Azoori receives a plaque from a representative of the Centennial Fund Saudi Gazette Nothing can stand in the way of 25-year old Manal Al-Azoori, not even the fact that she suffers from hearing impairment. Yes, in-spite of the fact that Al-Azoori cannot hear since birth, the strong-willed, hardworking, and ambitious young woman is the only Arab who qualified for the Youth Business International contest organized in London for the ‘Best Entrepreneur of the Year'. The winners will be announced in November and will receive a cash prize of $5,000. Al-Azoori's disability did not prevent her from leading a successful and productive life. She started her own women's beauty center in Jeddah and employed Saudi women who also suffered from hearing impairment. Her business received highly positive feedback over the internet, her friends and admirers even started an electronic campaign, appealing to the public to vote for her as the best entrepreneur of the year, with a slogan, “Hand in hand; victory for our very own nominee, Manal Al-Azoori.” Her proud father, Hamed Al-Azoori, who works for Saudia Airlines hopes that his daughter will bring home the prize. He told Al-Watan newspaper that Manal was born in the United States and was deaf at birth, but her disability was not discovered until later. She did well at school, graduated from high school, and wanted to study at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah but the university did not open its doors for deaf students. Determination pushed Al-Azoori to search for alternative paths to education. She completed several globally recognized computer courses and also took a sewing course and then she opened a beauty salon and a boutique with the help of her family. Being deaf did not stop her from finding work, social interaction, and financial independence. Not just that, she also opened up job opportunities for other deaf women. Al-Azoori's business qualified her for the Youth Business International competition. Her beauty salon provides advanced technologies in skin care and offers a variety of services including makeup, hair dressing, and tailoring. She is thankful to the support she received from the Human Resources Development Fund and the Centennial Fund that helped pave the way to success and realize her dreams. __
