Vulnerable Afghan Women Gain New Textile, Marketing Skills

100 Afghan widows, refugees, IDPs and poor women learn new wool-spinning methods

Investing in women improves the economic fabric of entire communities. Toward that end, ACDI/VOCA recently launched an initiative with an Afghan women-owned handicraft company* to train 100 widows, refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and poor women in northern Afghanistan on new yarn-spinning methods and marketing skills.

By giving the women skills, resources and connections to local markets, the project aims for these women to become more self-dependent in a way that benefits them and their communities for years to come.

New Business Skills for Women Means Better Incomes for Afghan Families

“On my first day, I thought it will be difficult to use these spinning wheels; I was having hard time practicing it,” says Hamida*, who had been producing yarn using the traditional, labor-intensive method. “But today, I feel really comfortable operating it and producing yarn.”

Hamida says the new method is easy and efficient and will yield income to supplement the wages of her husband, who is a day laborer.

“I am hoping to continue to produce yarn and sell it on the market,” she says.

Women Linked to Resources, Markets

Zohra* who is a trainer for the project says from her experience, she expects the women to learn how to use the spinning wheel and produce good-quality yarn in three to four months.

The women also will be trained in marketing skills.

At the conclusion of the six-month project, each woman who graduates will receive for free one spinning wheel, a chair, 20 kg of wool and a comb. With these start-up resources, the women will be able to sell the yarn in local markets or to the handicraft company, which needs quality yarn to produce carpets for export.

Representatives from the local government, including economic development agency, women affairs and local council, along with community elders and other officials heralded the new project during the April 15 ribbon-cutting opening ceremony.

USAID provided funding for the initiative under ACDI/VOCA’s Incentives Driving Economic Alternatives for the North, East and West program (IDEA-NEW). DAI is the prime implementer. To learn more about the program, click here.

*Full names withheld for security reasons.