Anisa meets children’s education cost by weaving mats, baskets

KABUL (Pajhwok): Anisa has been supporting her family and children’s education by weaving mats for the past 16 years, but now her sales have decreased, landing her in deep trouble to meet her family needs.

The mother of six children, Anisa, who is 47-year-old, is currently living with her three daughters, a son and husband in Qala-i-Chaman area on the outskirts of Kabul City.

She told Pajhwok Afghan News she had been weaving baskets, cotton bags, hats and making fruit plates and flower pots over the past 16 years and had enough income to support her family.

Her husband was a textile factory officer before the communist coup in 1978 and also served as a worker in the Ministry of Defense. He is now 68 years old and cannot work, she said.

Anisa said her husband’s pension was meager and she herself had to work meet the family needs and children’s education fees.

“I every day go out of home and take the mats to different parts of the city for sale,” she said, adding 10 to 20 handicrafts could be sold on a daily basis.

But Anisa said her sales had decreased and her current income could not meet all her family’s expenses.

“My three daughters have received bachelor’s degrees in agriculture, two of them have married, one of them is studying midwifery, another is in class 10^th and my son the youngest child is in class 7^th,” she said.

“Though my income has decreased, I will always struggle to help my children continue their education and not let them become burden on the society,” Anisa added.

She stressed all Afghans should try to help their children in education and prepare them to contribute to the country’s development.

mds/ma