Despite the extremely challenging situation for women in Afghanistan, Peace Through Business, in its 18th year (2024), trained 30 more Afghan women entrepreneurs from various provinces
Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we have pivoted our in-country training and leadership development to virtual classes. Peace Through Business, a program initiated in 2007, comprises three components: in-country training, leadership development, and the “pay it forward” approach. The program initially trained Afghan women entrepreneurs and included Rwanda in 2008.
As we were still in the final stages of the COVID crisis and business operations were starting to return to normal, another crisis struck Afghanistan: the Taliban’s takeover and the erosion of democratic and human rights values in the country. In the first few months, we focused on helping women navigate the new rulers and ensuring their safety. However, the takeover had a devastating impact on the lives of women and girls. The Taliban issued nearly 130 decrees and instructions, severely limiting their fundamental rights. The presence of women in public spaces, including parks, was drastically reduced. Despite the challenges, it was more crucial than ever to remain active with Afghan women, so we continued with our already virtual setup for COVID-19 following the Taliban takeover. We trained and graduated around 30 businesswomen every year, 2021, 22 and 23, and have provided financial support to more than 15 through a business pitch competition.
When we announced our application for 2024, we received more than 50 applications unexpectedly. Based on our class capacity, we enrolled 35 students and graduated 30 of them from our 2024 cohort.
Our training program consists of 24 virtual sessions, spanning 8 weeks. The syllabus covers topics like business planning, financial management, marketing, operations, navigating the digital era, and social media marketing. To join, participants must have at least one year of business experience. They’ll develop a business plan and present it to a panel of judges at the end of the program to be considered for the next phase: leadership development.
Despite the challenging circumstances and inadequate infrastructure for internet connectivity and electricity in Afghanistan, our 2024 class made every conceivable effort to secure internet access while ensuring they could charge their mobile devices or computers to participate in the classes. Owing to the time difference, our classes were scheduled for early morning hours in the United States, which corresponded to the afternoon in Afghanistan.
The type of businesses our participants now own is mainly traditional and home-based, which has differed since the Taliban’s takeover. Previously, women-owned companies were very diverse, operating in almost all service and manufacturing industries.
The narratives detailing how each of these intrepid women initiated their enterprises and continues to manage them daily, employing not only themselves but also numerous others, are remarkable and commendable to share. Among these inspiring figures, Roqia Abdullahi, having graduated as the valedictorian from her high school, is currently pursuing studies in Persian literature at Herat University. In response to the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, she established a home-based clothing production facility and engaged her husband, along with other male family members, to oversee her retail shop, which sells her products. Furthermore, she has trained and employed fifteen additional women. In a similar vein, Parwin Ahadi, who was formerly a college teacher in the Balkh province, founded a carpet weaving facility.
In today’s Afghanistan under Taliban rule, girls are banned from school beyond the 6th grade, and women are restricted from all other jobs except in the private sector, mostly remaining home-bound. Programs like ours not only bring hope but also provide essential skills, dignified income, and a promising future for their communities today and in the future. We support their resistance and resilience against such oppressive regimes by meaningfully participating in their community’s economy and ultimately helping to transform the rulers.
Below, Monica Smiley, Founder and Executive Director of Enterprising Women Magazine and Foundation, speaking at the virtual graduation of the Afghan and Ugandan class of 2024
