Segment 1

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In Afghanistan, women are working to rise from poverty and gender discrimination. They do this even with daily reminders that the Taliban is still present. One such woman is Ferishta, who, in Mazar-e Sharif, is rebuilding not only her life but the lives of others.

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Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan

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Ferishta: A Voice From Afghanistan

FERISHTA

Like this is the ball she has printed. She does the printing on them. And also, we have the name of Balkh. Balkh is the province. One of the province in the north.

INTERVIEWER

They're nice. They're like really sturdy.

GIRL

They're nice.

INTERVIEWER

They're nice

GIRL

They're nice.

FERISHTA

These are all the printings that has been done by Asina.

INTERVIEWER

These?

FERISHTA

Yeah, all of these printings, they have been done by her. She's very good at printing and also preparing sample balls. Made by Afghan women.

INTERVIEWER

That's awesome.

FERISHTA

I know.

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Asina, one of Ferishta's employees.

FERISHTA

I run a small company producing soccer ball. I have twenty employees, men and women. You know that in Afghanistan sometimes people think that it's very difficult, especially for women, to do anything, and I also had the same idea, but after starting my own business I feel so much happier. I feel encouraged and I feel very powerful that, okay, as an Afghan woman I am also able to do something. And I'm sure that one day I can compete with other businesses. My daughter also likes playing with soccer ball.

INTERVIEWER

Yeah, you think she'll become a soccer player?

FERISHTA

Yeah. She can. It is difficult to manage business, work and also take care of the baby. Especially when she when she was very young, like two, three months…it was very difficult to leave her at home and go for work all the day, but I manage because it's not just the case with me, it's with everyone. Every working mother has the same problem.

INTERVIEWER

Do you think things are getting better for women in Afghanistan?

FERISHTA

I think so. Since the collapse of Taliban there have been quite significant changes and we are happy with that. It takes time because a country cannot be built in one or two day or one or two years. For building a country, it's not the responsibility of only men. It's the responsibility of every individual to just contribute to the economical growth of the country. When the Taliban came, I was 17. We went to Pakistan, Karachi city. We lived there for almost seven years. It was very difficult being a refugee and we had to live in poverty. When we came back we had to start our life from zero. It was very difficult, but still we are happy that we've gone back to our own country.

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Today Ferishta is one of a struggling but growing number or female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. She employs men and women, who like herself, were refugees in Pakistan and have since returned home.