Bibi Zaiyfa, a 50-year-old resident of Egizak village in Sar-e Pul province, lives with her family of 13 members, including four sons, five daughters, her husband, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. Through the project titled “Supporting Food Insecure Women and Their Families through Agriculture Value Chains in Sar-e-Pul Province,” she has gained valuable knowledge and achievements.
As part of this initiative, she received 19 hens, one rooster, and other poultry farming equipment from the Hand in Hand Afghanistan organization. Under the guidance of the HIHAO Afghanistan “Supporting Food Insecure Women and Their Families through Agriculture Value Chains” project, she received comprehensive training in various aspects of poultry farming, including building a standard chicken coop, regeneration, poultry care, feeding, disease prevention and vaccination, and marketing strategies.
Bibi Zaiyfa shared, “Before joining this project, I was in poor physical and mental health. I had been bedridden for almost seven years and couldn’t support my family financially. My condition gradually improved after years of treatment, allowing me to walk and help my husband and other family members. I started spinning wool to repay our debts which my family has been spent for my treatment, but it was still insufficient to cover our needs.”
Despite the challenges, Bibi Zaiyfa was determined to find a profession to support her family financially. She said, “I was always interested in finding a profession to support my family. The opportunity provided by Hand in Hand Afghanistan under the project was a golden chance for us rural women to learn and grow.”
Bibi Zaiyfa proudly expressed the positive changes in her life: “My job is like a sustainable business. I never had such an income before. I earn about 4000 to 5000 AFN per month from selling eggs. With this income, I can contribute to my family’s expenses and solve our financial problems.”
She is grateful that she can now contribute to household expenses alongside her husband and has gained financial independence. She is striving for a bright future and the continued education of her children. She also hopes to expand her small business by selling eggs and has become a role model for other rural women, making significant progress in a short time.
Bibi Zaiyfa is keen to inspire and encourage other women to strive for financial independence and seize every opportunity. She sincerely thanks the Hand in Hand Afghanistan organization for their support in empowering and creating job opportunities for rural women.
