Raise a woman, raise a nation

Zarghuna from Afghanistan was just six years old when her parents gave her away to the family of an abusive uncle in a marriage to appease a feud. She was 15 when she married and became pregnant shortly afterwards. Her 18 year-old husband was then killed in war. Hospitalised after a suicide attempt, she was told by a doctor: “You need somewhere to go and sit with women, with different kinds of women, so you can see how they are dealing with the challenges that they face.”

Zarghuna enrolled in Women for Women International's year-long training programme, where she learned how to earn and save money, improve her family’s health and make her voice heard at home and in her community. By joining a classroom of 24 other women, Zarghuna also found a sisterhood.

After Zarghuna graduated, she received a microloan to start an embroidery business. Today, her company employs 120 women. Zarghuna’s wish is to see peace in her country and to expand her business even more.

Since its origins in 1993, Women for Women International has reached more than 500,000 marginalised women in eight conflict-affected countries.

Fidenza Village is partnered with Women for Women International as part of The Bicester Village Shopping Collection DO GOOD network of charitable organisations, all of which work to empower women and children. Read more here.

UK Charity Registration Number: 1115109

For reasons of security and privacy, we are using a photo of a different Women for Women International graduate to represent the woman in the story.