Zahara Kazemi—Women Weavers

Zahra owns The Women Weavers of Bamyan that employs over 400 women who make vests, coats and jackets, laptop bags, backpacks, shoes, sandals, tunics, and scarves. Zahra used the Giving Joy grant to buy wool and textiles from women in Bamyan. Fear of the Taliban pushed these women to work in hiding ,and the severe cold and lack of food made the women weak and slowed down production. Despite these conditions, Zahra and her team were able to produce beautiful embroidered goods and shoes, and earn money for themselves and families.