For International Women’s Week 2022, Glasgow Women’s Library is pleased to celebrate five intergenerational stories as told by some of wonderful women from Pollokshields. We will be sharing one story each day this week.
She Settles in the Shields, an oral history book, was published by Glasgow Women’s Library ten years ago in order to acknowledge and celebrate the lives of migrant women who settled in the Pollokshields area of Glasgow.
The sequel provides a unique opportunity to explore the intergenerational stories of women from the migrant families who settled in the area.
The value of intergenerational work is extensive. It allows for the sharing of culture, traditions and values – as well as modern and contemporary ideas – between generations. This not only helps build a sense of personal and community identity but encourages a deeper understanding and tolerance.
Our first story – a family of four generations
After marriage in 1979, Tahira Ghaffar migrated to Scotland, to join her husband. She arrived in heart of Pollokshields and was blessed to have extended family nearby whom she keeps close ties with. Known for her kindness and hospitality, Tahira is a member of The Sakeenah Group (over 60’s Muslim Women’s Group) based at the Al Meezan Centre in Dumbreck and she keeps herself busy and enjoys taking part in projects about Women’s activism and empowerment.
Her daughter Sobiah, along with her sister Ayesha, are qualified dentists. Together they opened their first practice S&A Smile Clinic in 2014 in Pollokshields and second one in 2016 in Trongate and have won a number of awards for their service! Out with work, the sisters use their skills to support humanitarian work through World Care Foundation.
Sobiah’s daughter Zaynah has adopted many qualities from her mum & grandmother, and is now paving the way for other youth by recently being elected as the youngest member in Southside of Glasgow to join the Scottish Youth Parliament.
