Art gallery founder in Kabul creates jobs for dozens of women

KABUL (Pajhwok): After a period of staying at home without work, Eifa Alkozai entered economic and artistic activities by establishing an art gallery in Kabul, creating employment not only for herself, but also job and training opportunities for more than 30 other women.

Pajhwok Afghan News interviewed Eifa Alkozi, founder of the “Perfect” Art Gallery, in this week’s episode of its “Mirror of Women” program.

Eifa Alkozai is one of thousands of Afghan women working in business and investment. She has not only created employment for herself, but has also provided work opportunities for 30 other women through her gallery.

Alkozai, a resident of Kabul city, worked for 20 years at the Women’s Association office before becoming unemployed and confined to her home for a period.

However, she did not remain idle. Two years ago, she began working from home producing kitchen sets and handmade crafts, and about a year ago she established the “Perfect” Art Gallery with an investment of $1,000.

Speaking to Pajhwok, she said: “I worked for 20 years at the Women’s Association office. Most of our work was with underprivileged women, for whom we provided training programs and taught them skills.”

She recalled that four years ago, following the return to power of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, the activities of that office were halted and she became unemployed.

She continued: “After that, I thought I had to start something. My husband supported me a lot and said, ‘Whatever you start, I am with you—go ahead and begin.’”

She said she had lived in Iran for some time, where she learned how to sew and make kitchen sets, various handicrafts, and other items, and later used those skills.

Initially, she produced decorative items and sold them online, but later she decided to establish a physical gallery.

She said the gallery was set up with less than $1,000 in one of the shops at the “Park Mall” commercial market.

Explaining that her employees are women who produce items from their homes and provide them to her, she added: “At the beginning, I trained all the women and taught them so that I could offer customers beautiful and high-quality products. Once the women learned, we practically started the work.”

In addition to decorative items such as tablecloths, mattress covers, bedspreads, and other products, she also produces jewelry and copper utensils.

She expressed hope that her business will expand so she can create job opportunities for more women, and called on the Islamic Emirate to support them.

Currently, Alkozai’s products have attracted many customers.

Zulaikha Amiri, one of her customers, told Pajhwok: “There are many unique things in this shop. I really like their products and I always shop here.”

She added: “When a woman comes to shop and the seller is also a woman, we feel very comfortable.”

Meanwhile, Fariba Noori, head of the Afghanistan Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said that women’s presence in society can play an important role in improving social conditions.

According to her, women’s employment has a significant impact on the household economy, as working women can help support family livelihoods alongside men and also help prevent social and psychological problems.

At the same time, economic analyst Shabir Bashiri said: “The economy of society depends on the family economy. The more family economies are strengthened and developed, the more the national economy will grow.”

He added that women, as an important segment of society, if involved and supported in economic activities, can play an effective role in strengthening family economies. Women’s economic contributions, alongside other family members, can improve the welfare, social, and economic conditions of families in Afghanistan.

Last year, Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesman for the Commerce and Industry, told Pajhwok that in previous years—before the victory of the Islamic Emirate—more than 9,000 business licenses had been issued to women. After the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, nearly 1,200 licenses have been issued to women investors.

sa/ma