ISHKAR's End of Year - 2023
Dear Friends,
When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban two years ago, we faced a stark choice. Many called for businesses to stop trading with Afghanistan, fearing trade would legitimise the Taliban government.
We decided it was a price worth paying. This year has further vindicated our decision. Since 2021, women’s rights have been progressively curtailed. Girls are no longer allowed to access secondary and tertiary education. And, aside from gynaecology, craft is the only job the Taliban allow women to do.
As a result your support of ISHKAR has never had a greater impact. Every purchase provides a critical economic and psychological lifeline for the artisans of Afghanistan, many of whom are female.
That’s why we were especially excited to open our first permanent shop this summer on Columbia Road in East London. Opening the shop has been transformational for our small business, enabling us to show people first hand the extraordinary quality of craftsmanship produced by our partners.
We owe our community of supporters so much thanks this year, generously contributing to our fundraising efforts for Emergency Hospitals, the opening of our shop and for rebuilding our glass blower’s kiln, which was badly damaged during a series of deadly earthquakes.
Working where we do is not always easy, with regular disruptions to our supply chain. Frustratingly, this means that over the past year some of our most popular products have not always been in stock. However, we were so grateful for your continued support and pleased to see orders pouring in over the last couple of months for Christmas.
Thank you so much for playing your part in the ISHKAR journey,
All our best, Edmund + Flore
When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban two years ago, we faced a stark choice. Many called for businesses to stop trading with Afghanistan, fearing trade would legitimise the Taliban government.
We decided it was a price worth paying. This year has further vindicated our decision. Since 2021, women’s rights have been progressively curtailed. Girls are no longer allowed to access secondary and tertiary education. And, aside from gynaecology, craft is the only job the Taliban allow women to do.
As a result your support of ISHKAR has never had a greater impact. Every purchase provides a critical economic and psychological lifeline for the artisans of Afghanistan, many of whom are female.
That’s why we were especially excited to open our first permanent shop this summer on Columbia Road in East London. Opening the shop has been transformational for our small business, enabling us to show people first hand the extraordinary quality of craftsmanship produced by our partners.
We owe our community of supporters so much thanks this year, generously contributing to our fundraising efforts for Emergency Hospitals, the opening of our shop and for rebuilding our glass blower’s kiln, which was badly damaged during a series of deadly earthquakes.
Working where we do is not always easy, with regular disruptions to our supply chain. Frustratingly, this means that over the past year some of our most popular products have not always been in stock. However, we were so grateful for your continued support and pleased to see orders pouring in over the last couple of months for Christmas.
Thank you so much for playing your part in the ISHKAR journey,
All our best, Edmund + Flore
