A young woman in Herat has provided job opportunities for dozens of men and women by setting up a shoe production workshop.
Kamela Mirzaei, the head of this workshop, says that after being barred from university, she launched the workshop not only to keep herself employed but also to provide job opportunities for other girls deprived of education.
Mirzaei said: “Many women who were once studying now want to start jobs like shoemaking. We can help them and hire them.”
Most of the women working in this workshop have turned to this profession after being deprived of education. They say that this work has not only saved them from staying at home but has also helped their families financially.
Maryam, one of the employees, told TOLOnews: “We ask those with financial resources to create similar job opportunities for women, as there are currently no schools or universities for girls to keep them busy.”
Razieh, another employee, said: “We had lost our morale, but after working in shoemaking for two months, I feel much better. If we receive more support, we’ll be even happier.”
Some men working at the workshop also said that being employed here has saved them from working in neighboring countries and from having to migrate.
Hassan, one of the employees, said: “I worked in Iran for two years and didn’t earn much money, plus I was far from my family. The advantage here is that we can go home whenever we want.”
In the past three years, after the closure of universities and classes above sixth grade in girls’ schools, many girls deprived of education have turned to various professions.