Bpeace in Kabul

An easier day in Kabul.

We’re still in Kabul. Our flight was cancelled due to the low cloud cover, and it’s snowing again—of course.

Before we knew we were cancelled, Gwendy had a productive breakfast with Beth Gottschling and hatched a plan for an exhibition to sell products on Women’s Day—March 8th. Beth has worked with Latifa in the past, and they will partner on this exciting opportunity to make our SRT ladies better known in Kabul and to put cash in their hands. Beth mentioned that a mutual business contact is looking for talented crochet workers, and we hope to connect three of our ladies with him.

In another big score of the day, Laura connected Zohlayka (a friend of Bpeace who runs a local school) with Hossai, our SRT lady who makes uniforms. Ta da, an order for 200 uniforms emerged.

Jim, by popular demand, taught again at the University of Kabul to a mixed group of our SRT ladies, and members of the Afghan Women’s Business Council. Today’s topic: Balance sheets and cash flow statements. They were so excited, you’d think he was teaching “How to become a millionaire.”

For most of the team, it was a less pressured day than we’ve had. Kate, Gwendy, and Laura went to the National Museum and saw an exhibit of wooden statues from Nuristan (in the north of Afghanstan), and then shopped. Ray and Paula went to the Afghans for Tomorrow school, run by our guide, Najib.

Toni met with a new SRT candidate—Sara—who runs a second-floor dress shop, with 3 workrooms and 12 seamstresses WITH ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINES. Both Toni and Laila were impressed with her products enough to order some clothing. Sara’s shop—7 months old—is having cash flow problems. Foreigners—who had been her customers—stopped coming when the weather got cold. She really needs a sit down on how to downsize her costs, as she is running at a loss every month. Since we’re leaving town, we will try and find someone to work with her in Kabul. In the meantime, Toni taught her a “mini-lesson” on how to request deposits for custom-made garments—which Sara had not been doing.

Paula went back to visit Hamida, to snap some “at-home color.” She came back with several pair of wool hand-knit leggings and some of the great shots you see here. Paula has been tireless in pursuit of photo ops to give a well-rounded perspective to Bpeace work in Kabul. She hopes to present the best of her photographs on Wednesday, March 16 at our Bpeace Afghan Team Meeting in New York. (To rsvp to this meeting contact lhass@bpeace.org, attendance is limited to 50 people.)

Finally, Toni and Laila compiled the final list of ladies to will come to New York for the Style Road Trip. There are 18 in all! During our business assessments, we didn’t eliminate anyone. We still need about $25,000 more to bring them all over. (You can donate now by going to the left-hand column of the blog and clicking on DONATE NOW!) $6,000 covers the cost of bringing one woman here, including airfare, lodging, meals and training by Fashion Institute of Technology. A big nut for us is lodging in New York for 18 women for 18 nights.

Give us a boost here with some dollars for peace. You know your money will be well spent…it goes totally to the cost of the women. Bpeace members pay for everything else (including this mission travel) out of our own pockets.