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Interviewwith Nouria Hafsi“My goal is seeing Algerian womenand men in equal partnership.”Interviewed by Imene LardjaneThere are manyAlgerian womenwho go against thecomplexities anddifficulties thatanimate the positionof women in Algeriain order to take aproper status insociety and to makea change by provingthat women arestrong enough todo whatever theybelieve in. NouriaHafsi is just one ofthose women. Todayshe is interviewed toexplain how she isable to divide her lifebetween her job andher family.We have been hearing a lot aboutNouria Hafsi recently. How can youintroduce her as a woman?Nouria Hafsi is the general secretary ofthe National Union of Algerian Womenand a member of the National Rally forDemocracy. I am married and I have3 children. I do my best, and I keepfighting to defend the rights of women.I also love sports…I am a real footballenthusiast and I have been a member ofthe national handball team.How did Nouria Hafsi grow up into anactive Algerian woman? What role hasyour family played in all this?As I already told you, I love sports andI joined the handball team at a veryyoung age. So, I had the opportunity tomeet many women of different origins.This pushed me to be a fighter andmotivated me to help people. Regardingmy family, I was always free and able todo many things that my sister could notdo…I don’t know why, but it happenedlike that. For example, my sister wasnot allowed to go to the stadium towatch a football match, but I was. Thatwas a great experience! I went with mybrother to the stadium while my sisterdid not. Maybe my personality andattitude made it natural and acceptablefor them….My behavior made all thedifference! My family trusted me alot, and I was the first woman to goto a stadium in Saida and to be in thenational handball team. That was around1986 when I was becoming famous inSaida, and people enjoyed watchingme play……They just enjoyed seeingNouria in the stadium!You are famous for your challengingand leadership spirit. How is Nouria athome?When I was in Saida, my family used tohelp me create a balance between workand home. But when I came to AlgiersI had to do it myself. I do everything athome, just like any Algerian woman,from cleaning to cooking to helping mychildren with their studies.Do you find it difficult, as a woman, totake part of an important female unionin a world that is mainly dominated bymen?It is all about my personality. It’s simple:when you believe in something, youcan do it. I attended many conferences,and I met many strong women whohad a positive influence on my life,and then my education, attitude andpersonality help me to achieve whateverI believe in. To me, everything is possiblebecause I have met many obstacles butI never gave up….I fought, and I am stillfighting! Women have to prove that menare not always the strongest sex.How do you create a balance betweenthe professional Nouria and Nouria themother?Well, to tell you the truth, I sometimesfeel tired and stressed. I have a lotof work and I have to keep most ofit at home but I always find time formy family. My husband and childrenunderstand me….they know that I am amilitant.In your role as the general secretaryfor the National Union of Algerian