Arzu Studio Hope

ARZU, which means “hope” in Dari, is an innovative model of social entrepreneurship that helps Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them steady income and access to education, healthcare and sustainable community development.

ARZU weavers earn 68% more  than the average Afghan. 55% own their own home.  70% own cellphones. 100% of ARZU weavers are literate when 90% of rural Afghan women are not. 20% of ARZU families have at least one child in University.

ARZU has helped shift the paradigm of a patriarchial society to one where women are economically empowered, literate and have the resources to care for themselves, their families and their communities.