Ways To Give Stitch by stitch, Jamila is sewing a brighter future Since 2021, more than 70 decrees have been introduced that restrict the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, most notably limiting their ability to learn or find employment opportunities. These restrictions have pushed countless women and their families into precarious financial situations. Amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and international assistance for vulnerable communities feeling more uncertain than ever, it is imperative to support Afghan women to learn skills and earn incomes, tackling poverty and hunger whilst becoming change-makers in their communities. Despite these overwhelming challenges, the resilience and resolve of Afghan women has ensured they are able to find alternative and sometimes innovative ways to thrive. Jamila's story Jamila and her family live in a mountainous and drought-prone province of Afghanistan. Already impacted by acute food insecurity, poverty, unemployment and climate disasters, many women and girls in the province are experiencing the isolation bought about by cultural norms and socio-economic restrictions on women, particularly due to a lack of basic services to support them to meet their needs and live more independently. Jamila knew that earning her own income would enable her family to stay resilient amidst the humanitarian crisis and afford food and essentials. So, when Afghanaid visited her village with aims to strengthen women’s economic autonomy and skills in the area, she saw it as a pathway to a brighter future. Enrolling in a programme that supported local women to establish a self-help groups, Jamila was able to rely on the transformative power of sisterhood to improve the life of herself and her family. With an initial 20,000 AFN grant and a commitment to saving 100 AFN each month, she and the other women who formed her new group had a pool of funds from which they could invest in their futures. Alongside this financial support, each member of the group received training focusing on enhancing a vocational skillset, such as sewing, weaving, soap-making, livestock, poultry or dairy production. With pre-existing talents in needlework, Jamila completed training in sewing and embroidery, able to turn her creative passion into an income-generating opportunity. More than just a way to make ends meet, the training gave her the confidence to establish a small business and secure a better future for her children. "In this group, we have a total of 20 members working together," Jamila explained, ""Our savings can assist us. Sometimes, when we are having some difficulty, we can use the saved money to buy fabric, which we either distribute amongst each other or sew ourselves, so that it benefits all of us. We sew collars, handkerchiefs, headscarves with flower patterns, bedding for children, and anything else that customers order." Those who do not sew raise cows and calves, whilst those who can sew make handkerchiefs, trousers and buy fabric. Alongside supporting women to learn new skills and access critical investment to get started, Afghanaid also supports group members to continue to grow their businesses, linking them with local markets and providing training on finance and marketing. Jamila's peer Khatra also spoke to us about how this supported them to build a customer base and grow their businesses: "We produce and sell the products ourselves in the bazaar and in provincial markets. We are very happy to be busy with our business." Redefining possibilities, shifting narratives For Jamila, this opportunity meant even more. Living with a disability, she faced significant barriers to employment on top of the already stifling restrictions placed on women in her community. After a severe ankle injury led to a leg amputation as a child, finding work outside the home became nearly impossible, particularly as the majority of people in her community engaged in physically demanding agricultural work. Through the support of her self-help group and Jamila's personal determination, she was able to build her own small business from home, in the craft that she loves. Not only that, she can now feel secure in the knowledge that she can afford basic necessities, such as food, clothing, fuel and medical equipment. "I am very happy that all my expenses are covered through embroidery", she shared happily. Their hard work is also shifting perceptions across the local community, and bringing joy to their loved ones, who are proud of the amazing achievements the group have been able to make. "In the past only men were working, but now our women are also busy working, and in this way they can provide their own necessities now. They work and can meet their own financial needs - I think this is good." Mustafa, male community member Through the power of collective action, Jamila and the women around her are proving that with the right support, resilience and ambition can overcome even the most challenging of circumstances. Support their strength, invest in their potential This International Women's Day, you can be at the forefront of ensuring more resilient and resourceful women like Jamila are able to build their own futures, and ensure they can live fulfilling and secure lives despite the restrictions imposed upon them. Please select a donation amount (required) £5 could provide a rural Afghan woman facing poverty with a package of vegetable seeds, enabling them to feed their families from produce grown in their own gardens. £12 could buy the required stationary and booklets for a woman learning literacy, so that she can live with greater independence. £86 could pay for tailoring training, a sewing machine and support for a vulnerable woman to start a small tailoring business. Other Set up a regular payment Donate Now Sign up to our newsletter Receive exclusive stories, news and event invitations straight into your inbox. Subscribe *To protect her privacy, Jamila's real name has not been used. Manage Cookie Preferences