Photo taken on April 12, 2022 shows an exhibition displaying women-made handicrafts in Kabul, Afghanistan.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
KABUL, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Putting on display numerous hand-made purses, bags, shoes and embroidered women's clothing, Ferishta Hashimi, 40, wants to find more customers and boost her business.
"Organizing handicrafts exhibition and showcasing our products would be a great help," she said.
"Our products mostly are made of leather," Hashimi said. Her business has declined over the past months, and sometimes she just stayed at home, idling.
This is the first exhibition displaying women-made handicrafts held in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul after the Taliban takeover of the Central Asian country last August.
Like many economic activities in Afghanistan, Hashimi's business has felt the impact of the U.S. sanctions against Afghanistan by Washington freezing the assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. Now the handicrafts show raises hope that she could find new overseas markets.
"It is hopeful that I can sell my products to foreign countries in the future," said Hashimi.
With the support from the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Taliban-led caretaker government, the exhibition recently opened at the National Gallery. Of the 81 stalls set up in total, 40 are owned by women.
"I appreciate holding such exhibitions to support women and their economic activities," said another woman at the show who prefered to be anonymous.
"Women are part of the Afghan society, and they deserve support and should be encouraged to get education, to work and to contribute in rebuilding our war-torn country and stabilizing its fragile economy," she told Xinhua.
Although in today's Afghanistan women are still active in such sectors as health, business and education, girl students from seventh to 12th grades cannot attend school.
Chief spokesperson for the Taliban administration, Zabihullah Mujahid, has visited the exhibition and praised the women stall owners.
"Our sisters deserve appreciation and support, they should be encouraged and I am calling on our countrymen to buy the handicrafts and products made by our sisters," he said.
Ali Kohistani, a bookseller said he is very happy to see the handicrafts show held and will welcome more events of this kind. "Organizing such exhibitions raise hopes among people for the future and drive you to work," he said. ■
Photo taken on April 12, 2022 shows an exhibition displaying women-made handicrafts in Kabul, Afghanistan.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Photo taken on April 12, 2022 shows an exhibition displaying women-made handicrafts in Kabul, Afghanistan.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
