How Karima Turned a Lifelong Dream into a Cultural Handicrafts Centre
Karima has demonstrated a strong spirit of collaboration, creativity, and a deep passion for learning and culture since childhood. Raised in a family that valued education and cultural traditions, she grew up in an environment rich in artistic and cultural heritage.
She completed her education in Afghanistan, including teacher training in mathematics, before pursuing a degree in Business Economics in Kabul. Following her graduation, Karima worked with various organisations and institutions, gaining valuable professional experience.
Unexpected changes in her circumstances later disrupted her career path, leading to several years of displacement and challenging living conditions away from her home. Despite these hardships, she remained determined to continue learning. During this period, she discovered the online Female Entrepreneurship Programme offered by the University of Central Asia's School of Professional and Continuing Education (UCA-SPCE).
Although she already held a university degree and professional experience, opportunities to continue her career remained limited. The UCA-SPCE entrepreneurship programme became a turning point. Because it was delivered online, she was able to participate regardless of her circumstances. The course helped her refine a business idea she had carried since her university years and gave her the confidence and practical skills to turn it into reality.
In early 2026, Karima established a Handicrafts Centre to preserve and promote Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage, traditional arts, and handicrafts. Today, the centre engages 10 instructors, around 100 trainees, and five staff members in production and training activities.
The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the local community. The centre focuses on both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, producing traditional tablecloths, black soap, traditional kohl, decorative lockets, handmade and machine-made waistcoats, traditional clothing, and a variety of other handicrafts.
In addition to producing handicrafts, the centre actively promotes intangible cultural traditions. Awareness sessions are organised for instructors and trainees on cultural values and practices, including wedding customs, storytelling, traditional ceremonies, and other elements of Afghanistan's cultural heritage.
To expand its outreach and connect with customers, the centre has established social media channels to showcase its products and activities. It has also participated in local handicrafts exhibitions, introducing its work to wider audiences and creating new market opportunities.
The centre also organised a community handicrafts exhibition to celebrate local culture, raise awareness of traditional crafts, and create opportunities for artisans to present their work. For many visitors, it was their first opportunity to attend an exhibition of this kind, providing a valuable space for learning, exchanging experiences, and strengthening appreciation for cultural heritage.
Today, the Handicrafts Centre continues to receive orders through both direct sales and online platforms and is steadily expanding its activities. Its success reflects perseverance, patience, teamwork, and the commitment of everyone involved.
Karima and her team hope to introduce Afghanistan's rich culture and artistic heritage to wider audiences, contribute to preserving the country's cultural legacy, and create more educational and livelihood opportunities for women and young people. Through determination and leadership, Karima has transformed a long-held dream into an initiative that promotes culture, supports communities, and creates opportunities for future generations.
Disclaimer
This publication is a part AWAKE project (Accelerating Women’s Access to Knowledge Economy) and is based on research and programming funded by the Gates Foundation. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the foundation.
