“Every time I have been hit down, I have stood up taller”

“Prior to the fall of the Government, in addition to my teaching job as a tailor at an institution, I ran a garment manufacturing facility in which 70 traders in Farah had invested. However, due to the nationwide changes, the exit of some investors and the poor economic situation of the market, the factory was closed after some time. 

I cried for days after the factory closed. My morale had changed. I yelled, showed unusual reactions in everyday things, and the women in the neighbourhood and our relatives who saw my tears said, ‘The closing of a business is not important.’ They didn't know that this was my dream that had been shattered and that my spirit had been taken from me. 

From the time I was in the 7th grade, I was self-sufficient and provided for my own needs and those of my family members with my income. My two other sisters and I had to work, because my father’s income was low, so we all shared the responsibility for the household expenses of our eight family members.  

However, after the fall of Afghanistan, this responsibility fell solely on my father, who has a low income. My two other sisters, a cosmetician and an employed worker in an institution, also lost their jobs. Even if my father retires today, we will have no savings to cover our living expenses. 

Unfortunately, after a while, due to the restrictions, this facility was also closed. My factory was located near the intelligence office in District 8. In the building that I had rented, there were a significant number of women coming and going. The enforcers of the Taliban’s ‘virtue and vice’ group visited us twice, accusing me and my apprentices of not observing proper Islamic hijab, despite us wearing modest and veiled clothing.  

After a while, the owner of the building, under the pressure of restrictions, terminated his contract with me. Consequently, I was forced to sell my production tools and equipment at a low price and, once again, I found all my aspirations and efforts in ruins. 

Now, for a third time, with the collaboration of three women, I’ve started teaching at a women’s educational centre and am working on creating a clothing brand.