turns her passion into a profession
NOW GULNAMO is 42 , and she creates elaborate , richly colored handicrafts — from traditional Pamiri socks to ornately beaded jewelry to whimsical souvenirs . Making these beautiful treasures has become her passion . She ’ ll find any excuse — a friend ’ s wedding , a family member ’ s birthday , or just a quiet moment — to sit and practice her art . And by doing so , Gulnamo is keeping a longstanding family tradition alive .
Women in Gulnamo ’ s family have been knitting and crafting for many decades , passing down the traditional knowledge and skills from mother to daughter for generations . Gulnamo ’ s mother , Gulkhotun , knit professionally when she was younger , working at a weaving factory in eastern Tajikistan . There she made just 50 somonis ( about $ 5 ) a month . She loved the work , but said the salary “ was nothing to survive on .” She wanted more for her daughter , so she encouraged her to get a college degree and pursue a career outside of crafting .
Even though Gulnamo wanted to pursue her passion for crafting , she applied to university and was accepted . With the money she earned from selling her handmade products she was able to pay her university fees . Yet , even after graduating from university , she continued spinning wool , knitting socks , and making souvenirs , often giving them to friends as gifts . Crafting would have to remain a hobby for Gulnamo , who ’ d given up hope that she could turn her passion into a sustainable career .
Then Gulkhotun heard about a business training workshop for women . Here was an opportunity for her daughter to both pursue her passion and make a good living .
Women like Gulnamo who live in small , mountain villages in Tajikistan almost never have an opportunity to take part in courses about starting and running a small business , despite their
“ I learned how to plan my family budget , daily calculation of money and income , managing money , and saving money . The training changed my life . Within a month , I managed to hire two more ladies who work with me and are able to improve their life . Besides that , I am teaching sewing skills and sharing knowledge with the ladies to make them successful like me as a businesswoman in the village . My plan is to open my own sewing workshop and involve more housewives .”
– Fakhriya Dovutova , business program graduate need for such knowledge and skills . Because of the limited jobs available in Tajikistan , people are often forced to leave the country to find work . Most go to China or Russia and send money home to their families . Reports estimate that 30 % of the population of eastern Tajikistan , where Gulnamo lives , works abroad . Unfortunately , sometimes men working abroad decide to build a new life for themselves in their adoptive country , and the money they had been sending home to their families dries up . Women and children are left to fend for themselves .
For these single-parent households , it ’ s crucial for women to earn an income . Even for Tajik couples who stay together , a second income can help lift a family out of poverty , which is sorely needed in a country where one-third of the population lives in poverty .
During the 10-day workshop , Gulnamo and the other 118 female participants learned how to create business plans and budgets , analyze and respond to market demands , and perform basic accounting functions . They were connected to local women ’ s business associations , introduced to potential mentors , and shown how to apply for financing .
“ This training totally changed my life ,” Gulnamo says . “ In the training , I learned about how to make and save money .”
But it ’ s not just program participants who are benefiting from the training . Program graduates are determined to
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