Arts & Crafts
Women are often prevented from earning an income by the requirements of their traditional roles and duties. The expectations placed on women to keep up the household and take care of the children ultimately leaves little time and opportunity to pursue education or a career. Economic empowerment of rural and nomadic women ensures that families can be more secure, and the community can grow positively. CISD aims to connect rural and nomadic women with international consumers in order to help women sell handicrafts, clothing, and other items to a wider audience. In this way, women can earn an income to help support themselves and their children by using the skills they already have.
As a part of CISD’s projects related to the Balochistan region of Pakistan and Afghanistan, a main goal is to establish a program in which Balochi women can sell their handicrafts. The dress pictured here was handwoven by a Balochi woman.