The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Khalida, a 34 year old businesswoman from Kabul, Afghanistan, is taking one of the country’s downsides and is implementing it into a progressive new business.

Afghanistan is home to thousands of refugees and IDPs (Internally Displaced People). Khalida has spent the majority of her business career helping these people get back on their feet. But after talking to her good friend and former Peace through Business graduate, Amir Taj Sirat, Khalida has decided that she can put her efforts to better work.

Under the encouragement of Sirat, Khalida has decided to start a ball making business, in which she can employ IDP’s and other women in the hopes that this could provide a long term solution to their economic displacement.

After completing her second year of operation, Khalida has decided she needs a little bit more business training in order to fully maximize her business’s potential. In conjunction with this, Khalida has been accepted into the 2009 Peace through Business program.

She feels that this will really help her progress, which will help other women’s progress in Afghanistan.

“It is [my] wish to provide job opportunities for women via my company and hope that this company can solve some of their (women’s) problems,” said Khalida. “In the future, I want my company to be famous for what it does.”

Farzana, a 30 year old businesswoman from Kandahar, Afghanistan, is fighting the country’s cultural norm and blazing her own path to economic prosperity.

Farzana spent the majority of her adolescence in neighboring countries in an endeavor to avoid the Taliban’s reign. It was during this time that she began to develop a self empowered attitude towards life and began to think for herself.

Upon returning to Afghanistan, Farzana looked for different ways to help out her war torn country. Eventually, she founded the Kandahar Health and Development Organization (KHDO) in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

KDHO specializes in training women in the fields of sewing, embroidering, and knitting in hopes that it will help propel them into a successful career down the road.

Despite facing harsh criticism from men in Kandahar and the surrounding areas, Farzana’s business continues to flourish. She contributes this mostly to her and her team’s bravery and willingness to be strong.

“[Men] are trying to ruin our organization in the public’s mind, but my small team and I…aren’t disappointed with the reactions we are getting,” said Farzana about the public’s reaction their new business.

Even though there is public rejection of what Farzana is trying to do, that doesn’t lead her to take her eyes off the prize.

“My team and I have a dream and we [will] achieve it.”

Jamila, a 39 year old businesswoman from Kabul, Afghanistan, is living life in the fast lane, literally. She currently owns and operates a car dealership.

Jamila got the idea of starting a career in car sales after dealing with a troublesome van during her stint as a program manager at Women for Afghan Women.

After quickly learning the in and outs of the business, Jamila found partners in Herat, a neighboring province in Afghanistan, and in Canada that help her fund and run her company.

Jamila now specializes in selling used Japanese cars throughout the many provinces of Afghanistan.

Despite being one of the very few women who work in car retail, Jamila remains confident that she will be able to succeed in running her new business.

Upon her arrival to the United States, Jamila hopes she will become better prepared in her product marketing skills, her negotiation skills, and her overall business presentation skills.

Jamila feels that after coming to the United States, the combination of her sales career and her formal training will give hope to her and her country.

“I feel that my confidence will build and my micro enterprise skills will also build and eventually, I will be able to represent a strong woman who can run her own business. And [ultimately] this will lead to the eradication of poverty and the spreading of peace.”

Andeisha, a 26 year old businesswoman from Kabul, Afghanistan, is using her variety of business and managerial skills to help influence Afghan children at a young age.

Andeisha spent almost her whole childhood and adolescence living in refugee camps in countries neighboring Afghanistan. It was living through this experience that inspired her to get involved with helping children.

While living in Pakistan, Andeisha got involved with a non-profit that started the Child Sponsorship Program in conjunction with the U.S. based charity, Charity Help International. Upon the program’s inception, Andeisha was named Program Coordinator.

After a successful run with the Child Sponsorship Program, Andeisha moved backed to Kabul in 2007 and started a new non profit, the Afghan Child Education and Care Organization (AFCECO). Furthermore, Andeisha was named Executive Director of the program.

Since starting the program, AFCECO runs 7 orphanages in Afghanistan, 2 orphanages in Pakistan, a girl’s school, and several vocational training centers around the country.

Andeisha believes that AFCECO’s principles and policy’s set the kids up for future success and sets the country up for more tolerance and prosperity in the future.

“We teach our kids to live in peace, love, tolerance, and harmony. The children are taught and encouraged to live within these boundaries and promote them in their life choices.”

Frozan, a 30 year old businesswoman from Kabul, Afghanistan, is using her medical background to bring a chance of hope to her fellow countrymen and women.

Frozan spent the majority of her educational experience training to practice medicine. But when she married, she had to temporarily forfeit the idea. But under the encouragement and guidance of her husband, Dr. Obaidullah Raufi, Frozan has reopened her dream.

In 2007, Frozan and her husband opened their clinic, the Family Medical Clinic.

