It’s only a few days until our first ever fundraising event ~ Threads of Hope for Afghan Women. All those who have worked so hard on putting this event together are very excited. We hope that everything goes as planned and those who come appreciate what we’ve done, but most of all we hope that we will be able to raise enough funding to start another tailoring course for women in Afghanistan. Our goal is $9600.
When I first started thinking about the preparations for this event I read a book that I highly recommend to everyone ~ The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. It is the amazing story of five teenage sisters who survived on their own during the Taliban rule with a tailoring business in their home. They not only survived themselves in this way, but employed many young women in their neighborhood.
It is a true story that deserves to be read and shared. It is the story of perseverance, courage, ingenuity and entrepreneurship in almost impossible circumstances. Most of us have never even had to consider the idea of surviving in a conflict zone…especially one that is openly hostile to women.
As the founder of Eternal Threads, it has been my humble privilege to see this same story in women all over the world. Their spirit of survival inspires me in ways I can’t always describe. They never see themselves as victims and will make the most out of every opportunity given to them.
The author of The Dressmaker put it this way. “Charged with their families survival, they invent ways to provide for their children and communities. We’re far more accustomed to-and comfortable with-seeing these women portrayed as victims of war who deserve our sympathy rather than as resilient survivors who demand our respect.” Her book changes that perception.
As the author was writing the book, she found “…In Kabul a sisterhood unlike any I had seen before, marked by empathy, laughter, courage, curiosity about the world, and above all a passion for work. I met it the first day I met Kamila: here was a young woman who believed with all her heart that by starting her own business and helping other women to do the same, she could help save her long troubled country. The journalist in me needed to know: where does such a passion, such a calling, come from?”
I recommend you get the book and read it. You’ll be blessed reading the inspiring story of these young women. They are just like the women for whom we are providing tailoring training. If you can’t attend our event and would like to help us reach our goal, you can contribute to one of the Life Changing Gifts on our website.
Gratefully,
Linda Egle