KABUL (SW) – After imposing restrictions on the education and work of girls and women, online businesses have been proving as an alternative for some of the female entrepreneurs.
A number of girls in Herat say that after being banned from going to university, they have started selling their products online by producing various products and selling their products through social networks such as Facebook, Telegram and Instagram. Three sisters who have gathered under a small roof and produce leather belts, say that they share their products on social networks and after receiving an online order, they deliver it to the gates of their customers’ homes.
Nahid Naseri, the manager of the leather belt production workshop in Herat, who was also a third-year university student, says that after the university gates were closed, she turned to the production of handicrafts, especially leather belts, in order to get rid of mental ailments.
She added: “Although when we went to school, we were engaged in the production of handicrafts and we were very interested, but the circumstances were such that we gave more importance to studies and now that our time is free and there is no place to learn science, we have entered into this work.”
Nahid and her two sisters, who work day and night to produce different types of leather belts, say that by selling their products online, both the opportunity to choose for their customers and the ease of their work progress are provided. Nahid said: “In my opinion, the online market is a convenience for those who work in this field, especially women. In the current situation, there is no better option than selling handmade products online.”
Zavosh and Fatema, who work alongside their sister, Nahid, are happy to say that in the short time they have started producing leather belts and selling them online, they have been welcomed and supported by other women on social networks, and their work is growing day by day. “We are very happy and we did not imagine this. We thought that if we start producing leather embroidery, will we get support or not? During this time, our work has been greatly supported and encouraged.”
On the other hand, a number of women who used to go to the market to buy the supplies they need, say that online shopping has made it easier for them to avoid wasting time.
Yeganeh Raoufi, happy with the creation of the online market, said: “I saw good leather vests on social networks, and they sent them to me in the shortest time after placing an order. My consumption cost also decreased. I am very happy that there is an online market.”
Behnaz Seljuqi, the head of the board of directors of the Herat Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that they support women who work in the online sales sector and have a license to operate. According to her, about 95% of the women who work in this sector import their goods from neighboring countries.”
She added: “For the time being, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry does not have a specific program for online sales that does not have a license. The same way we support women who have shops in the market, we will also support women who are engaged in online sales.”
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