Featured Weavers: Amir's Family

This sweet family has been in Dashte-Barchi for 2 1/2 years. They moved to Kabul from the mountains of Bamiyan. Before losing their land in Bamiyan, this family worked as shepherds. The father of the family was a government worker who lost his job because of his age.

In order to provide additional income, the older children help with much of the carpet weaving in the family. The skill to weave these intricate designs requires nimble fingers, making them skillful weavers. Because the families weave at home, the children are still able to attend school. This is very important to the father and to Hazara, Inc. We were able to meet the children, Zarfashan, the eldest daughter, Sorriel, Amir, their only son, and Baskel, the youngest daughter.

Zora, the matriarch of the family, when asked her age, laughed and said, “Tell her I am 30.” To which I laughed and told our translator, “tell Zora that I have been 21 for 13 years.” We all enjoyed a laugh and that clip in time served to remind us all that people are just people, no matter where you go.

Hazara has had an enormous impact on the lives of this family, as it is their only source of income. Zora is pleased with working with us and the development happening around Kabul brings hope for a future for her children. Her hope, of course, is for a better financial future.

We asked her if we could pray for her and she said, “Just pray that we would not be empty handed.”