PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS 2007 graduate, Taj, owns a ball making business, employing women of Afghanistan to produce all types of balls - soccer balls, volley balls, etc.
After her participation in the 2007 program, Taj realized she was making a good profit. She increased her revenues by 17%. Always interested in social and political affairs, she realized she could do more, now. She announced her intention to run for parliament in 2009.
“I imagine myself in space looking down on the Earth, and I see the country of Afghanistan below at night. All of the sudden, there is a very small spark of light popping up and slowly spreading its rays like a small star burst. It’s very small and almost imperceptible at first, but then there is another small spark that shows up and radiates like a very small burst of energy. Before I realize what’s going on, there are more, and more and more lights that are popping up all over the country. Their lights overlap each other and ignite as if they are giving birth to a great movement and new consciousness.
I slowly come to realize that these lights represent the women of Afghanistan and their desire to develop their own sense of power, their hope for democracy and their desire to spread peace through economic stability.
This is the story of Amir Taj Sirat. She was born into a middle class family in the Daikundi Province city of Nilli, where she began her primary school education. This was a time of terrible civil unrest, and in 1986, she and her family were forced to immigrate to Pakistan, where Taj continued her schooling.
Once Taj became of age and married, she returned with her husband to raise their four boys in Ashterlai District of Daikundi Province of Afghanistan.
Not being the kind of person who wants to only stay at home and raise children, Taj yearned for other activities that would stimulate her mind and contribute to her community. However, living in the time of the Taliban rule proved to be challenging. With her own money, she decided to establish a school in her home, where she began the difficult task of educating not only local boys, but also young girls as well.
In 2001, after the collapse of the Taliban and with the cooperation of an international coalition, women were encouraged to participate as an active part of society once again. Her homeland of Daikundi Province elected Taj as its representative in the Emergency General Assembly for the election of the Interim President of Afghanistan.
By being a part of the Emergency General Assembly and teaching children in her home, Taj saw a real need for programs that assist and empower poor Afghan communities. In 2003, she established her nongovernmental organization (NGO) under the name of Green Way to assist communities, particularly women, in becoming self-reliant and active in social and political affairs.
Taj’s business career took flight in 2005 when she established a ball production company that is designed to help create a reasonable income resource for deprived Afghan women in the community. As a result of this business, Taj applied for and was accepted to the Institute of Economic Empowerment of Women’s 2007 program titled “Peace through Business®”, which brought Afghan women business owners to the United States for entrepreneurial training at a major university and mentorship with American women business owners.
One of the primary missions of the “Peace through Business®” program is to pay forward the training to other women from their countries. Amir Taj is an exemplary illustration of this practice by her teaching other women how to write a business plan, how to take their product to the market and how to network.
What’s next for Amir Taj Sirat? In addition to her keen business acumen, Taj continues to show love for her country and a desire to lift up Afghan women with plans to run for parliament in 2009.”
Sarah owns Shema Farms, utilizing approx. 24 acres that supports dairy farming with about 75 Ephesian cows, growing and selling of fruits including oranges, pineapples, Macademia nuts for the Kigali City market.
Peace through Business®2008-Rwanda graduate, owner of “Glo Creations”, a textile and batiks design company opened in November 2004. In our latest news from Gloria, she speaks with IEEW Chief of Staff Lin Weigel about the struggle to be taken seriously as a young business woman in Rwanda. 
Peace through Business®2008 Afghan class graduation at Northwood University - Midland MI. The class is flanked by Dr. Terry Neese (l), Dr. John Amim (top right) and Ambassador Said Jawad (r).
