Eight years ago, the girl Aya Haidar was living a normal, quiet life with her small family in a building close to the People’s Palace, east of the city of Taiz. However, when the palace was targeted in the first weeks of the war, and was turned into ruins later, Aya and her family were forced to flee in search of a safe haven.
Aya and her family, who hail from the Wesab district in Dhammar, settled in the Al-Hawban area, east of the city of Taiz which was controlled by Houthis, specifically in the Mawiyah Junction area. There, the fate was arranging for Aya’s family a new life full of variables and transformations that were not taken into account.
At that time, hopes were pinned on an imminent return to their home after the flames of war had subsided, so the family left all their possessions behind them, while the father was dragging a dilapidated Hilux car with him towards his new station in life. At that time, Aya Haidar left the classroom in the ninth grade in the hope of for a long-awaited return soon.
The Idea of the Hilux Mall
On the ruins of her father's dilapidated Hilux car, Aya could draw an unusual success story when she was eight years old, and she became the heroine of that story, as the girl, who had not yet completed her second decade of age, became the owner of a commercial brand called "Hilux Mall", On board, Aya sells incense, perfumes, children's toys, and some popular goods.
Aya Haidar said, in an exclusive interview with Khuyut, in Mawiyah Junction, the area where the family settled to escape the specter of war: “I lost my dream of resuming my schooling, as I had to leave the seat of the education train to settle here on the sidewalk in search of a source of livelihood that would meet my family’s needs.” "It was necessary as I was no longer able to continue my education. It was very difficult, and my attempt to attend school here failed, because I could not adapt to the new lifestyle and in view of my new responsibility. I found myself forced to temporarily abandon my dream."
There, in their new station, fate had in store for them a date with awaiting suffering, as the fires of war burned up the body of their only breadwinner while he was selling Qat beneath the Sofitel Hotel in the Al-Hawban area.
Haider’s mother said in an exclusive interview with “Khuyut”: “After we were displaced from our apartment in Sana’a car station, my eldest son was working as a Qat seller beneath the Sofitel Hotel, but he was killed after a shell tore through his body. His death was a tragedy for us given that he was the only breadwinner of the family after his father’s incapacity, and the calamity was greater than we could bear, but God stood with us, and we were receiving new shocks with patience and consideration.”
Fate doubled the family's suffering; when the spiteful disease claimed the life of the second son, all of the family’s attempts to save his life were unsuccessful, according to what his mother told Khuyut.
For eight years, Aya has been working regularly in her new mobile store, and her activity in selling incense derivatives and perfumes has been remarkably well-received by people who praise the quality of the distinctive mixtures she makes.
The idea that developed
In the arena of miserable reality, fate inspired Aya Haidar to adopt an unusual idea, to be the title and the beginning of a new station of success and stability, in the face of a harsh life that brought her family a lot of pain, and from her father’s old Hilux car, she was inspired by the idea of her new project.
Haider spoke with great enthusiasm about the idea of her project, and the uniqueness of this extraordinary name. Aya Haidar told Khuyut: “The idea of (Hilux Mall) was the closest possible and implementable idea that came to my mind to be the savior of what we are in. I am a stubborn person by nature, and despite my young age, I insist on achieving what I aspire to.”
Regarding the summary of the idea for her new project, she said: “The idea was based on making better use of my father’s old Hilux car and investing it in creating a project suitable for me as a girl. My idea focused on re-converting the Hilux and changing its shape so that the open part is closed through an iron cage that ends with a tightly closed door.” And it will be the place from which I will launch my project.”
After implementing her idea on the ground, Haider did not take long to determine the appropriate activity for the Hilux Mall project, and the idea of making incense and its derivatives from yogurt and greens and mixing perfumes was the most appropriate choice for her next activity. She found what she was looking for in a low-cost project that would bring an appropriate financial return. Although she had no prior knowledge of the field of incense making, she went through the experience with great determination. YouTube was her first teacher in exploring this profession, and the spirit of adventure motivated her to take it to the street, becoming the first girl to sell incense and perfumes on the sidewalk of Mawiyah Junction Street, with the signage brand “Hilux Mall.”
For eight years, Aya has been working regularly in her new store, and her activity in selling incense products and perfumes has been remarkably well-received by people who praise the quality of the distinctive mixtures she makes.
Out of the mother’s fear for her daughter, who works on the sidewalk, her mother made the decision to go to work next to her in her mall in the dilapidated car.
Her mother concludes her speech to Khuyut by saying: “There is no livelihood that comes easy. Life is difficult and requires patience. We are three women and we have a great responsibility, so we believe that a lawful livelihood is better than extending our hands to beg from people.”
