A young girl in Maimana, the capital of Faryab province, has created an income source for herself and several other girls by starting a small cookie-baking workshop.
Basira Omid, a resident of Faryab who completed her education up to grade 12, says she decided two years ago to start the business to address unemployment and support her family financially. She launched the “Omid” cookie workshop with an initial investment of 5,000 Afghanis.
“When I saw that our financial situation was not good, I decided to take action. I started from nothing and wanted to bring change,” she says.
Basira, the breadwinner of her seven-member family, says the workshop now earns more than 15,000 Afghanis per month, which helps cover her family’s living expenses.
The cookies produced in the Omid workshop are sold in markets across Faryab and are gradually attracting more customers.
The workshop has also created opportunities for four girls to learn baking skills and earn an income—girls who turned to this work after they were unable to continue their education.
Hadisa, a 19-year-old who joined the Omid workshop a few months ago, says she is trying to ease the burden on her family through cookie baking.
“I work about six to seven hours a day. This job has really helped our family economically. Before, only my father worked, but now I also contribute, and our economic situation is a bit better.”
Zarghona, another 20-year-old worker at the workshop, says, “Before, I had no job, but now I can help my family. This work is important to us because household expenses are very high, and this income helps a lot.”
The employees of the Omid workshop hope to create more job opportunities for girls in the future, something Basira says could be achieved with better resources and support.
“Our biggest problem is the lack of equipment and capital. If we have better facilities and receive support, we can expand the workshop and create jobs for many more girls,” she says.
Over the past four years, many women and girls have started small businesses to meet their needs and take part in economic activities.
However, some economic experts say that such small-scale businesses play an important role in women’s empowerment. Economic expert Ahmad Mobin Ahmadi says,
“Small businesses like these workshops are essential pillars of the local economy. They create jobs and, if supported, can play a significant role in reducing poverty and promoting economic growth.”
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, small businesses have become one of the few available ways for women in Afghanistan to earn an income.
