Thanks to your support, thousands of women in rural Afghanistan are starting to build back their lives—with dignity, purpose, and income—through something as simple, and powerful, as silk and saffron. In a country where women are largely barred from working or even moving freely, this project is offering them one of the few lifelines available: the ability to earn a living from home. For many, it's the first time in years they’ve had hope for the future.
Silk in Zindajan
From March to May, more than 2,000 women in 17 villages began raising silkworms in their homes—part of a traditional craft that’s both climate-resilient and profitable.
These women were chosen carefully by village committees to make sure support reached those who needed it most: widows, women with no income, and those struggling to support their families.
Each woman received a full starter kit—silkworm eggs, tools, and training on how to care for the worms and harvest the silk.
By the end of the season, they had produced more than 74,000 kilograms of silk cocoons. On average, each woman earned about $193—a life-changing sum in rural Afghanistan, where many families survive on less than $2 a day.
Most importantly, this isn’t a one-off success. Women are already saving part of their earnings to buy silkworm eggs for next year’s season, and they’re joining local groups to keep learning and working together. This is a great sign for continuity of impact long after this project ends.
Saffron in Ghoryan
In another part of Herat Province, a smaller group of 59 women is getting the support they need to grow and sell saffron, one of the world’s most valuable crops.
In the past, some of these women had tried growing saffron—but without training or access to markets, they couldn’t earn a profit.
Now, they’ve received saffron bulbs, tools, and practical training from experts and local mentors—everything from how to prepare the soil to how to harvest and dry the saffron properly. A further 59 women have also been selected for the next phase of implementation.
Drying machines were also provided to improve the quality of their product, making it more valuable to buyers.
Because women can’t travel freely, male family members represented them at the Herat Saffron Festival, where they made connections with traders and processors. The women have since formed their own local saffron group and are now being linked to the National Saffron Association, opening the door to bigger markets and better prices.
Case Study
Mrs. Alamtab, the daughter of Abdul Rahim and a resident of Qale Jowhar, was selected as a project participant. She recounts her story:
"During the drought and challenging conditions where I live, access to agricultural water was scarce. Some NGOs introduced a crop called saffron, which adapts to low-water conditions. I had been seeking this commercial crop, but I couldn't afford enough bulbs for cultivation. Thankfully, through this project, I received 400 kg of saffron bulbs along with toolkits and fertilizer. I cultivated the saffron bulbs, and during the harvest, I obtained 40 grams of dried saffron, which I sold in the market to support my family. I am hopeful to achieve a higher yield next year, around 500-600 grams per 1,000 square meters."
In a time when Afghan women are being pushed further into the shadows, this project is enabling them to carve out a new identify as earners, contributors, and leaders. And they are doing it together—sharing knowledge, forming women’s groups, and investing in each other’s success.
This is more than a livelihood program. It’s a quiet but powerful act of restoration—of identity, hope, and future for these women and their families.