Fathmath Fizna

For Fathmath Fizna Yoosuf, SAR100 taught her that when women support and empower other women, anything is possible.

An engineer by trade, Fathmath currently works as Director of Market Development and Planning at the Maldives Energy Authority. Established by a presidential decree in 2006, the Authority provides all electricity services in the Maldives as a public utility service.

In 2023, Fathmath joined 100 other impressive female South Asian engineers for the opportunity of a lifetime – the WePOWER SAR100 training program, delivered by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Running across 8-months and culminating with a capstone week at the AIT Bangkok campus in March 2024, the course was made possible for participants like Fathmath through the AU $32 million South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC) Program, which is funded by the Australian Government and implemented by Palladium alongside the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

Says Fathmath, "SAR100 has given me a chance to build a happier and healthier work environment. In fact, I can confidently now say that I can work out solutions using PSSE software with little (or no!) guidance from my fellow male workers."

Through her group research assignment, Smart Grid Technology and Application in South Asia, Fathmath was also able to better learn and understand the power sector challenges facing South Asian countries. She praises the insights offered by her fellow engineers.

"My coworkers offered to work out the quizzes in some of the modules, and they offered a more technical background when it came to the power sector review."

Technical training aside, Fathmath is honest about the challenges of balancing the long study hours with her regular life.

"Sometimes I struggled to concentrate on class and also attend housework and other chores which required my attention. However, no matter what we pulled through the day, I would listen to the lectures and gain some insight into what the resource person had to offer," she explains. "I was able to adapt and balance my work."

In the true SAR100 spirit of connection and collaboration, Fathmath points to the power of family and female support as motivating forces over the 8-months.

"When it came to learning PSSE and attending the practical lessons, the level of motivation and guidance I received from my fellow engineers was surprisingly huge. The understanding and level of empathy also shown by my house enabled me to work extra long hours to complete the training. It led me to believe that it’s important to have each other’s backs no matter what you do in life."

Now a proud graduate of SAR100, Fathmath can reflect with confidence.

"I learnt that no matter the obstacles we face in life, you always have the courage to stand up and attend the course!"