A Family's Journey to Survival

Balkh – At the age of 23, Mahjabin* found herself in a challenging and uncertain situation. The sole breadwinner of her family, she had completed her high school education and dreamed of a better future for herself and her loved ones. 

In 2018, Mahjabin’s father was involved in a car accident, and later faced arrest. To secure his release from prison, he sold all their home appliances to raise the necessary funds. After his release in 2022, the family made the difficult decision to leave their homeland and move to Iran, seeking opportunities that could lift them out of poverty. 

The journey to Iran was arduous and filled with heartbreak. Mahjabin, her parents and her seven siblings attempted to cross the border. However, fate was not kind to them. Only her father and brothers managed to pass through, leaving Mahjabin, her mother and her four sisters stranded. They waited for twelve long days, clinging to hope, but were ultimately unable to cross. 

With no job or income for three years, Mahjabin faced a dire situation. The weight of her family's future rested heavily on her shoulders. They had nothing to fall back on, and her father was no longer able to work. Her brothers, now in Iran, were also struggling, unable to send help back home. 

In the midst of this hardship, a glimmer of hope appeared. One of their neighbours informed Mahjabin about a training opportunity in a tailoring business. Desperate for any chance to support her family, she eagerly seized it. For six months, she dedicated herself to learning new skills, despite her meagre stipend of two dollars a day. 

The training was rigorous, but Mahjabin's determination was unwavering. She knew that this was her chance to change her family's fate. She poured her heart and soul into her work, driven by the love she had for her family and the desire to see them thrive. 

Finally, her efforts paid off when she secured an opportunity to undergo an on-the-job training for six months in a tailoring business. 

With her newfound skills, Mahjabin, along with 14 other returnees and 18 internally displaced persons, secured a job in an IOM-supported enterprise (SME) funded by the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA). 

Her father, once the family's provider, could finally rest, knowing that Mahjabin had taken up the mantle. Her brothers, struggling in Iran, could focus on their own survival without the added burden of supporting their family back home.  

“I can now support my family and address their economic needs, solving 40 per cent of our financial challenges,” said Mahjabin.  

Since January 2023, with funding from the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA), IOM has supported 97 businesses in northern and southern Afghanistan to create jobs and retain employees. Additionally, 12 businesses received cross-border marketing support through exhibitions in China and Sri Lanka. These efforts helped businesses adopt new skills, use advanced technologies, and form partnerships with five companies in those countries.  

*Name changed to protect her identity. 

This story was written by Marjan Wafa and Zuhal Nabi. For more information, please contact: IOMAFGHANISTANMEDIACOMM@iom.int