UNDP provides vocational training to hundreds of Kunduz women

KUNDUZ -- A six-month vocational course in Kunduz province, an initiative launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is providing hundreds of vulnerable and needy women with tailoring skills.

Some 440 women who have no income are taking part, said Azizurrahman Tasal, director of ActionAid's Abadi Project, which holds the sewing classes.

The course started in October and will end in April 2023, he said on December 20.

"The UNDP has financed the project ... there are 16 sewing classes in the centre in Kunduz and six in Imam Sahib district, with an instructor and as many as 20 trainees in each class," he said.

The purpose of the project is to help trainees become self-reliant and to help them meet the needs of their families, said Tasal.

"In addition to offering practical and theoretical lessons, we pay each trainee 6,000 AFN ($68) monthly ... until they graduate," he said.

"After acquiring the skills, trainees will be able to sew different types of clothes for women and they can work from home ... each trainee will receive a complete set of tailoring tools for free so she can work independently from home," he added.

All of the women taking part in the course are impoverished or widowed, said Fatima Karimi, 37, a sewing class instructor in Rostaq Abad neighbourhood of Kunduz city.

"There are 20 students in my class. I am teaching them practically and theoretically. They have learned a lot over the past month," she said.

Her students are enthusiastically trying to learn professional sewing skills, she added.

"I am sure if they open their own shops or work from home in the future, their businesses will thrive."

"Afghan women have extraordinary talent in all fields. They can earn a living and not be a burden to others if employment opportunities are provided to them," she said.

Acquiring skills, fighting poverty

Fariba Azami, 26, a resident of Kunduz city, expects to earn a living for her family of four after graduating from the vocational course.

"I have spared no effort over the past month to become a skilled tailor and to be able to earn a living for my family in the future," she said on December 20.

Azami's husband died after an illness two years ago, and she is now the only breadwinner of her household.

"I used to cook at a local organisation ... to support my family. I lost my job over 18 months ago," she said.

"I have properly learned how to use scissors and cut clothes and will be able to make good dresses next month, inshallah."

"We work here from 8am to 12pm every day. We cut fabric and then sew to make clothes during this period ... they are teaching us all the steps of making clothes," said Farzana Amini, 24, another participant.

"I lost my father when I was a child. I have five sisters and a brother. My mother is ill, and [my sisters and I] have joined hands to work together and earn a living," she added.

"I used to teach kindergarten ... I was making enough money, but everything fell apart a year and a half ago. Now I have no other choice but to learn sewing," she said.

The majority of attendees in the training course are orphaned girls, women without a male head of household, or women whose husbands are addicted to drugs, Amini said.

"I will try my best to learn sewing skills soon and be able to earn a living for my family. It is very difficult for women to work outside the house under the current circumstances, but I have to endure the challenge," she said.

Increasing restrictions

Afghan women face increasing restrictions every day, including deprivation of chances for work and education, said Abdul Hadi Samadi, a resident of Kunduz province.

"The more women are sidelined from social activities, the more challenges shall arise in our society. Women make up half of society, and they equally, like men, have the right to work outside the home and seek education," he said.

"Afghan women have proved that they shall never give up but will continue their struggle and fight under any condition."

"Our expectation of the United Nations and the international community is to support Afghan women and not let them go backward to the dark days of the past," he added.