DAMMAM — Following your passion is definitely not always as simple as it sounds but Zahraa Hamaada made it so with her grit and determination. A graduate in media and communications, Hamaada identified that her passion for car décor, a profession entirely different from her formal education. The young Saudi woman made the most of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown period to convert challenges into golden opportunities and breaking the barriers of the profession hitherto dominated by men. "I found myself" in this job, she said. Zahraa, who hails from the Eastern Province, explained how she ended up in this profession. "I began with polishing cars of my brothers at home, and that was in a small scale. I loved this field and declared my desire to pursue it with all the courage a woman needs. I have had work experience in different fields until I found myself comfortable with polishing cars and shading and adorning them in all their forms," she said while emphasizing that she is currently seeking to develop and create a new work environment for young women in this thriving field. Zahraa said that her entry into the automotive world was during the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. "I received training from a Saudi automobile company, and I am still continuing my training until I achieve professional standards. I was able to open a government-supported project, and I am enjoying this profession, from which I learned accuracy, patience, and perseverance," she said. According to Zahraa, Saudi women are able to engage in many fields of work and prove their skills and talents in them. "This is why I look forward to opening the first women's project on polishing and decorating cars. Decorating and caring for cars is a unique world all together in which women can excel and prove their worth in this sector," she said while lauding the state's support for the empowerment of women in various fields so as to make them a pivotal component in building the edifice of the nation.
