On a warm afternoon in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, India, I had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Farida Khairkhwah, an Afghan refugee who has built both her life and livelihood in the city. Her journey is a testament to resilience and determination, embodying the experiences of countless women who navigate displacement while striving to sustain themselves with dignity in unfamiliar surroundings.

Hello ma’am, to begin with, could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Farida Khairkhwah. I live in India. In 2016, we came here from Afghanistan to save our lives. At that time, Afghanistan was in a very bad situation. There were bomb blasts, kidnappings, and I was a single mother. For the safety of my child and myself, we left Afghanistan. It has now been ten years since we have been living in India.

Please share with us a little about the life you led in Afghanistan. Which memories or experiences from there stand out most for you?

In Afghanistan, before the Taliban, life was good. Everyone was busy with their work. I was a housewife with my children, while other women were working in offices, schools, and universities. Women had rights, and many went out to work. But eventually the situation worsened. Kidnappings began, bomb blasts increased, and I was constantly scared for my children’s safety.

How was your arrival in India? What similarities and differences did you feel when adjusting to a completely new country?

When we came to India, the first problem was the language. While living in Afghanistan, we used to watch a lot of Hindi movies, so we could speak a little Hindi, but not much. At first, everything was a struggle buying groceries, clothes for the children, finding hospitals, and building our livelihood.

My children cried a lot in the beginning and wanted to return to Afghanistan because they didn’t understand the language. For one whole month, they didn’t talk to anyone. Slowly, everything got better. The biggest challenge was language, but the Indian people were very kind to us. I am very grateful to the Indian government and the Indian people. They always helped us in every way possible.

Starting a business in a foreign land is never easy. Could you tell us about your business and what it was like to set it up from the ground up?

When we came here, I was a housewife and my children were small. There was no opportunity to work. But when our financial situation worsened, I decided to start working.

In Malviya Nagar, there was an organization called Silaiwali which provided job opportunities to Afghan refugees. Someone told me about it, so I went and they taught me how to make mushroom crochet keychains. I started working from home. Soon, I realized other women in my neighborhood also needed work. I contacted my friend, and she joined. Gradually, more women came, and at one point nearly 100 women were working with me.

It became difficult to manage everything from home, so Silaiwali suggested I open a center in Bhogal, New Delhi. I took the responsibility of managing it—teaching women, giving them payments, handling all the work. The organization paid me a salary, and things were going well.

However, when the war in Ukraine started, Silaiwali’s orders from America and Canada decreased, so our work also slowed down. Then we connected with Project Tawwaqo, led by Aditi Trivedi, a student at Lady Shri Ram College. With their support, we began selling our products in colleges, schools, and other places. The students helped us a lot.

 Along this journey, what were the biggest challenges or hardships you faced, and how did you overcome them?

When I started with Silaiwali, I had nothing—no tools, no thread—only one crochet needle that my mother had given me in my dowry. I began my business with that. Today, by God’s grace, I have many crochet needle sets and threads.

I started from zero, and now I have reached somewhere. My message is that women should use whatever resources they have to move forward in life, for themselves and for others. Financial problems are inevitable, but they should never make you give up.

Ma’am, how did you start your bakery line alongside the crochet products?

It started about one and a half years ago. When stalls for crochet products were closed, we thought of starting a bakery. My daughter loves baking cakes and cookies, and my children were very interested in it too. People liked what we made, so we started selling bakery products as well.

We faced financial challenges—we could not afford a stall—but we had raw items, a stove, and the will to try. So alongside desserts, we also began making traditional Afghan foods like Bolani, Samosa, Mantu, and Harees. It was very beneficial for us. I believe in exploring every opportunity without worrying about judgment.

Back in Afghanistan, what kind of work were women in your neighborhood usually engaged in?

I didn’t have much exposure in Afghanistan. I was very shy and not active in society. But after living in India for a few years, I realized I couldn’t just keep waiting for help. I had to take a stand for my children. I completely changed myself. Even people from Afghanistan who visit me now say I’m not the same Farida anymore.

Did you personally face restrictions in your professional or personal life while living in Afghanistan?

Yes. I was mostly at home. The fear of kidnappings and bomb blasts was constant. There were human bombs everywhere—on bicycles, in cars, in rickshaws. It was terrifying. I didn’t send my children to school because I feared something could happen on the way. Life was very difficult. When we came to India, I finally felt safe.

Many women aspire to become financially independent but don’t know where to begin. What advice would you like to share with them from your own experience?

My advice is that women must remove negativity from their lives. Instead of relying on excuses or fears, they should take the first step. No task is impossible, whether big or small. Even if there is risk of loss, it’s better to try than to give up. Always fight for your rights.

Women in conflict-affected regions like Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria live with instability on top of daily struggles at home. What message would you like to give them on finding the strength to stand on their own feet and create a better future?

Women should not sit idly. They need to raise their voices and take action. If they want to start a business, they should begin with whatever little they have. If we don’t start from zero, we can never reach ten or a hundred.

Be grateful to God, pray for change, and don’t waste time complaining. Start from scratch, even with nothing, because God provides for everyone.

Finally, do you have a few words you’d like to share with Usawa Magazine and its readers?

I want Usawa to ensure that our voices reach children and women who don’t have anyone to support them. Even if they are confined to their homes, they can still start with something small. That is my request and my message.

Thank you.