Oloom Ahmad Haidara lives with her husband Fouad, their son Fuad, his wife and their five children, in the village of Hufra in the Al Dhuba district of Yemen. Oloom comes from one of the most marginalised groups in the country; Al Fia'a al Muhammasha, or Al Akhdam (the servants). The group is comprised of descendents of former Ethiopian slaves brought to Yemen hundreds of years ago and the group still suffers from significant discrimination today. Socially, economically and politically excluded, they belong to the poorest of Yemeni society.

IR Yemen (IRY) constructed a health centre and provided houses with direct access to clean water in the village where Oloom and her family live. The work was part of the Al Selo Water and Health Programme.

Oloom is known locally as ‘The mother of orphan's’ after taking in her sister-in-law’s four children when she died. In addition she adopted a fifth child Samiha whose mother died while giving birth and whose father refused to raise her.