Features

A Loan Officer Becomes the Borrower

Three years ago, Mastoora was working as a Loan Officer for a microfinance institution (MFI), helping Afghan women with microenterprises take a loan to start or expand their businesses. Download...

Agriculture loan helps change norms and mindsets

At only 40 years old, Elaha bears an older woman’s wrinkled face, which betrays the hardships she had endured for many years. But life for this mother of nine children,...

Overcoming Tragedy

The mud-house which Mir Afroz lives in with her three children tells the story of a family whose life is steeped in tragedy and poverty. Download Full Story

Finding hope in a hobby: A woman transforms her clients, and her life

As a cultural practice and as a coping mechanism, Afghan families, especially those with very limited resources, betroth and marry off their young daughters to gain social capital. Like many...

From Shoe-polisher to Restaurateur and Property Developer

Nabi was not quite ten years old and was enrolled in fourth grade when his family decided to escape the deadly war that prevailed in Afghanistan for decades. After moving...

Straddling the demands of career and culture: An Afghan woman’s triumphant journey

By all accounts and appearances, Saweeta Durrani, a microfinance client of First Microfinance Bank Afghanistan (FMFB-A), has become a highly successful, young businesswoman, privileged to enjoy the best of both...

A widow transforms brides and also her life

The story of 35-year old Farima is a reflection of the challenges and hardships of thousands of Afghan women. Farima was married off as a young girl—while she was a...

A child breadwinner ensures own children go to school

Khawani Khairkhwah was only 14 years old when his father was shot dead during the Taliban invasion of Afghanistan in 1999.  Khawani’s family lived in a village in Mir Bacha...

Stitching her way to Independence

Four decades of war and instability have driven millions of Afghans to leave their homes and take refuge in neighboring countries, Iran and Pakistan, Marzia’s family was no exception. While...

The woman who turned to emroidery to make a living

Razia’s family migrated to Iran during the civil war, but unlike other immigrants, she had very little to complain about.  She focused on acquiring and perfecting sewing and embroidery skills...