Tailoring: A Small Business Skill for Afghan Women

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Dr. Yacoobi was honored to receive the 2015 WISE Prize for Education. A prestigious award given to those who are tireless advocates for the right to education.  “I know from my life that education gives power, status and opportunity. I see women who are smart, intelligent but did not have opportunity so I gave them that. It is education and not guns that can transform society and give us a peaceful tomorrow. “ Sakena  

Dear Friends,

Learning an income generating skill such as sewing transforms the lives of women and gives them confidence. They contribute to the family finances and their status in the family is increased. Thank you for your support of AIL’s sewing and tailoring classes. In September, there were 887 women and girls enrolled in sewing classes learning to make clothes for themselves, their families and for others. Here is Fatima’s story – one of transformation.

Fatima was brought to the girls’ orphanage in Herat when she was about 8 years old by her relatives.  Both of her parents had died and she had no brothers or sisters.  She was very unhappy and devastated when she came.  She went to school and, when AIL began working with the girls’ orphanage and offering computer and tailoring classes in the afternoon, she joined them.  She is now in the 8^th grade and has excellent computer and tailoring skills.  She works for a small NGO in Herat teaching their students tailoring and doing their computer work.  They are paying her so she has begun to earn money for herself.  All of this has transformed her!  She is happy, always helping the younger students with their homework and is looking forward to finishing high school, going to university and becoming a teacher.

Thank you for your continued support of AIL’s programs.