This MBM conversation is with social entrepreneur Rubina Nafees Fatima who is the Founder & Director of Hyderabad-based non-profit SAFA. For nearly 20 years, SAFA has been instrumental in supporting economically and socially marginalised communities in Hyderabad, through education, skill training, livelihoods, placements, and community wellbeing initiatives.
How Rubina decided to start SAFA and her journey up until then is what we discuss in this episode. From her early beginnings growing across different parts of the country, being raised by a progressive father, recognising the dissonance between her family’s values and societal norms, and sticking to her north star at every stage of her life. Now in her sixties, Rubina continues to dream towards expanding SAFA’s work and impact, and in her own words is ‘raring to go.’ This Women’s Day, do give this episode a listen.
About SAFA:
Website: https://www.safaindia.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safaindia
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/safango
Episode notes:
To learn more about the Islamic story of Safa and Marwa - Following Haajar’s Footsteps to a Feminist Reading of Islam (Aneesa Bodiat, JSTOR Daily, October 2019)
Crossing the River Musi: The Identity and Agency of Women | Rubina Nafees Fatima (TEDxHyderabad, April 2025)
Hyderabad: ‘Only 5% Muslims in Old City slums pursue higher edu’, says survey (The Siasat Daily, March 2023)
37 percent of women are single bread earners for families of which 43 percent are widows, 22 percent are divorced and 37 percent are single women abandoned by spouses.
Hijab ban: Karnataka high court upholds government order on headscarves (BBC, March 2022)
MBM visual identity design by Shazia Salam || Music by Jupneet Singh
