UNHCR skills project empowers refugee woman

Programme enables women to earn a decent living

QUETTA: Saleema Habibullah, an Afghan refugee, had faced enormous struggles in her lifetime after tragic losses she had experienced. But today, she leads a life free from fear and full of hope for the future even in the most difficult times of coronavirus.

“I was only twenty when all the men in my family were killed in a bombing incident in Quetta,” lamented Saleema, describing the circumstances when her paternal  uncle was so heart-broken that he died of a heart attack.

At the time, she fought for her family – a paralyzed aunt and cousin, who were her only remaining relatives after the incident – by taking a bold step to leave her home and seek opportunities. Thanks to UNHCR’s Safe from the Start (SFS) programme, she learned new skills, such as embroidery, tailoring and kilim-making, and applies them daily.

The new skills enabled Saleema to become a master trainer at UNHCR’s programme being run by its partner. Besides, she also established a centre at her house to provide skills to girls and run a small business. Thus, her sources of income were two-fold, the job and home-based business.

“Even at this challenging time, when the coronavirus outbreak has affected the country, I’m able to earn a decent living while staying at home,” she said.

Funded by the United States of America in 2019, the SFS is a livelihoods, hygiene and sexual violence awareness-raising project which aimed at economic empowerment of vulnerable women in the Afghan refugee community in Quetta.

Since the start of the programme in 2016, SFS trained 740 beneficiaries in marketable skills such as kilim and carpet weaving, tailoring, hand embroidery, machine embroidery as well as equipped them with computer and English language skills (for literate beneficiaries).

All trainees participated in numeracy, literacy and health classes. To facilitate mothers accompanying young children, a nursery was also available for the children during the day. Most of the beneficiaries were not only skilled artisans but aspiring female agents of change.

Originally from Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, Saleema could not continue her studies beyond primary school due to poverty. However, her life took a turn for the better when she got the opportunity to become a trainer with SFS. Today, she’s the sole breadwinner in her family, paying off all of the heavy debt that they accumulated over time.

At first, her community didn’t respond well to her decision to pursue skills training.

In fact, they didn’t even approve of a girl leaving the home, but Saleema stood firm against the frowning faces and unfriendly gestures. She continued hard working and learning new skills.

“Someday, I look forward to becoming a successful businesswoman,” mused

Saleema, adding women should be brave and lead prosperous lives to pursue their dreams.

(With additional input from DNA)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2020.