Despite their skeptics, their business is booming. They have already exceeded their initial business expectations and they have even started to expand. They now are responsible for their main clinic and several other health missions in neighboring villages and provinces.

The joy of success, however, has come second to the sense of satisfaction Frozan feels from helping those who haven’t always been helped.

“I have [so] many patients and people coming to my clinic…and as you know we are [working] in a field that starts off with very little income and that is in a very poor country. I am so happy with my business and wish that one day we can help not only people in my country, but all over the world.”

Shakila, a 37 year old businesswoman from Kabul, Afghanistan, is using her village of skilled women to launch a successful hand crafts business.

Shakila, who is a member and leader of the Association Coordination of Afghan Women, has used her well rounded business savvy to strike up a deal with a raw materials distributor in order to get her business off the ground.

Taking the raw materials from her distributor, Shakila then distributes the materials amongst the women in her village and they make handcrafts for men and women accordingly.

Shakila feels that the Peace through Business program will only sharpen her skill sets and make her a better business woman.

“This [program] will help me exchange ideas and [help me] learn how to expand our project to the provincial level. It will also help us gain support from the international community and encourage women to be a part of business.”

Roqia, a 22 year old business woman from Kabul, Afghanistan, has the “vision” to go far in the Afghan business world.

Roqia, who spent the majority of her childhood and adolescence in Iran during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, has started her own financial consulting services company and is excelling to new heights with it.

The Afghan Vision Company, is specializes in preparing company’s annual financial statements and their tax forms.

Roqia has never run a business before and is running into occasional troubles here and there, but for the most part she is doing just fine, citing her desire to learn as her reason for motivation.

Another source of inspiration for Roqia is the constant progression of women in Afghan society. She feels that this is one of the chief motivators in having a successful business.

“I know that I will face a lot of problems in running my business because I am a young woman and Afghan people don’t want to believe in women’s abilities, but I am my own boss [now] and I want to show them that a girl, a woman can work as a man in Afghan society.”

Manizha, a 23 year old businesswoman from Kabul, Afghanistan, is well versed in the philosophies of Peace through Business, having been involved with it since its inception in 2007. But this time around she plans to put her time towards her newest project, a confectionary shop.

Originally, Manizha sought out with the dream to start he own business consultancy. After educating herself in the likes of marketing, commercial law, and managerial behavior, Manizha started Look Business Consultancy.

It was during this period, along with her stint working with several foreign government agencies, that she realized how hard it was for a woman to succeed in the workplace.

“Working outside is not an easy job for an Afghan girl in Afghan society because a working lady, especially at this moment with international organizations, is not considered a good woman.”

Despite this, Manizha has continued to stay focused and has not lost sight of what’s important.

Currently, she is working on starting a confectionary shop called the Sweet Castle. It has always been her dream to run one, but limitations on her time have constrained her from doing so.

But recently she has been presented with an opportunity to move on the Sweet Castle idea and she is taking it. She will use her time in the United States to sharpen and hone her business plan accordingly.

Manizha has also aided in the opening of her father’s private health clinic and her elder sister’s all female market.

Even though Manizha has already been to the United States with the Peace through Business program, she still feels that this trip will be more beneficial than ever.

“These last two years of experience have helped me grow my self-confidence and have empowered me to start my business in terms of getting the know-how and practical experience. And I think this year will again be enriching.”

Rezai, a 25 year old businesswoman from the Daikundi province of Afghanistan, is using one of Afghanistan’s most lucrative natural resources to propel herself into the business world.

Rezai first decided to start her own business when she noticed certain inefficiencies in the way almonds were packaged in Afghanistan.

Almonds, one of Afghanistan’s most well known exports, are required to meet certain standards when being de-shelled and packaged. Rezai found a way to adhere to these guidelines, but do it in an efficient and expedited manor.

Now, Rezai operates Tak Banoo Company (TBC), an almond de-shelling and packaging company.

Rezai currently is in contract with several almond farmers and has a fully staffed employee base. But that isn’t the end of Rezai’s role in Afghan society.

She has worked with the Department of Women’s Affairs as a Business Exposition Coordinator and has also served as the Deputy of Women’s Affairs in the Daikundi province. She now serves as the Director of the Afghanistan Women’s and Men’s Development Organization.

However, her most illustrious honor comes from the Vice President of Afghanistan, Mr. Mohammed Karim Khalili, when he gave her an award of appreciation for being the Best Manager of the Year and coordinating communication between her provincial government and the AWMDO.

Despite all of her success in the past, Rezai looks to the future to expand TBC and help her native Afghanistan rebuild.

Saudah runs a hair and beauty salon called Salon Essentials.

The business provideshaircuts, perms, coloring, pedicures, manicures,
facial treatments and body massages.

Saudah is hoping to learn better business managerial skills and would
like to learn more about how the U.S. beauty industry operates.

Experience Saudah’s salon through the video tours below!