Kandahar – Zarghona*, a widow and a mother of eight children, is the sole provider for her family in Kandahar. She was just sixteen when her education was interrupted, and she entered into marriage. For years, her life centered around caring for her children, while her husband’s self-employment ensured the family’s stability. However, tragedy struck when an explosion took her husband’s life, leaving her alone to face an uncertain future.

The cultural tradition of Kandahar had prepared Zarghona with skills in tailoring and embroidery, passed down from her mother. Though she had never worked outside her home, the sudden loss of her husband forced her to confront the pressing need to support her family. In 2001, she began as a designer with a company called Kandahar Khazana. After seven years, she realized that her skills could allow her to build something of her own. 

Zarghona launched her own business in 2009, but the early years were challenging. With only a few students initially joining her, her income was limited. Yet, she remained determined to provide for her children. As more students came, she taught them tailoring, charging 100 Afghani (AFN) per month.  

"My living conditions improved little by little as I took in new students and taught them my craft," Zarghona recalls. 

In 2012, her services were still limited to sewing clothes for neighbors. Zarghona struggled to purchase the materials needed to expand.  

"It was a difficult time," she said. Despite minimal profits, she persevered, eventually securing a contract to produce 100 clothing sets weekly. This allowed her business to flourish, enabling her to invest in new machines and grow her operations. 

But in 2021, her workshop was ransacked.  

“After dismissing my students one evening, I locked up and left for a gathering. When I returned the next morning, everything was gone,” Zarghona says. Thieves had stolen equipment worth AFN 500,000 including machines, solar panels, and fabrics. The theft decimated her business and dashed the hopes of returnee women she was training.  

"I was devastated," she shares. “I did not know what to do. It felt as if my life had taken a terrible turn.” 

Still, Zarghona’s resilience didn’t falter. She invested AFN 20,000 from her to buy three machines and raw materials, paying one month’s rent for a new workspace. Slowly, her business began to recover, although she still lacked sufficient equipment to produce enough clothing to make a profit. 

In 2022, Zarghona learned about the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and decided to reach out through her network. Soon, IOM’s economic resilience team visited her workshop in the heart of Kandahar, where many women also gathered to learn new skills. 

After securing support from IOM, Zarghona brought on 22 women, all of whome had recently returned from Pakistan and Iran, as apprentices. IOM paid the salaries for these women and provided additional machinery and equipment to Zarghona’s workshop. 

"My products have gained a special place in the market, and people buy them at good prices, said Zarghona.  

Zarghona expresses her gratitude: "After IOM’s support, my production increased. With the additional equipment, more students became engaged in work, and the electric machines sped up my work. Previously, I produced five clothing sets a week, but now I can make fifteen." 

Zarghona hopes to expand her business further and is concerned about the situation of other returning migrant women in Kandahar. She wishes to help them by providing skills training and guidance in setting up their businesses.

IOM’s Economic Resilience Programme helps communities identify and address the economic needs of returning migrants, internally displaced people, and host communities. 

By employing a value-chain approach, IOM works to enhance the livelihoods of communities, improving the skills of both men and women in Afghanistan. This programme supports small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential and creates job opportunities for vulnerable individuals. Since January 2024, IOM has supported 295 businesses and, with the help of the STFA, created 593 new jobs. 

*Name changed to protect her identity. 

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