MEET FRESHTA, AN EMBROIDERESS
Thanks to Hand in Hand Afghanistan and all supporters for the program, I received business service training and received support to establish embroidery enterprise. These enabled me to learn my favorite occupation and have a better life without suffering, says, Freshta 24 years old, mother of two kids.
“I have got married seven years ago. We are four people in our family and my husband used to be the only breadwinner. I did not finish my school due to family problem.” Says, Freshta who lives with her two sons and husband in Faqir Abad village of Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province.
She added, “My husband is working in a shop and the income was hardly enough to feed the family and pay house rent. I wanted to send my elder son to kindergarten, but we could not afford
Hand in Hand Afghanistan implements ‘Village Uplift Program’ in Faqir Abad village of Mazar-e-Sharif. Freshta is one of the 110 women recognized to be poor and vulnerable and eligible as project beneficiary. She has joined the program about a year ago and attended regular group meetings and received series of trainings including business development services. She says, “I have always been interested in business and having income. I joined Khatera ha Self-Help Group and after completing business training with support of my trainer, I conducted a market survey and selected embroidery, then received vocational skills training and material support from HiH Af to establish my enterprise.”
Freshta earns around AFN 2,500 per month and she could enroll her elder son to a private kindergarten, she says, “It was a dream to start my own business and earn to support my kids, now I do not need to ask my husband for money to cover small family needs”.
Freshta has found market for her materials and contracted with a shop in Mazar-e-Sharif. She makes bed sheets, handkerchiefs, table clothes and other embroidery clothes based on market demand. She says, “I am really happy to get the opportunity to have my own little business and will try to expand my business in the future.”
