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Through its Haith Al-Insan program in its seventh season, Tawakkol Karman Foundation has funded a project for a Yemeni engineer in the village of Al-Akmah, located in the Al-Turbah district of Taiz governorate (southwest Yemen). This initiative comes after 40 years of waiting and fascination with a machine he once worked on in a factory.
Engineer Abdul-Salam Thabet, who specialized in the maintenance and design of household appliance molding machines, was forced by the circumstances of war to take on various jobs—his last being firewood collection in his village to sell to bakeries, securing basic necessities for his large family.
His journey in manufacturing household appliances began in 1977 when he was mesmerized by the molding machine at a factory in Hodeidah governorate (western Yemen). From that moment on, his eyes were set on nothing else.
"In 1977, I started as a porter, then moved on to working with household appliance molding machines. But my real interest was in the maintenance department—how they shaped metal and plastic molds. I worked there for 17 years until 1994, after which I enrolled in a vocational training center. When I returned to the factory, I had acquired expertise in mold shaping and machine spare part manufacturing," Thabet recalled.
Later, he was sent on a training course to Jordan in the field of maintenance. He then landed a managerial position at another company, where he developed a specialized machine for metal mold shaping.
However, the war changed everything. Factories shut down, and his search for work proved futile. He moved to Taiz, where job opportunities dwindled due to the war, making him one of its many victims. The household appliance factories ceased operations, and the factory where he had once worked in Hodeidah was completely looted.
Despite the hardships, Thabet never gave up on his dream. He held onto the vision of that machine, hoping to own one himself and revive his craft. His determination was fueled by a desire to pass on his knowledge to others, ensuring a sustainable livelihood for his community.
It was at this point that Haith Al-Insan stepped in, designing a comprehensive project for him, backed by Tawakkol Karman Foundation. The initiative led to the establishment of a fully equipped workshop and factory, restoring everything he had lost over the years. The facility, now known as "Bin Thabet Workshop and Factory for Household Metal Appliances," has begun supplying the local market, competing alongside well-established manufacturers. The brand name? "Made in Al-Akmah."
Expressing his deep gratitude, Thabet said, "I am overwhelmed with joy. I will never forget this day as long as I live. What I once dreamed of has finally become a reality. This project is a new beginning, not just for me but for my community as well."
He further added, "I sincerely thank Tawakkol Karman Foundation for this generous support—not just for me, but for many others. This initiative reflects the noble mission of a foundation dedicated to serving the country."
