Disabled Afghans Find Hope in Sock Workshop

In Herat, Afghanistan, a new sock production workshop is providing crucial employment opportunities for disabled individuals. Founded by Mohammad Amiri, himself disabled by polio, the initiative offers jobs to around 50 people, many of whom became disabled due to conflict-related injuries and had struggled with unemployment. This venture has instilled new hope and financial stability.

The workshop produces four types of socks for winter and summer, contributing to the local economy. Its existence highlights the significant disability rates in Afghanistan, exacerbated by decades of conflict and a weak healthcare system. The United Nations emphasizes the urgent need for full integration of persons with disabilities into society.

Amiri hopes the business will grow, potentially supplying socks to Afghan security forces and reducing reliance on cheap imports. This initiative serves as a beacon of self-reliance and empowerment for a vulnerable population, demonstrating the potential for social enterprise in challenging environments.