‘We Afghan women, Are Famous For Our Country’s Rugs. We Don’t Want Temporary Hand-Outs; We Want To Bring Our Pride, Business, & Social Impact, Together’
Najma* owns a rug company that employs women. She is also the head of an NGO which helps vulnerable children and women. However, since the change of regime, her 1500-member team has had to reduce its scope. There are now 500 employees left.
By Najma* as told to Samuel Hall team
This first-person narrative is a part of our ‘Everyday Women Leaders Series’ which highlights everyday women leaders, their stories, and their hopes. This is the first story of our series. Stay tuned for more.
‘I am Najma, CEO of a rug-weaving company that works in four eastern provinces of the country. We work on all aspects of rug weaving, for instance, we weave rugs from the selection and purchase of threads to the finished product. Currently, we have fewer people, because of rising barriers against us: now that air corridors have been blocked and borders reinforced, we haven’t been able to export our products outside the country for 1.5 years. The irony is that we can now travel anywhere in the country, but no one can afford to buy rugs. The market we need to reach is outside our borders, but we are prevented from it.
The biggest challenge for our company, especially over this last year, is that we cannot afford to purchase the raw material needed for rug weaving. If the INGOs do not support us urgently, we are not sure how long we can keep our organisation running. Moreover, our money cannot be transferred from or to other countries. Even within the provinces, when we provide wool, the money is not enough.
Our purpose is to make people self-reliant by providing financial support to their family.’
Samuel Hall: Known for their unique artwork, colour palette, and fine quality; hand-knotted Afghan carpets made up almost 45% of the exports from Afghanistan. A 3500-year-old tradition passed down from generation to generation — traditionally from mother to daughter — the role of women has been integral in this largely home-based sector. Quoting Noor Mohammad Noori, who heads the national carpet makers’ association, news outlet Daily Sabah details that ‘around 2 million of Afghanistan’s 38 million population work in the carpet sector.’ Majority of these are women. Several charities and programmes have worked on devising self-reliance programmes and alleviating child labour in this industry; however, since August 2021, the industry has suffered major setbacks with low demands internally given high poverty and sanctions affecting exports.
‘Previously around 1500 employees were working with us, but now the number has dropped down to around 500 people. These employees were the ones supporting their families financially. Most of our staff are returnees, Internally Displaced People (IDPs), and women. Majority of the women working with us are widows. They have a difficult life; therefore, we are trying to employ them in our company.
Our elders, women, and children are the ones who suffer the most. I went to Paktia province recently and saw the suffering. The government is extremely strict nowadays. I, myself, am an old woman, but it could be difficult for young women to start a new business. I myself face a lack of access to cash but continue to pay our taxes to the government on time. Yet, the chamber of commerce does not provide us with any type of support at all. Over 80% of the women that I know of have left and some of them are residing in the United States.
Provision of decent employment opportunities is the number one priority. Women are suffering the most in our society. My biggest respect is for them.
If a woman wants to start a job, first she would need to find someone to support her financially as there are not many women who have the financial ability to start a business on their own. Once the financial issue is solved, women need guidance to run their business — from INGOs such as UNHCR, IRC, and others. But NGOs have suspended their operations in the country.
I don’t want to leave the country, I just wanted to renew my passport so that I can travel for my work, for my rugs, and for the rug-weaving women in my country. I need to get a new passport, but women are not allowed to get into public offices. I needed my passport to participate in a trade fair in Dubai. But, because I am not allowed to get into their offices, I was not able to renew my passport, and I lost this opportunity to market our work
There is no market or cash. We used to export, but now we can’t. A border, an hour away from here, was our gateway to exports. It has been closed. There is no association of workers to help us. We see some of the traders informally, between ourselves, but nothing has been organised.
What can be done?
Women lack employment opportunities and lack guidance to know how to make the few businesses that exist continue to work. We need to provide them with home-based employment. We need to also formally organise women entrepreneurs.
Purchase them a cow, some livestock, train them to weave carpets and tailoring, instead of giving them a sack of flour. Provide them with employment opportunities. Don’t give our people temporary handouts. Instead, pave the ground for them to get employed which is crucial for self-reliance.
The majority of the people of Afghanistan cannot afford to buy hand-knotted rugs in their own country. They purchase machine-made rugs which are much cheaper. In order to revive the rug industry in Afghanistan, which is mostly produced by women, (and children regretfully) the air corridors and its exports to the neighboring, regional countries as well as their access to a global market should be established. Also, other required resources and facilities need to be provided by the international donors to ensure quality rug weaving business grows again in Afghanistan.’
*Name has been changed to protect identity
The interview has been edited only for the purpose of brevity and clarity. Inputs that appear on visual templates are insights from Samuel Hall, based on their research in Afghanistan.
