Zarghuna - Afghanistan

There was no happiness in my childhood.

When I was only six years old, my parents gave me away to my uncle’s family in marriage to appease a family feud.

My father brought me to my uncle, who put me on his back like I was a sack of rice and took me to his house. He showed me a knife and said: “If you escape from the house, this is your future. I will kill you with this knife.” I never saw my family again.

My uncle was very abusive. He never let me see anyone or talk to my neighbours. I was excluded from family celebrations, and often heard the neighbours gossiping about me.  I grew ashamed of myself and often wondered “Why did all this happen to me? Why did they give me away to this family? Only to resolve a conflict?” These questions still remain.

When I was 15, it was time to consummate the marriage. We had a small celebration, but my family did not attend. I liked my husband. I grew up with him and he was always kind to me. I got pregnant shortly after my marriage, and I had a baby girl. My husband, then 18 years old, had to join the army. Soon after I received a message that he had been killed.

I felt I had no one to help me out, so I decided to commit suicide. I tried it twice and I failed twice. After this, I went to the hospital for my depression. The doctor told me, “You don’t need any medication. When you remember your past, it hurts you. So you need somewhere to go and sit with women, with different kinds of women, so you can see how they are dealing with their problems and how they are dealing with the challenges that they face.”

One of my friends told me about Women for Women International. When I joined, I found myself in a group of 25 women. 

That’s when I learned that I wasn’t alone in my suffering. There are other women, who have the same pain and the same hardships. To realise that was amazing.

After I graduated I found a job in embroidery and handicraft. I was always thinking about how I could build my own business. Eventually I decided to take a micro-loan of $500. From there I started selling my embroidered products and my business grew quickly. 

One day I know I will have a huge business in Afghanistan. I only wish to see peace in my country and expand my business more and more. For now, I am so happy that I am providing employment to 120 women, women who once suffered a lot. It’s not only women that I hire. I also have men as employees and helping us with the sales.

I am always talking to other women. I want to share all my experiences and tell them to be strong, as I became strong.