How UCA Helped Shabnam Raise Her Voice and Raise a Business
At just 14 years old, living in Kabul, Afghanistan, Shabnam’s* life was shaped by traditional societal norms when she was married under a family arrangement. Several years later, as a 32-year-old mother of three, holding a nursing education, Shabnam held higher aspirations and dreamt of becoming a medical doctor. However, in 2021, political circumstances and the closure of schools and universities in Afghanistan prevented her from pursuing higher education.
But Shabnam refused to give up.
She chose to channel her energy into starting a home-based business to achieve financial sustainability for her family and regain a sense of purpose. Despite initial hesitation from her family, a lack of seed capital, no prior marketing experience, and minimal financial literacy, she steadily set out to build her enterprise. She aimed to navigate around institutional obstacles, and pursue professional success by “raising a business instead”.
A major turning point in her entrepreneurial journey came when she joined the AWAKE project, implemented by the University of Central Asia’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (UCA-SPCE Kabul) with support from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). Shabnam successfully passed the selection process and completed an intensive 30-day entrepreneurship training program. The course equipped her with practical business tools, ranging from SWOT analysis and market assessment to customer attraction strategies, product costing, and financial management.
To reinforce her learning, Shabnam participated in an 8-day mentorship program guided by experienced trainers. She immediately put her new skills into practice by founding and formalizing her own food production company. Her enterprise specializes in producing and supplying high-quality, hygienic, homemade food products across Kabul, including fruit preserves (strawberry, apricot, mulberry, and apple jams) and traditional pickles (mixed vegetable, cucumber, carrot, chili, and garlic). In June 2026, Shabnam took another significant step forward by presenting her business at the National Pitch Competition, earning valuable experience before an expert panel.
The tangible results of applying her new knowledge were immediate. Following the training, Shabnam’s monthly income increased by 10%, and her product line expanded considerably. To overcome social barriers and reach customers directly, she embraced digital tools: today, she actively operates a business channel on WhatsApp and an official Facebook page to showcase her products, engage with customers, and process incoming orders. Furthermore, the success of her food production company has created broader social impact: Shabnam has generated economic opportunities for other women in her community by regularly paying wages to four local women who assist with food processing, packaging, and sales.
* Details have been modified to ensure the privacy of those involved.
Disclaimer: This publication is based on research funded by the Gates Foundation. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the Gates Foundation.
