Afghan carpets are renowned for their beauty and craftsmanship, gracing homes around the world. However, many of the skilled artisans who create these carpets are themselves refugees.
This blog post highlights an inspiring initiative empowering Afghan refugee women in Pakistan’s Turkmen Camp, Nowshera. A significant portion of these refugees are Turkmen, a traditionally carpet-weaving ethnic group.
Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), with financial backing from UNHCR Pakistan, has provided a powerful boost to this refugee community’s carpet-making business. They’ve distributed 98 solar-powered thread-making machines to Afghan refugee women in the camp.
Previously, these women relied on manual machines, a laborious and time-consuming process. The new solar-powered machines are a game-changer. They significantly reduce the workload for the women, leading to:
Increased production output
A boost to the local refugee economy
More time and energy for the women
An additional 7 thread-making machines were also provided to the Turkmen Carpet Weaving Centre, further strengthening the industry’s infrastructure.
This initiative empowers these skilled craftswomen, preserves a cherished tradition, and injects positive economic growth into the refugee community.
