Women in vocational and tailoring training

Vocational training

Skills for self-sufficiency — sewing, literacy, hygiene, and partnership with Rotary.

For AWAKEN and its supporters, vocational training is remarkably cost-effective — focused expenses include sewing machines and tailoring supplies, teacher salaries, and space rental for six months — while the benefits are priceless. Promoting self-sufficiency improves lives, families, and communities.

Promoting self-sufficiency

Nearly 80% of adult Afghan women are illiterate

Conflict has left many women without traditional support networks. AWAKEN launched its vocational program in 2005. Each year, more than 60 women complete a six-month program in sewing, literacy, and hygiene. Graduates receive a sewing machine, cloth, scissors, needles, and tailoring supplies.

The first class graduated 32 women; since then AWAKEN has offered an average of two programs per year in different villages across Behsood District. For many women, these skills enable self-sufficiency and community support.

60+ women complete the six-month program each year
32 women in the first graduating class

Graduate receiving a sewing machine at vocational training

Women in a vocational tailoring class at a Saheli Center

Saheli Centers — partnership with Rotary

In 2017, AWAKEN launched women's centers that include computer instruction, supported by Rotary International. Saheli Centers bring literacy, family planning education, and the choice of tailoring or computer skills. After the Rotary grant completed in February 2019, AWAKEN continued these services where demand remains strong.

60+ women from three different villages currently enrolled
500+ women have graduated from the vocational training program