Zahara’s new life

‘Thanks to the support of your country I am able to do this. You have changed my life.’

Apologizing for the debris, Zahara Fathi sweeps and clears the clutter of another busy night at the wedding hall. This is her third week as the resident beautician, and she is quickly discovering that in Afghanistan there’s no shortage of special occasions that need celebrating.

Forced to flee fighting at the tender age of one, hers has been a long journey, returning to Kabul in 2005 after 20 years in Iran.

‘I wasn’t able to complete my schooling, and so when we returned I could not work, because I didn’t have any skills. All I could do was sit in the house’ explained Zahara.

Occasionally, when her chores were done, she would walk to a beauty shop that had been opened in her area and gaze through the windows.

‘I would go and watch the beautician’s work, I have always been interested.’

When Zahara learned that CARE was running a beautician training course as part of its Vocational Training for Afghan Women Project, she registered straight away.

She was accepted on to the course, which is aimed particularly at families with an income of less than $1 per day, per person. And for the last five and a half months she has been learning the tools of the beautician’s trade, from cutting and styling hair, to make-up and manicures.

So far this year, 300 of Kabul’s poorest residents, like Zahara, have graduated with skills in various trades including house wiring, mobile repair, embroidery and food processing. CARE also provides basic literacy training, as well as lessons on women’s rights and health and hygiene.

After her graduation, Zahara brought her certificate to the wedding hall and showed it to the owner, enquiring about work, and was asked to start straight away.

‘I learned so much on the course, but now I am working I am learning even more. Every night we have a wedding party with new and different needs.’

For Zahara, learning a skill was a truly life changing experience, and not just because of the 10,000 afghanis she will soon be able to earn a month.

‘I have a new found confidence. For the first time I know I am important for my family and my community. People come to me for work.’

‘Thanks to the support of your country I am able to do this. You have changed my life.’

You can give the gift of skills training to a woman in Afghanistan.