Bonding on the job in Bamyan, Afghanistan
For the women, one of the most important parts of the project is the sheep-rearing training groups, formed by the HFLS project and run by the women themselves.
Khadija’s livestock, received as part of an FAO project, have become a real lifeline for her and her family and has helped her tap into a community of women. ©FAO/Rahman Shadan
The area of Bamyan in central Afghanistan is located right in the middle of what was known as the Silk Road and used to be a strategic resting point for travellers and merchants. It was meeting point of cultures and once a hub of Buddhism, but today it is more known for its majestic mountains, lush fruit orchards, ample arable land and abundant pastures. In fact, many people who live there, like Khadija Hashemi, raise sheep and goats.
Whilst men do most of the farming, it is the women who take care of livestock. It tends to be a solitary activity, however, and women working together as a community is uncommon in Afghanistan. One project, the Household Food and Livelihood Security (HFLS) project funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation, aims to change this, bringing women together, boosting their knowledge and raising incomes not just for their own households, but for their whole community.
The women livestock keepers participate and form bonds in group meetings, where they can exchange their views, share experiences and learn new techniques as well as keep in contact with their relatives or loved ones.