Women and Learning Skills in Jail

   Written by: Aqsa Sediqi

Some Afghans are imprisoned due to committing different crimes among them are some women too. All prisoners are learning some professions and skills in jail and when they release, they can take benefit of their skills.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to Laila Hamidi who is released from the jail about 9 months ago.

“Laila Hamidi says: “When they took me to the jail, I just had 100 Afghanis in my pocket. Others prisoners women had money with them and they were buying anything they want. I saw that other women were learning skills, I also started to lear handicrafts; bag making, embroidery, tailoring, and others. When I released from jail, I signed contracts with some shopkeepers and they buy my products. I could get about 15000 Afghanis benefits monthly and I want to be a merchant of handicrafts in the future.”

The story of a young boy:

“I am a resident of Saripul province. When I was a student, my father was a farmer and he was frying peas in a shop too. We were facing economic problems and my father was not able to fulfill our home necessities. I decided to help my father in frying peas but it was very hard work for me to do. My hands were burning but I had to find some money. When I graduated from high school, I passed the university entrance exam and I succeeded to the faculty of mines and geology. My father told me that he could not pay the expenses of high education. I came to Mazar-i-Sharif and started working in a hotel and I also continue my study at a private university. Now I could pay my education fees and help my family too.”