Ode to Rahma el Mouden | Ode to Rahma El Mouden

Ode to my mother, Rahma el Mouden
 

Dear Mom,
 

I am writing you this letter for two main reasons: first, to let you know how incredibly grateful I am to you, and second, to express my immense admiration for you.
 

More than 50 years ago, as a young, married woman, you came to Amsterdam from Tangier, Morocco. A new world full of challenges and opportunities. Together with Dad you traveled a long and often difficult road. You described this journey beautifully in your book “My Way to Freedom,” in which you not only share your impressive life story, but also tell how you founded your own cleaning company, MAS Dienstverleners, in 1997.

You and Dad gave us, my brother and me, a happy childhood. Thanks to you, we were able to discover our parents' homeland during our vacations and were given the freedom to choose our own path.
 

MAS Service Providers has now grown into the MAS Group, and you have transferred the daily management to me. In doing so, you have fulfilled your wish that MAS will always be led by a woman. A tradition that I am proud to continue and, inshallah (God willing), will pass on to my daughter Noor.
 

I am incredibly grateful to you for all that you have accomplished. Your perseverance and unimaginable hard work not only paved the way for me and my daughters, but also taught us the importance of independence. Thanks to you, we can follow our own path and have become, alhamdoelillah (all praise be to God), responsible and independent adults. We each contribute in our own way to this beautiful society - a precious gift that I will never take for granted.
 

I admire your strength and determination, especially as you have always continued to fight for your dreams despite obstacles and opposition from society. You raised us bi-culturally and gave us the richness of both Dutch and Moroccan values. That is a gift I will cherish forever.
 

Dear Mom, you are my greatest role model: caring, loving and a strong, independent woman. Thanks to you, I know how powerful women can be, and I am proud to be your daughter. My boundless thanks for all you have done for me and our family.
 

With all my love, Your daughter,
 

Oumaima