Nazifa Fateh, a 21-year-old resident of Faryab, said, “After the girls’ schools were closed, I lost the chance to continue my education. I felt I should not spend my time aimlessly, so I decided to learn a profession to stay occupied and be useful to myself and my family. With the few basic tools I had at home, I began learning sewing on my own.”
Despite these rights, many women still struggle in practice. Fatima Ahmadi, a 29 years old teacher, says, “My husband decides how my income is spent. Sometimes I can give my opinion, but he always makes the final decision. He has forced me to hand over my full salary even when I needed it myself.”
Shaimagul Samadi shares a similar story. She says: “Before, I knew a little about herbs, but I didn’t know how to use them—what they are good for, what benefits they have, or how they work. Since I came here, I’ve learned how to use them properly.”
She adds: “Before coming here, my family’s financial situation was very weak, and I faced many mental health challenges. When I heard about the workshop, I joined and learned sewing in one year. By making clothes, I now have an income and can help my family. Most importantly, my mental health has improved.”
Following the political changes in Afghanistan, small businesses have emerged as a key source of hope for women seeking financial independence. Interviews with 23 women reveal that while many rely on small loans to sustain themselves, for some, these loans also bring economic and emotional stress.
Alina Tokhi says having girls in such jobs shows that women, like men, can do any kind of work. “I used to think this was only for men, but I realized any job men can do, women can do too,” she says.
Zarghona, 35 years old, mother of three children from Narang district in Kunar, transformed her life through a simple act: growing vegetables.
Many widows in Afghanistan who have lost their husbands for different reasons, face social pressure and even threats of losing their children to force them into marrying their late husbands’ relatives.
Dozens of women have gathered at a clothing and handicraft company in a remote village in the Jabal al-Siraj district of Parwan province, Afghanistan, working
The constant hum of a sewing machine is heard as 36-year-old Firooza, with tired hands and a hopeful mind, continues to turn it, determined not
Salam Watandar’s analysis of data on female murders and suicides in Afghanistan reveals that 92 cases were reported in the solar year 1403 (2023-2024), underscoring an ongoing crisis.
KABUL (SW) – Doctors in Kabul warn that appendicitis in women can have serious consequences, and in many cases, misdiagnosis can lead to infertility. They
