According to Ashaba, there are not more than 10 girls at Soroti Flying School and about 30 male students. “It is a challenging and frightening course. I do not think companies really favour women that much because when you apply for a job, they are thinking you will soon get pregnant and the entire time you are not working, your male counterparts will be working.”

Acording to Ashaba, the reason there are few women in the aviation industry is because men despise them, thinking they are weak and not fast enough with their hands. “They think we do not use our brains. You feel discriminated against. Sometimes, they think you have reached a certain stage because you are favoured or have slept with the instructor. I know for a fact that I am brighter than some of the guys that study aviation , so it always kills me when I see people look at me and feel they are better than me.

Faridah continues to show that women can not only survive in a male dominated sector but also thrive, her persistence and Passionate nature inspired by the need to evoke change is what makes her the perfect Woman Crush Today