High up in the Pamir mountains of eastern Tajikistan , 65-year-old Alimabonu Dovutova ’ s nimble fingers carefully thread her needle .
Dovutova lives with her husband , son , his wife and her two grandchildren in the village of Khidorjev in the Roshtqala district of Tajikistan ’ s Gorno-Badakhshan region .
She leads me into a small room in her home which she has converted into a sewing workshop . Each week , two other women join her here and together they sew and knit products to sell in markets in the regional capital , Khorog , and the country ’ s distant capital city , Dushanbe . Through their needlework these women support their families . “ We started doing this work because most of our husbands are in migration , and no one but us will help us ,” says Dovutova .
Tajikistan has a rich history of handicrafts which reflect the culture of the nation and are often made using traditional techniques and materials . Dovutova remembers her grandmother and mother knitting , “ I watched and learned these handicrafts from them ,” she says , turning her needle to an embroidered hat .
Dovutova turned the embroidery and sewing skills she learnt as a child into her own handicraft business selling her products in markets and to tourists traveling to Gorno Badakhshan .
In 2019 , the President of the Republic of Tajikistan , Emomali Rahmon , announced a three-year plan to revive the country ’ s folk crafts , rural development , and tourism . In 2021 , Dovutova took part in Central Asia Institute ’ s first Women ' s Livelihood training , an initial ten-day intensive workshop designed to equip aspiring female entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to succeed in businesses such as baking , sewing , and weaving .
Dovutova credits CAI ' s workshop with helping her to start her business :
" CAI helped me a lot with the development of my business . Before , I did not know how to sell my products , but after attending these courses I learned financial literacy and how to sell them at the market , how to find clients , and how to price the products to get a profit . After the CAI training , I opened a small workshop , hired two more women and we started working . From the income we get , we buy more materials and all the time , we are developing the folk crafts that we create . Since I started my business , I have participated in different exhibitions and received many diplomas and awards . I am very happy with the work I have done ."
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