# The Gift

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/the-gift/
- Published: 2023-11-16T16:52:06+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**One woman’s journey from tragedy to building a global business for good**.

An entrepreneur and philanthropist, holding a PhD in multiculturalism and specialising
in women’s rights, Dr Zareen Roohi Ahmed is the founder of Gift Wellness, a social
enterprise which boasts an award-winning range of natural toiletries that have not
only received accolades but catalysed a movement against period poverty. She is 
also the founder and Chair of The Halimah Trust which works in some of the poorest
parts of the world providing education and vital aid.

Zareen’s book **The Gift** is her tale of overwhelming resilience, determination
and purpose and the life-changing impact she has had on many. After tragically losing
her daughter Halimah in 2007, instead of succumbing to the pain, Zareen channelled
her grief into action, established a charity in Halimah’s honour and dedicated herself
to helping women and girls around the world.

![The Gift - on Kindle, mobile phone and in print.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2023/11/the-gift-zareen-ahmed-publishing-formats.webp)

Photo: Dr Zareen Ahmed

Throughout The Gift, Zareen outlines how she made her purpose a reality, sharing
her vision for tackling period poverty, one of the most pervasive issues affecting
women and girls worldwide, and revolutionising the fem-care industry with accessible,
safe and sustainable period products. She explores the creation of her unique range
of toiletries, from establishing Gift Wellness as a business to researching the 
product formula and distributing period products to displaced women and women in
crisis through the Gift Wellness Foundation.

The Gift is also a tender and moving account of Zareen’s commitment to continuing
Halimah’s legacy – a passion for Third World Development, social enterprise and 
education. Establishing The Halimah Trust in her name, Zareen writes about the process
of setting up The Halimah School of Excellence and Halimah College in Pakistan which
provides education for 1000 girls aged four to eighteen, plus the ongoing impact
the charity has on communities there.

The book goes on to cover how Zareen champions women’s voices and needs on a range
of topics, including battling workplace stigma around menstrual health and her innovative
new app to ensure those who need it can always access period products.

A story of undeniable strength, impressive innovation, and overwhelming heart, The
Gift is an inspiring and thought-provoking story of how one woman transformed personal
loss into an entrepreneurial journey that has touched the lives of many across the
globe.

## Reviews

“Zareen’s story is an impactful reminder that we all have the power to create change
in the world. Whether it’s through business, charity or simply helping those around
us, we can all make a difference. Zareen’s journey is proof that with determination,
purpose and a belief in oneself, anything is possible.”
_**Dr Sam Collins**, CEO
and founder of Aspire for Equality_

## About the author

Dr Zareen Roohi Ahmed is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder and CEO of 
Gift Wellness,
which produces a range of sustainable, natural, high-quality sanitary
products that empower womenwhile promoting kindness and compassion.

She is also the founder and Chair of The Halimah Trust, through which she transformed
personal grief into global good, founding the charity in honour of her daughter.
The organisation works to improve the lives of orphaned and needy children through
education and responding to the needs of people in crisis. In addition, Zareen holds
a PhD in multiculturalism, specialising in women’s rights, has spearheaded urban
regeneration initiatives, represented Britain on foreign office delegations as CEO
of the British Muslim Forum and is a keynote speaker and podcast guest.