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.
Fifteen Afghan refugee women in Kohat district are embarking on a journey of empowerment through a three-month vocational training program. This initiative, organized by SRSP with financial support from UNHCR Pakistan under the “Support to Afghan Refugees Residing in KP” project, equips participants with advanced embroidery skills.
These valuable new skills will open doors to job opportunities and financial independence for the women. This program not only empowers participants but also contributes to uplifting the Afghan refugee community and fostering their integration into the local Kohat economy.
By providing refugees with the tools and training they need to succeed, programs like this pave the way for a brighter future for both the women and their families.
A recently renovated vocational training center at Zamung Kor Child Protection Institute in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mr. Ali Amin Gandapur. The Social Welfare Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) collaborated with SRSP to complete the renovations, which were funded by UNHCR Pakistan.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister met with the children residing at the institute and distributed gifts. The event was graced by the presence of the Advisor to CM on social welfare and other important guests.
A LED bulb production unit, run by a group of five Afghan refugee men at the refugee village Naguman, District Peshawar, has so far produced and sold 5,000 LED bulbs, resulting in an average income of PKR 40,000 for each partner.
Today, a delegation comprising senior management from UNHCR Pakistan and Sub Office Peshawar, along with representatives from CAR and SRSP senior management, jointly visited the unit. The delegation held in-depth discussions with the beneficiaries regarding the business’s structure and its impact on their livelihoods. The delegation praised the efforts of the SRSP and UNHCR Peshawar team and recommended similar interventions in other refugee villages. This unit was established by SRSP under the livelihood support project funded by UNHCR to provide opportunities for small-scale businesses to the and Afghan refugee community.
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