By Aasma Day
Monday June 13, 2022
Jawahir Roble, known as JJ has partnered with In Kind Direct for their 25th Anniversary as they urgently appeal for more product donations from companies, retailers and brands (Photo: Nick Andrews)
Eating in war-ravaged Somalia as a youngster, Jawahir Roble
remembers saving food and not eating a mouthful more than she needed, in case
someone else in her family needed it.
“You become conscious of food waste when there isn’t a lot
of food around and living in a war zone in Somalia, there were a lot of
families who were left with nothing,” she says.
“When the civil war broke out, everyone was so confused and
a lot of people didn’t have the basic essentials. They were just surviving. It
wasn’t safe to do shopping and it was like the pandemic and everything was
closed.
“If anyone saw you on the street, you could literally die –
that’s how bad it was. Our parents were risking their lives every time they
went out quickly to get some essentials. It was a run for your life situation.”
Jawahir Roble, known as JJ, began playing football in Somalia agec four and has worked hard to become a referee (Photo: JJ instagram)
Jawahir, known as Jawahir Jewels or JJ, came to the UK with
her family from Somalia when she was 10-years-old and they forged a new life in
London despite not being able to speak a word of English when they arrived.
Now 28, JJ made history by becoming the first Muslim woman
to referee a football match in the UK and she dreams of becoming a “top
referee” and officiating games in the Premier League.
She began playing football in Somalia around the age of four
and has worked hard to become a referee despite being brought up in a culture
where women and girls are not normally seen in sports such as football.
“I began playing football in Somalia when I was young and
loved it,” she says. “I knew deep in my heart I wanted to be involved in
sports, especially football. Then when I came to this country, I thought:
‘Girls actually play sports here. People are free and no one cares or is
judging them.’
“If I had stayed in Somalia, I think it would have been
difficult for me to pursue my passion.”
Jawahir Roble, known as JJ, is the UK’s first female Muslim referee and wears a hijab (Photo: Nick Andrews)
However, JJ had to fight a lot of stereotypes and opposition
before she achieved her goal.
“My parents would ask: ‘Do you see a single girl wearing a
hijab playing football or representing England?’ They said I couldn’t be part
of it because of the amount of abuse I would get.
“At the end of the day, they were just looking out for me.
But I had to educate them and tell them how sports helps with your fitness,
your mental health and has so many benefits and that you meet so many people through
it.”
JJ began refereeing and was thrilled to be back on the
football pitch and running around. “As a referee, you get to see everything
close up and feel the emotions of the players. I’m just living my dream,” she
says.
“I don’t care what pitch it is or how big it is, as long as
we’re playing football, I’m good.”
JJ became the first hijab wearing referee in the country and
says her parents are now immensely proud of her, particularly when they hear
she is an inspiration to other girls.
“Who cares what you look like?” asks JJ. “Who cares if
you’re Black or whatever religion you are? As long as you are a positive person
who is encouraging girls to be involved in sports, that’s what matters.
Jawahir Roble, known as JJ, says she will never forget having to escape war and her experience of living in poverty (Photo: JJ instagram)
“My dreams for the future are to become a world recognised
referee and to encourage as many girls as possible into sports. I want girls to
say: ‘I started playing football because of JJ.’ That would make me so happy.’
Despite all her achievements, JJ says she will never forget
having to escape war and her experience of living in poverty after her family
arrived in the UK “with nothing”.
She told i that although the UK is seen as a place of
plenty, there are many people who are struggling to afford necessities,
particularly during the cost of living crisis with food and energy prices
pushing many families over the edge.
It’s for this reason she has become an ambassador for In
Kind Direct, a UK charity which distributes consumer goods donated by companies
to UK charitable organisations working in the UK and overseas.
JJ, who has eight siblings, says she is particularly
saddened by the thought of young people being unable to afford hygiene products
such as period supplies, deodorant and shower gel and fears it could stop them
making the most of life-changing opportunities or taking part in sport.
“My family were lucky enough to get a visa to come to the
UK,” she says. “I was frightened at how fast the war happened and how things
got worse without any warning.
“One moment, life was good in Somalia – we were enjoying it
and having the best time and it was sunny all year round. Then suddenly, we
were not even allowed to enjoy our own country.
“When we came to the UK, it was like; ‘Gosh, there’s people
walking around. There’s no one running. You can’t hear bullets. This is such a
nice place.’ We felt so happy as a family when we came to the UK,” says JJ.
“We weren’t worried about getting killed and weren’t
thinking about getting the basic stuff as the shops were just there. It felt
like a safe haven and an amazing place.”
When JJ’s family arrived in the UK, they had to borrow money
from family members who came before them. “We were so grateful to be given a
home, but had to figure out everything from food, to essential stuff such as
schools.
“We lived very carefully at first as my dad said: ‘We have
to save so can only get important things.’ But when we started getting
comfortable, we were able to have treats like sweets and stuff.”
JJ says she was lucky not to have started her period when
she was living in Somalia and that it only came later after she moved to the
UK. She said girls in Somalia often struggled to get hold of sanitary products
during their periods and had to use cloths which were uncomfortable.
She says: “You would never think there are people in the UK
who need the basics too as it is a developed country. But there are a lot of
people who are struggling.
“It shouldn’t be like that and basic things like deodorant,
shower gel and period products are not things struggling families should be
having to go without.”
Jawahir Roble, known as JJ, says ‘says: ‘You would never think there are people in the UK who need the basics too as it is a developed country. But a lot of people are struggling’ (Photo: JJ instagram)
When In Kind Direct asked JJ to become their ambassador for
their 25th anniversary as they appeal for more product donations from
companies, retailers and brands, JJ was keen to represent the charity as she
believes in the work they are doing.
Founded in 1996 by the Prince of Wales, In Kind Direct
believes that everyone deserves access to life’s essentials and that no usable
product should go to waste.