![Women attend a sewing course supported by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) in Ali Abad district, Kunduz province, on May 5. [Swedish Committee for Afghanistan]](/cnmi_st/images/2023/07/10/42932-b_1-739_416.webp)
KUNDUZ -- Despite the restrictions on women's work and education in Afghanistan, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has launched vocational training programmes to empower and economically support a number of impoverished and widowed women in Kunduz province.
The programmes are part of ABADI, a joint project of the SCA and the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).
Several widowed and needy women in Kunduz province have achieved self-sufficiency through participation in the SCA vocational training programmes, said Jaan Mohammad Nabizada, a spokesperson for ABADI in Kunduz.
The SCA has trained dozens of other women from Khan Abad, Imam Sahib and Ali Abad districts in various handicraft professions, Nabizada said Friday (July 7).
They have become entrepreneurs, empowering other women in the handicraft sector, he added.
"Fortunately, more than 2,041 women have received short-term training in professions such as livestock raising, agriculture, tailoring, embroidery, beadwork, handicrafts, the operation of small businesses and more to support their families," he said.
"The Swedish Committee has also provided 44,000 AFN [$510] in cash assistance to 20 women to purchase tools and equipment such as sewing machines, irons, tables, tailoring supplies, bakery equipment and farming tools," Nabizada added.
"These women now earn between 500 and 1,000 AFN [$5.80 and $11.60] per day through their professions and are able to financially support their families," he said.
The first phase of ABADI took place across the country from July 2022 to June 2023.
In the second phase, which started two months ago, the programme will also cover three or four districts each in Kunduz, Takhar, Baghlan, and Badakhshan provinces each, supporting impoverished women, Nabizada said.
Improving quality of life
Hamida, a 47-year-old resident of Ali Abad district who goes by her first name, is the mother of five daughters and four sons.
"After learning tailoring through the trainers of the Swedish Committee, I have been able to establish a sewing centre in my home and provide jobs to dozens of other women," she said.
"During a survey conducted to find women in need of assistance, fortunately, I was selected. I received training and, as a result, received 44,100 AFN [$511] from ABADI to start my business," she added.
"After receiving financial support from the Swedish Committee's ABADI project, my business improved significantly. Now, my daily income has increased to more than 500 AFN [$5.80]," Hamid said.
Hamida said that she has trained more than 30 other women in tailoring and has helped them achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Nazia Mahjur, 35, another resident of Ali Abad district, completed one of the vocational training programmes offered by the SCA.
"I have received financial assistance from the Swedish Committee and used it to purchase tools. Now, I sew at home and teach others to financially support their families," she said.
She teaches 20 girls and women from her village tailoring and embroidery for three months, after which they work from their homes.
Mahjur said she was grateful for the opportunity to learn tailoring and sewing.
"I am now working and earning a lawful income, and I am very happy," she said.
Saving families from poverty
Sayed Omar Tawhidi, a 30-year-old resident of Kunduz city, said that in the midst of work and education restrictions on women and girls, such supportive programmes provide vital financial support to families in need.
"Unfortunately, we see that restrictions on women and girls in the country are increasing day-by-day. Women who used to work for the government and private sector are now unemployed," Tawhidi said.
"I know families who, out of necessity, have resorted to selling their children or some of their bodily organs to survive. Unfortunately, women are facing serious poverty and unemployment in the current situation, and the international community should stand by the women of Afghanistan," he said.
"Today, Afghan girls and women need ... freedom and moral support more than ever before. These programmes can give hope to girls to reintegrate into society and exercise their rights."
The continued assistance from the international community and charitable organisations to the Afghan public has provided an opportunity for some families to escape hunger, Farid Ahmad Hemat, 35, a resident of Kunduz city.
"Fortunately, relief organisations have been assisting the people of Afghanistan for the past two years at various levels. However, the problems in distributing this aid are increasing. Families, especially those women who are single breadwinners for their families, need more support."
"Afghan girls and women face economic difficulties due to the imposed restrictions. Therefore, these programmes help them sell their products and address their economic problems," Hemat said.
The Taliban also banned the Swedish Committee from working, and after that, the organization could not continue its activities in Afghanistan. The committee, which provided services in education and health, provided employment opportunities to thousands of people, and hundreds of thousands more benefited from the services. Still, the rulers of Afghanistan stopped their activities so that they could go to Pakistan and work there. Because Pakistan is the net of Satan, and the Taliban wants to benefit from this net. The reason for this is the burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden. The Qatari government has again announced that in return for this inhumane act in Sweden, it will give the Swedes 100,000 Qurans with Swedish translation. This is a good lesson, but instead of doing a good logical thing, the Taliban made thousands of people unemployed. After this, the Swedish Committee will not be able to help the poor people of Afghanistan.
Reply4 Comment
In general, vocational training has a great positive effect for countries that reduce poverty. Currently, Afghanistan is facing a similar situation, in addition to poverty, various restrictions on women's access are decreasing every day, which has had very negative effects on women, but this series of professional training changes the economic life of women at least to some extent and prevents them from self-sufficiency.
Reply4 Comment
This vocational training can help women to learn a profession and become teachers on their own, not needing to beg or hire in people's homes. Vocational training provides job opportunities for Afghan women, and women who are the breadwinners of their families can work through vocational training. Who has learned to find bread for his family in a halal way and fulfill their needs. These days, Afghan women and girls need a lot of support, and thanks to the Swedish Committee, who helped with the women of Kunduz province and Afghanistan, so that they feel depressed and they did not make them poor and prepared the work environment for them to have economic independence.
Reply4 Comment
Unfortunately, the Taliban banned the Swedish Committee, too, today. In other words, Swedish charities will not operate in Afghanistan afterward. The reason for this ban is the burning of the Holy Quran by extremist beasts in Sweden. This means that the Swedish Committee will not be able to help such poor and needy people after this. The Taliban argue that Sweden has done this to persecute Muslims, but Sweden says that it is based on freedom of expression in Sweden. Is freedom of speech such that you have to harm another person? If this is freedom of speech, where is respect for each other's thoughts in human society? Then where is respect for each other's faith? Then there is respect for divine religions? Of course, it is known to all human beings that Islam is the true and holy religion in which the honor of every human being and every living thing is protected.
Reply4 Comment