While this post was originally about this beautiful rug, I decided midway to highlight something that has been on my mind all week. While I don’t usually highlight the politics of our country, sometimes it’s extremely difficult given the mission of The Rug Mine—empowering artisans, especially the
#women .
It’s deeply disheartening to see that the
#UN recently excluded women from a critical conference. This exclusion has sparked disappointment among women’s rights activists, including
@malala .
Through The Rug Mine, my mission is to empower
#Afghan women one knot at a time. Each knot in our rugs represents progress, tightened with care and resolve. As enduring as these knots are, so are the women of
#Afghanistan—resilient , strong, and integral to our society.
My mother, once a boys’ middle school teacher, taught many boys who became engineers, scientists, doctors, and Fulbright scholars. Afghan women like her have played pivotal roles as educators. Every Afghan woman, including our artisans, has an undeniable right to
#education . This is a right no man can strip away, and here at The Rug Mine, we are committed to preserving it.
Many of our artisans are young women who dreamed of becoming physicians, engineers, and lawyers. While they find hope partnering with The Rug Mine, I understand their aspirations when I speak with them from 10,000 miles away. Many have shared their stories with me personally during my recent visit to Afghanistan.
At The Rug Mine, I strive to provide them hope so they can sustain their families. We pour our hearts into these rugs, knowing they have someone who believes in them—a fellow Afghan sister who made it out in 2006 but knows she would have been in the same position had she stayed.
At The Rug Mine, we strive to be a beacon of hope for these women, enabling them to sustain their families and pursue their dreams. Each rug we create is woven with
#love and determination, a testament to the strength and spirit of Afghan women. Together, we can transform spaces and lives, one beautiful rug at a time.
