3. A famous woman from my country

We asked some British Council students to tell us about famous women from their country. This is what they said.

Princess Fatma Ismail, the patron of Egyptian knowledge, established the first university in Cairo after donating the land for the university and all the building construction costs. She was involved in a variety of charitable activities.
Ahmed, Egypt

Lika Kavjaradze was a Georgian woman. She was such a beautiful and talented actor, and everyone in Georgia loved her. And nowadays many people still like her, and her role in Georgian films. We are proud of her. Her most famous film is The Wishing Tree.
Diana, Georgia

Simona Halep is a professional tennis player from Romania. She started to play tennis at the age of four. With hard work, dedication and a lot of practice, she managed to win many international competitions. She was ranked world number one in singles competitions twice (between 2017 and 2019).
Beatrice, Romania

Samira Moussa was the first female Egyptian nuclear physicist. She was born on 3 March 1917 in Egypt and died on 5 August 1952 in a car crash in the USA. She won an Order of Science and Arts. She is also known as the mother of atomic energy. Her mother died of cancer, and her father was a famous political activist. She received a Fulbright Scholarship in Atomic Radiation from the University of California.
Maged, Egypt

Ana Aslan was a Romanian doctor specialising in gerontology. She highlighted the importance of procaine in the improvement of ageing. She discovered and prepared vitamin H3 (Gerovital H3), a geriatric product registered in 30 countries, and she invented a geriatric product which has her name 'Aslavital'. Many international personalities, such as Charlie Chaplin and Salvador Dali, used her treatment. She was a member of many international academies, such as the Romanian Academy of Medicine.
Carmen, Romania

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Tell us about a famous woman from your country.
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Happy International Women's Day!

I am proud of Ukrainian women who fight for their rights and the right to life!

One of the great Ukrainian women is Yulia Paievska.

Yulia ‘Taira’ Paievska is a well-known Ukrainian paramedic, military officer and commander of the ‘Angels of Taira’ evacuation unit.

Yulia has received numerous national and international awards, including the Order of the People's Hero of Ukraine, the state award ‘For Humanitarian Participation in the ATO,’ the Defender of the Fatherland medal, and international recognition as ‘The World's Bravest Woman’ from the US State Department. In 2022, she was included in the BBC's list of ‘100 Women’.

From early childhood, she was involved in sports, in particular aikido, where she earned a 5th dan and now heads the Mutokukai Ukraine federation. Yulia was educated at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine. Until 2014, she worked as a graphic designer and martial arts coach.

During the Revolution of Dignity, ‘Taira’ became a paramedic, helping the wounded. In 2014, she began teaching tactical medicine, developing her own course, which thousands of people have taken. Since then, she has worked on the front lines, saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.

In March 2022, Yulia and her driver were detained at a checkpoint while she was travelling along the ‘green corridor’ to provide assistance to the wounded. After her release in June 2022, ‘Taira’ recovered and took part in the international sports competition ‘Invictus Games’, where she won two gold medals and a bronze.

Hello:

In my Country, Argentina, a famous woman is Gabriela Sabatini, She was a famous tenis player. She had a lot of achievements in this sport and she is a good example like a person. She always does charity,

Jamala is a famous singer from Ukraine. In 2016 she won the Eurovision Song Contest with her song "1944". Jamala’s song "1944" is about the tragic deportation of the Crimean Tatar people by Joseph Stalin during World War II. Today, Jamala supports the Crimean Tatars and is against the war.

Türkan Saylan
Türkan Saylan was a pioneering Turkish doctor, academic, and human rights activist, especially known for her work in dermatology and for advocating for women's rights. She was an ardent supporter of education for girls and worked tirelessly for the development of healthcare services in Turkey. Saylan founded the Turkish Foundation for Children with Leukemia and also made significant contributions to the fight against leprosy in Turkey.
Halide Edib Adıvar
Halide Edib Adıvar was one of Turkey’s most influential writers, academics, and political figures. She is known for her novels, essays, and works that focused on the social and political changes in Turkey during the early 20th century. She was an advocate for women's rights and gender equality. As a prominent figure in the Turkish War of Independence, she also served as a role model for many women in Turkey and was involved in political activism.
Zübeyde Hanım (Cumhuriyet’i Anlamlandıran Anne - Mother Who Defines the Republic)
Zübeyde Hanım was the mother of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. Her role in his upbringing was crucial in shaping his values and the vision of the Republic of Turkey. Zübeyde Hanım's influence is often highlighted as a mother who contributed indirectly to the development of the Turkish Republic, making her a symbolic figure in understanding the transformation of Turkey.

Merve Dizdar
Merve Dizdar is a modern actress in Turkish cinema and television. She gained attention for her outstanding performances and contributions to the Turkish entertainment industry. Merve Dizdar, a Turkish actress, won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. This award recognized her talent and performance on a global scale. Merve Dizdar has become an important figure in Turkish cinema, known for her successful performances. Winning an award at such a prestigious event as the Cannes Film Festival marked a significant milestone in her career and in Turkish cinema.

Merve has become an inspiration to many young women pursuing careers in acting.

Dilhan Eryurt
Dilhan Eryurt was a prominent Turkish astronomer and the first female astronomer at the Turkish National Observatory. Her work in space science earned her recognition in both Turkey and internationally. Eryurt contributed to astronomical research and played an instrumental role in advancing Turkey's space science education.
Süreyya Ağaoğlu
Süreyya Ağaoğlu was a lawyer, writer, and one of Turkey's first female parliamentarians. She was known for her advocacy for women's rights and her influence in the legal profession. Ağaoğlu is often remembered for her pioneering spirit in both her career and for advocating for women’s equality in a conservative society.
These women have made invaluable contributions to Turkish society in various fields such as education, politics, science, literature, and entertainment, becoming role models for many generations.
Sabiha Gökçen, who was one of the first female fighter pilots in the world and the first female pilot in Turkey. She made history as a pioneering figure in aviation and served in the Turkish Air Force, gaining admiration for breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. She was also adopted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. Sabiha Gökçen remains a symbol of strength, determination, and achievement in Turkish history.

A famous woman from my hometown is Maria Mudryak. She is a young but outstanding opera singer who studied opera in Italy. She has won multiple prizes for her perfomance and she 's been singing on the best world stages since her graduation. She is only in her thirties now so everything is ahead!

While Marie Popelin was the first woman in Belgium to obtain a law degree – from the ULB in 1888 – she was not allowed to practice law, a profession closed to women. This contradiction led her to found Belgium’s first organisation dedicated to women’s rights. She was ceaselessly harassed by the public and private sector and in the media, with cartoons popping up depicting her breastfeeding in court and leaving domestic duties to her victimised husband. Popelin’s work led to women being admitted to the bar in the 1920s, but she did not live to see it, having died in 1913.

Clarice Lispector is a famous brazilian writer from the last century, her work is still studied in schools and universities.

Shakira, she is a wonder artist, a example of female empowerment, she have a foundation called barefoot

Nirmala Sitaraman, finance minister of India. She is very intelligent and hardworking woman. She had struggled a lot to get in this position, being the first woman finance minister of India is a proud thing to say.