The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Maggie’s business is a stationary and photocopy shop located in Butare Town. Located on campus, she sells books, reams of paper, markers, pens, pencils, text books and other office supplies. She opened her business in 2003. Her goal is to expand so that she can pass on her business skills to other women. Maggie’s inspiration was her desire to become a role model to other struggling women - that if she could succeed, they could, too.

Prime Investment International is a general merchandising company, primarily dealing in cosmetics, and clothing for men and women. Josephine is interested in adding promotional materials to her inventory.

She has one partner and the business began in June 2008. Josephine worked in banking for five years and has always wanted to be her own boss.

Annette is the founder and managing director of ABK International-Africa Heritage Bed and Breakfast facility in Kigali, Rwanda. It also houses a fitness center.

Her hospitality business is growing into a one-stop tourism center. She also plans to grow into a complete executive spa where women can get steam baths and massages.

She currently has 10 employees and has 2 partners: her mother and her son, though she retains majority ownership. Annette would like to acquire more business training so that she can learn to network and grow her business.

Dunya owns a tailoring center, employing displaced women. She opened her business in 2006 and after a rough start, has begun to see a profit.

Through her community contacts and her friend, Amir Taj Sirat (Peace through Business®2007 graduate) she has been introduced to ball making and would like to expand into that business as well. On the condition that Dunya obtain more business training, Taj has agreed to assist her in opening a ball manufacturing business in Kabul employing internally displaced and returnee women.

Jamila Ghairat operates a car and van sales business in Herat, Kabul and Mazar with four partners. Jamila purchases the vehicles from Herat and takes them to Kabul or Mazar. She also has a side business with one partner selling ilk scaves in Kabul and other provinces. Opening her business in 2007 she now has 3 employees.

Jamila also serves as a Program Manager for Women for Afghan Women, responsible for day to day management of the domestic violence program and shelter.

Farzana Ebrahimi operates a consession or franchise of Kandahar Health and Development Organization (KHDO). She is charged with identifying the needs of Kandahar women, writing a proposed plan of action, finding the funding, establishing the project, hiring the employee to facilitate the project, monitor the evolution of the project and report progress to donors.

Inspired by a woman who traveled throughout the region extensively, Hamida developed her business idea of selling clothing and jewelry in both Jalalabad and Kabul, as well as in Pakistan. By traveling between these locations, Hamida collects clothing and jewelry that will sell in another region.

She has two stores: one in Pakistan, one in Afghanistan with two employees in each location. She hopes to learn how to make her company more profitable by working more efficiently allowing her to expand her business.

With degrees in both Business and Finance Frozan Raufi has a dream to open a Family Medical Clinic. With much experience in administration and married to Dr. Obaidullah Raufi, Frozan is in a unique position to launch her business dream, with the help of IEEW.

She has a general plan to open her business but applied for the IEEW In-Country training so that she can refine her business plan and hopefully travel to the US for Leadership Development.

Farghana Alimy has worked as an english and math teacher, shopkeeper, and now serves as the manager of a Trader Women’s Association in Kabul. Her business is retail clothing.

Bejnafsha owns Rahyap Handycrafts Association which sells clothes for men and women including bride dresses and other clothes made from Afghan hand made fabric. Rahyap Handycrafts also creates curtains; hand made toys for children and bed coverings.

Benafsha opened her business in August 2006 with the dream of offering women a way to have income even though they’ve been denied education. She has 15 employees.