URUZGAN, Afghanistan — In the remote district of Gizab in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province, a group of women has turned to wool spinning as a means of survival amid crippling poverty and limited opportunities.
Earning just 50 to 100 afghanis a day (approximately $0.60 to $1.20), these women say their meager income keeps their families afloat in the face of hunger and hardship.
Zainoor, an elderly woman from Gizab, is one of many who spin wool daily to support their families.
“Life is very hard,” she told Amu. “I spin one or two kilograms of wool a day and earn only 20 to 50 afghanis. We face many problems; there is a sick person in our house.”
For women like Zainoor, the work is grueling but necessary. Many, despite severe health challenges, are compelled to continue working to provide for their families.
Rana, another wool spinner, said her young son is ill, and her family struggles to make ends meet.
“It’s been three months since I paid the rent,” Rana said. “One of my sons suffers from mental health issues, and I have no choice but to keep working.”
Shaista Gul shares a similar story. After her daughter’s illness required surgery, the family’s savings were drained. With her children no longer at home, Shaista has taken on the responsibility of providing for her family.
“My daughter was sick, and we spent everything we had on her operation,” she said. “Now, I have no choice but to work.”
Uruzgan is one of Afghanistan’s most neglected provinces, having received little attention from central governments over the years. The province’s residents grapple with severe economic challenges, fighting daily battles against poverty and hunger.
For the women of Gizab, wool spinning offers a small but vital source of income—a fragile lifeline in a region where opportunities remain scarce, and survival is a constant struggle.
