Featured Region: Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Afghanistan lies at the crossroads of Central, West and South Asia – once a vibrant and vital part of the thriving silk road trade route. Today, however, with almost twenty three years of continual warfare it is a country that grieves for enduring peace. Thousands of Afghan families are now solely headed by war widows left to support their children. It is estimated that there are more than 1,500,000 widows in Afghanistan – with 70,000 widows in Kabul, alone, a city called the “city of widows”. Images of its women, seemingly invisible to the world, clad in their heavy burkhas, are always poignant reminders of the marginalized role they have played during these war-weary years. A lack of education, illiteracy and basic skills enslaves these women into lives of poverty and desolation.

As Betsy Beamon, from the non-profit organization, Women of Hope Project, based in Kabul, remarks: “ Most women have experienced oppression of some kind, whether it is in the form of the denial of educational or job opportunities, sexual or physical abuse, discrimination, or poverty. What caught our attention was the realization that almost all the women were not allowed to work. They were not allowed to receive an education. They were raped and sexually abused. Any male who perceived a violation of the Taliban code of conduct could and most often would victimize them physically in public. Even their young sons were taught that it was acceptable to beat their mothers. They were not allowed to leave their homes without a male member of their families as an escort. They were required to take women-only public transportation. They were denied access to medical treatment. They were required to fully cover themselves with a burqa. No one could see them smile and no one could see their tears. They were invisible.”

In featuring Afghanistan, The Women’s Peace Collection seeks to tell a story that focuses on the remarkable ways in which Afghan women are showing their defiance and resilience in the face of extreme challenges. We highlight women who are attempting to rebuild their lives through their creative talents and skills – as weavers, embroiderers and jewelry makers –and as artisans who preserve the cultural and artistic traditions of their regions. We know that when a woman has the resources and opportunity to earn a dignified livelihood her entire family and larger community benefits. Families are fed, shelters built, medicines purchased, and children sent to school. The world over, the impact of women’s economic empowerment is significant.

For example, we share the story of Nasima, a determined woman/entrepreneur based in Kabul, who has almost single-handedly revived the silk industry that began to die out during the Taliban years. Her enterprise supports women in Kabul and the remote villages in Herat and when asked to tell us about what was involved in creating the Serenity Scarves for the Collection, she wrote:

Poor women and young girls they all live in Kabul but in very poor village they make tassel stitches and embroidery on my scarves they love their jabs and they proud of their work and they always thinking about the person which they wear the scarves and try to make some things beautiful and best for them and also they want from the women which they wear the scarves they should feel these women near to them self and feel these women behind of loom, machines and feel young girls set and make tassel for the scarf. They want from them to prey for us to have a peaceful and beautiful Afghanistan because in peaceful airy we can work mach better then now best wishes, Nasima

Nasima’s message is a hopeful one and one that speaks to the sense of pride that the women experience as they create the scarves for customers a world away knowing that through their handmade creations they are no longer invisible but connected to the larger world.

Our Partners
The Women’s Peace Collection has partnered with three remarkable non profit organizations in Afghanistan – each providing us with critical support in identifying the artisans and overseeing these craft enterprises. They are:

Women for Women International – a non-profit organization that provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency. Through them, we work with a group of women – mostly war widows – in Kabul who create the Kabul Necklace of Courage and Kabul Remember Me Bracelet for the Collection.

Zardozi (Golden Embroidery) – is an Afghan non-profit organization based in Kabul that works on both sides of the difficult Afghan-Pakistani border, creating livelihoods for highly skilled Afghans living in refugee camps. Through their support, we are currently working in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan where 150 embroiderers create products with traditional tashomar designs – an ancient chain stitch embroidery handed down through the generations. Zardozi’s motto: Women with income are effective agents of social change.

Women of Hope – A project whose mission it is to provide resources to restore hope and dignity and encourage opportunities for self-sufficiency to Afghan women, children, and disabled land mine victims. They provide training programs and resources supporting daily food and food security needs, economic development opportunities, and vocational and business training for over 1000 women. The Kabul Wedding Dolls to be launched soon will support their mission.

We are grateful to these organizations for the enduring support they offer us as we strengthen our capacity to celebrate the resilience and courage of the women of Afghanistan.

Our Afghan Collection