Programs
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INCOME GENERATION
Quetta Pakistan:
The beneficiaries of quilt-making and carpet-weaving projects were those families who had no other means of income. The project, like many others, was initiated in Quetta. At first, 160 women were trained in carpet-weaving.
The women, who came from poor families, learned to weave carpets in six months. Than, they were provided with a carpet-weaving loom (stand) to enable them earn a livelihood. The project had a positive impact on the economy of refugee families.
In addition to carpet-weaving, a quilt-making project was also undertaken in 2000. In the project, women produced 80,000 quilts and were paid in return. The quilts were distributed to Afghan refugees in Chaman and Muhammad Kheil Camps as well as IDPs in Yakawlang and earth-quake stricken families in Nahrin.
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Kabul, Afghanistan:
In order to help poor families, a quilt-making project was implemented in the year 1999 in Kabul. Tens of families benefited from the project and 12,000 quilts were produced. The quilts were then distributed to students of Kabul University as well as inhabitants of Kabul sanatoriums.
When Shuhada Organization moved its headquarters from Quetta to Kabul in 2002, the project continued, as a means of income generation for poor families. In the projects, 80 women were trained in carpet weaving, 1,200 women took part in the quilt-making, 60,000 quilts were produced and 1,200 poor families benefited. The quilts produced were distributed to a number of poor families, dormitories and returnees, in particular, of Ajaristan district of Kabul.
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Mazar-e-Sharif:
In 1997, a large number of Kabulis and residents of other provinces were, due to the severe was, and were displaced to the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. The IDPs had crowded into a camp, known as Kamaz Camp. A significant majority of them were facing desperate poverty and unemployment.
The Shuhada Organization initiated a quilt-making project in the camp. More than 15,000 quilts were produced. The quilts were distributed to the IDPs themselves, boy’s and girl’s dormitories of Balkh University and as well as IDPs in Puli Khumri.
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Bamyan:
The carpet projects were extended to Bamyan in 1997. As result, carpet weaving, which is a traditional well-known Afghan local industry, was introduced to Bamyanis. Today, there are many privately owned carpet companies in Bamyan and carpets have turned into a prominent export item of the province.
The carpet project was run by the Shuhada Organization in Bamyan from 1997 through 2003. As a result, 10,800 individuals were trained in carpet weaving. They were each given a carpet loom (stand) at the end of the training.
It should, however, be mentioned that the beneficiaries of the project were, at the same time, and provided with literacy classes. By the end of the training period, women could also read and write.
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Jewelry Making Projects by Women:
the project has been implemented in the Karte-Sulh in Bamyan center. A number of ten women were provided vocational training in first round on how to make ring, bracelet, collar etc from silver. Traditional jewelry has good market both in local and international levels.
Afghanistan have shown their interests to buy silver goods. It has become a good source of livelihood through which women support their families in different ways, including helping children with getting education, education materials: pen, notebook etc. and transportation.
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Chips Cooking:
One of the main export items of Bamyan is the potato. The potato of Bamyan is unique in its taste and quality. It is exported to Kabul and other provinces of Afghanistan. The Shuhada Organization launched a project to train a number of Bamyani women who were trained have now a good income.
They produce French fries, pack them and sell them in surrounding schools and other public places. The project is still going on and a number of women are being trained.
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Sweater Weaving
The second component of the sustainable livelihood program is sweater weaving. Through this project ninety women were trained in 2009. The trainees successfully learnt all the processes involved in weaving sweaters. The finished products were distributed to poor and vulnerable families in the community.
Besides the sweater weaving, literacy classes were arranged for all the trainees. Since the majority of women are illiterate in rural areas, this was an opportunity for the trainees to improve their literacy level as well. During the literacy classes, trainees were taught basic literacy and innumeracy. They were also taught about women rights, HIV/AIDS awareness and family planning as these subjects were included in the curriculum. The aim of the project is to economically empower women in the community and involve women in social activities.
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