Stitching a Future with Strength and Skill in Injil District
WASSA Media & Communications / May, 2025
In the quiet village of Gorazan in Injil District, 22-year-old Pariwahsh lives with her husband and three children. With no source of income and her husband unemployed, the burden of supporting the family weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Pariwahsh first heard about the Multi-Purpose Women’s Centers (MPWC) project through a local community leader. Motivated by the opportunity, she visited the center, went through the interview process, and was selected to join the Financial and Business Literacy and Numeracy classes.
Over the course of four months, the center provided not only theoretical lessons but also hands-on training. Women who already had a skill were grouped accordingly, while others joined based on their interests. Each group received practical training twice a week. Pariwahsh developed a keen interest in bead weaving and joined the beadwork group.
She began creating decorative items such as hair accessories and beaded ornaments. Her beautifully crafted products soon gained attention and were bought and sold within the center by fellow participants. As part of a market linkage initiative, Pariwahsh visited local bazaars to showcase her samples and received a high volume of orders.
Later, she learned about a weekly community market known as the “Jum’a Bazaar,” held every Friday in the 64-meter area of Herat city—a space known for attracting many visitors. Seizing the opportunity, Pariwahsh prepared her products for sale, while her husband, who had previously been unemployed, took the goods to the market each week.
“Since joining the center, I’ve learned not only how to save money, but our household stress has decreased,” Pariwahsh shares. “Now that both my husband and I are engaged in productive work, our lives have become more stable.”
Pariwahsh’s journey from hardship to self-reliance is a testament to how access to skills training and market opportunities can uplift women and families. With perseverance and support, she has stitched a new future—one filled with hope, teamwork, and economic empowerment.