What does it mean to be free, really free, when freedom has never been guaranteed?
In this rerun episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, I sit down with Hana Assafiri OAM: activist, entrepreneur, author, and founder of the iconic Moroccan Soup Bar. Hana’s story is not framed by victimhood, but by defiance, clarity, and conviction.
Born to Lebanese and Moroccan parents, Hana grew up between cultures, navigating deeply gendered expectations. At just 15, she was forced into an arranged marriage in Australia. A decision enabled by cultural deference and systemic failure. What followed was violence, isolation, and a brutal lesson in how easily institutions abandon women when silence is prioritised over safety.
Yet this is not a story of despair.
Hana speaks powerfully about the small, human acts of kindness that changed her path: a shop assistant, a teacher, a stranger who treated her with dignity when the system would not. Those moments became the foundation for her life’s work.
In 1998, she founded the Moroccan Soup Bar, not as a charity, but as a radical, self-sustaining model where women find safety, skills, income, and community. Twenty-five years on, it stands as proof that real change is possible when women are trusted to lead it.
As Hana makes clear: freedom is not survival. Freedom is choice, dignity, and the audacity to create something better, for ourselves and for others.
We explore :
Why freedom must mean more than survival
Arranged marriage, violence, and institutional failure
The life-changing power of kindness from strangers
Why women don’t need charity – they need pathways
How the Moroccan Soup Bar became a blueprint for change
Why solutions must be driven by women and supported by men.
Hana said:
““Life doesn’t come with a trigger warning.””
“Women don’t need pity and charity. They need opportunity.”
Chapters:
00:00 Defining Meaning and Purpose in Life
04:39The Journey to Freedom: Hannah’s Story
07:32 Cultural Expectations and Gender Roles
10:45 The Impact of Arranged Marriages
13:31 Navigating Violence and Trauma
16:32 Empathy and Understanding in Relationships
19:33 The Role of Kindness in Healing
22:37 Systemic Failures and Women’s Services
25:32 Creating Safe Spaces: The Moroccan Soup Bar
28:38 Addressing Gender-Based Violence
31:23 Empowerment Through Intuition and Community
34:27 Building a Supportive Environment for Women
37:26 The Importance of Education and Skills Training
40:28 Challenging Societal Norms and Attitudes
43:20 The Role of Men in Supporting Women
46:24 The Audacity to Be Free: A Call to Action
Connect with Di:
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Find Hana Assafiri at:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-assafiri-oam-293560173/
Moroccan Soup Bar https://www.moroccansoupbar.com.au/
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