Arzu, meaning hope in Dari, helps provide sustainable income to Afghan widows by sourcing and selling their hand-made carpets. Its goal is to give opportunity for economic self-reliance, education and health care to Afghan women and their families through a sustainable carpet project that enjoys long-term access to U.S. markets.
Arzu’s programs target women in rural Afghanistan. For rural, poor, illiterate Afghan women, the centuries old tradition of weaving is often their only hope to generate income in a culturally acceptable way. In Arzu’s target communities, carpets are virtually the sole source of income for women, and low wages make it virtually impossible for carpet weavers to break the cycle of poverty. Arzu pays the women weavers 50% more than the market rate for their labor. In addition, upon completion of their carpets, the widows receive a cash bonus, in exchange for a commitment to attend literacy classes and to send their children to school.
The Beyond the 11th grant supports 25 widow households, totaling nearly 200 people. The money will be used to provide $10,000 in bonus payments to the 25 widows and their families, purchase steel looms for those 25 families, offer access to fast track classes for 75 women and girls in those families, and offer a full, five-year university scholarship to a widow’s daughter.
