Razia Story

Razia is a 21-year-old girl living in Gorazan village, Injil district of Herat province. She graduated from grade twelve and lives in a family of seven. Her father is a farmer and provides for the family’s daily expenses.
Together with her mother, Razia used to weave carpets at home. They received the materials from an employer and worked from their house, but in return for their hard labor, they were paid very little. “We worked hard,” she says, “but because we didn’t own the materials or the workshop, we were paid only a small amount.”
Razia learned about the MPWC center through the village elder. She registered herself and, after passing an interview, was selected to join the small business class. Over four months, she attended training sessions and learned about business development, saving, planning, and long-term thinking. “I realized during this time that if I truly want to, I can support my family alongside my father and work for my own future,” she says.
At the end of the program, Razia received 29,802 Afghanis in support from WASSA, with funding from CARE and UN Women. She created a plan for how to use the money and purchased her own carpet weaving loom and the materials needed for her first carpet.
“Now, I work for myself and earn a good profit. This project changed my life. I am now my own boss. I hope that with the profit from my carpets, I can continue supporting my father and soon open more carpet workshops, hire more women, and bring Afghan carpets to the market with my own artistic touch. I went from being a worker to being a business owner, and this transformation has made my life truly better.”

📷 WASSA Media / Ali Sarfaraz