By Manizha Wafeq | Founder and CEO
The number of women’s shops on MadebyAfghanWomen.com has grown to 111
Despite immense challenges, our five Digital Gurus across various provinces of Afghanistan—together with our dedicated team members outside the country—continued implementing the E-Commerce Empowerment Program with determination and impact. The program is supported by two staff members and two volunteers based in the United States.
Over the past quarter, we have provided hands-on e-commerce training to more than 50 women entrepreneurs through a mix of in-person and virtual sessions. In addition to group sessions, 30 women received tailored one-on-one coaching to strengthen their product development, pricing, packaging, and digital marketing strategies.
As a result, 30 women successfully launched their online shops on MadebyAfghanWomen.com, bringing the total number of active shops to 111. This milestone marks a significant step toward expanding Afghan women’s access to global markets.
Encouragingly, 10 of our trained entrepreneurs have already completed international sales—a clear testament to their perseverance and the untapped potential of Afghan women.
During this quarter, we also organized the 2nd Afghan Women's Global Business Forum to spotlight the challenges and successes of Afghan women entrepreneurs, strengthen connections with the Afghan diaspora, and open pathways to mentorship, partnerships, and international sales.
Resilience Amid Connectivity Challenges
At the beginning of September, news broke that the Taliban intend to disconnect all Wi-Fi connections across Afghanistan, and by the end of the month, a full internet shutdown took place, lasting for 48 hours. Although connectivity has since been restored, overall access remains unstable.
For women entrepreneurs—many of whom rely on mobile data as their only means to stay connected—the situation has become increasingly costly and challenging. Yet, despite these barriers, Afghan women continue to work, learn, and make every effort to remain connected to the world.
Their resilience is inspiring, and it strengthens our resolve to continue supporting them. Let’s keep standing with Afghan women as they strive to sustain their businesses and voices in the face of adversity.
Highlights in Numbers
50 women entrepreneurs trained in e-commerce
30 women received one-on-one coaching and support
30 women launched online shops on MadebyAfghanWomen.com
10 women achieved international sales (U.S., Australia, Montenegro, and Denmark)
20+ in-person and virtual training sessions delivered
Bi-weekly networking sessions with expert speakers
9 team members and volunteers driving the program
1 inspiring success story featured: Seven Sisters in Herat, employing 16 women
Story Spotlight: Seven Sisters – Entrepreneurs and Change-Makers
Three years ago, a group of sisters in Herat decided to start a small production business. When they were choosing a name, their brother suggested “Seven Sisters,” symbolizing their unity and strength—and that’s how their journey began.
Today, Seven Sisters is not just a family business but a model of women-led empowerment.
Employs10 full-time women
Provides Contract work to 6 women working from home
Offers Skills training and income opportunities
Sells Handmade products on https://madebyafghanwomen.com/store/sevensister/
Featured: Documented by our team as a success story in Herat
Their dedication demonstrates how Afghan women entrepreneurs are transforming challenges into opportunities, creating livelihoods, and uplifting other women in their communities.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the GlobalGiving Disaster Response Team, the GlobalGiving Global Grant Programs Team, and all our individual donors. Your continued support makes it possible for us to deliver sustainable, meaningful impact for Afghan women entrepreneurs.
Your contributions are more than financial—they are a vote of confidence in the power and potential of Afghan women. We are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission and your partnership in advancing women’s economic empowerment in Afghanistan.
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