Razea's Story
In June 2009, SFL successfully completed a Livelihood Program funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) in Northern Afghanistan. The project helped over 400 families restore their lives as they move back to Afghanistan.
Razea is a woman from Sorcha Village who received 15 chickens to start her own venture in the poultry sector. Not only have the eggs provided food for her family, they have also supplemented the family income.
"Before SFL staff came here, our village was forgotten and no one was thinking about us and our problems. Even the government did not listen to us. Since SFL came here many things have changed in our village, they distributed chickens and goats and built bridges and roads.
Women in our village face many problems. We have many economic, social & family problems. When SFL distributed hens the women became very optimistic that they could sell the eggs and buy basic necessities.
The many men who are hired to work on the bridges have brought many hopes to desperate families. Many people leave Afghanistan if they can't find work. They go to Iran and it has happened to many families in our village. In the end, many of them have lost their husbands, sons and fathers.
We migrated to Iran during the Taliban. We became immigrants and lost everything and when we came back to the village we had nothing. My husband worked in Taloqan city as a laborer. Unfortunately because of the drought which lasted three years he couldn't find any work and he wanted to go back to Iran to work. Luckily when SFL started the project in our village, my husband became busy on the bridges and I am busy with hens.
We feel our village is better than before. People are having a good life. The goats and the chicken are good for our village and my chickens have multiplied. I received 15 chickens but now I have 33 chickens.
I feel happier than before and I am able to purchase household items with the eggs I sell."
