by Kathy Span
images by Dagny Piasecki (SHDW Studios), Erin Outdoors, & Celeste Hope
Amal Safdar Wilemon
A modern, beautiful, firebrand of a woman.
Born of first-generation Pakistani immigrants who met for the first time on their arranged wedding night and are still very much in love today. To say that Amal was from a “traditional” Muslim family would be an understatement. Amal is also a Texan, born and raised in Arlington, educated at the University of Texas, and now living in Austin. Oh, and she is married to an Episcopal Priest who, with Amal’s collaboration, operates the amazing nonprofit Ubuntu Life, serving women and children in Kenya. Amal’s and Zane’s families all get along, even the extended family who live on opposite sides of the planet and are from completely different backgrounds. This is a blended family that makes Modern Family seem antiquated. Why? Because Amal is a force that will not be denied, and together with her beloved, they are unstoppable.
I realized the power of people; the power of women having each other’s back.
Amal Wilemon
Before meeting her husband Zane, Amal lived in New York City. After college, she’d worked her way into the New York fashion scene and soon was producing big-time runway shows. She describes this as, “Very high-intensity, very high-fashion, very fun-20’s life.” But it began to feel like something was missing:
I woke up and I was 31 and realized I so much wanted more. I loved what I did and I was really good at it. But I just felt empty. I wanted a purpose; I wanted a sense of community. I wanted a slower-paced life. So I came back to Austin wanting that sense of community, knowing that eventually I wanted to meet someone and settle down. I wasn’t making any of those things priority in New York; it was just work work work, go go go.
So I took several deep breaths and came back to Austin with that in mind. With a new focus on what I really wanted.
Amal Wilemon
Listening and following her inner guide, Amal moved back to Austin in 2011. She met her now-husband and partner Zane shortly thereafter. She describes their romance as a blend of attraction and faith:
Our love for God, our spirituality, was important. On one of our first dates, we went so far deep down into our appreciation of God and faith and family; those values are very much in sync. Our two religions are very compatible. Each day I learn so much from him through his faith, and I think Zane told me that before me, he knew very little about the Muslim faith.
His parents and grandmother were concerned when they found out we were dating. His grandmother said, ‘Well, I’ve heard you are dating this Muslim girl, and I’m just going to pray for you. And pray that this relationship doesn’t work out.’ She is 98 years old, and she has now been to my parents’ house celebrating Ramadan. It has been remarkable being an example that we are all God’s children. We are all One
Amal Wilemon
Once back in Austin, Amal started producing large events and then was hired to launch a members-only social club. She was in a slower-paced city but the fast life was taking over again:
Around this time Zane and I became pretty serious. We knew this was the real thing. We wanted to get married and create this life together, but there I was working in this fast-pace nightlife scene, and Zane was struggling to take Ubuntu Life to the next level, which included frequent long trips to Africa.
We talked it through. I have this incredible ability to get people excited about what I am excited about. I have always used so much of my network and talent for other people as opposed to using them for myself, or those I love. We started talking about what if I came to work for him and started putting some of my energies into Ubuntu Life.
It was scary. Scary to leave a field where I had done so well. And these women and children were his family. He had been doing this for 18 years, and this was his life. But I felt I needed to take the leap. It was calling me. I felt like this was God opening the door and showing me something. Asking me to step in. So I did.
Amal Wilemon
Once again, Amal listened and aligned her actions to her inner guidance. Amal’s faith was borne out. Working together to grow the reach of Ubuntu Life has been fantastic for everyone. She feels so honored to be a part of Ubuntu. She remembers when she first went to Kenya and was embraced by the Maker Mums and the entire Ubuntu community:
That trip broke me wide open; it changed every-thing for me. When you go and you meet these incredible women and the kids, it just hits you and you are overwhelmed with emotion. Their spirit is so joyful and they are so honored that you care to the extent you do and so grateful for the jobs that you’ve created alongside them. The love that they had for Zane. The love that I could see they had for me. I realized the power of people; the power of women having each other’s back.
Amal Wilemon
Now two years into her marriage and full on into her role as head of business development, Amal is both proud and excited by what she has accomplished:
Zane and I are a perfect team. I like to say I am the starter and he is the closer. I love getting people excited about Ubuntu. I enjoy showing them a way to be a part of our tribe, our community, having them donate money and time; we’re building corporate partnerships that will allow Ubuntu to become that rarest of nonprofits: self-sustaining.
Partnerships like with Goodio, the Finnish-based chocolate company who harmoniously combined Ubuntu’s East African coffee and organic, non-GMO cacao from farms in Peru, Ecuador and the Congo, are wins for everybody. They take our story and we create the branding, and it’s on the shelves and sold in Whole Foods Market globally. We get a percentage from each chocolate bar that is sold. So it’s a win for them and a win for Ubuntu.
Another partnership is with Allegro Coffee Company; together we have developed Café Ubuntu Coffee that is sold through Whole Foods Market. Partnerships, community and collaboration are all critical components of our work.
The Maker Mums’ story shows how this work ripples out. It is so amazing empowering women to help themselves. The organization is on fire right now. So many of these women are starting side businesses – hair salons, farming, taxi services – and buying their own land, building their own homes. There is so much more that can be done. I am excited about living in Kenya more.
Amal Wilemon
Amal considers herself blessed to have found something and someone that fuels her intense passion for connection: “I’m now in my rhythm, my peace, my Zen.”
Visit the Ubuntu Life website
UBUNTU.LIFE