About Afghan Action - Helping create a Brighter Future

Afghan Action is working in Afghanistan to support local economic development and help people acquire the skills they need to rebuild their devastated country. In Karte Se, Kabul, Afghan Action opened a training school in September 2005 to provide, over 3 years, 350 young men and women with education and training and offer the opportunity for up to 100 of them of employment in the traditional carpet industry under ‘fairly traded’ conditions. Start up funding came from the UK Government’s Department for International development (Business Linkages Challenge Fund). Direct market access in the UK for these beautiful hand made carpets is managed by a small team of staff in London.

Since late 2005, over 80 events have been held across the UK, in people’s homes, churches, businesses, colleges and schools and elsewhere – including the Houses of Parliament, the Department for International Development and the Canadian Embassy. At these events, we have been able to speak about the work, promote the project and display or sell carpets.

In November 2008 we delivered the final carpets in an order for Habitat - 300 square metres of runners and rugs made to Habitat’s own designs. We have also supplied a range of other retailers and have samples on display at The Rug Company (who were highly impressed with the beauty and quality of the carpet we made to their design).
To ensure that the project has long-term sustainability, Afghan Action is committed to selling these carpets directly to individuals and organisations through exhibitions and fairs and through selected retailers. The aim is to generate enough income through carpet sales, ethical gifts and sponsorship for the organisation to become self sufficient by 2008 - and we’re almost there. Where we need extra help is in paying for education, healthcare and the nourishing daily midday meal we provide.

Afghan Action conducted a feasibility study in 2008 into setting up ICT and management skills training in Afghanistan, working with the Afghan Ministry of Education, the private sector and NGOs. We have also established a strong link with the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, one of the City of London’s newest (and largest) livery companies. With their support, we are exploring ways of introducing into Afghanistan the most advanced IT systems, and linking technical schools in Afghanistan with schools in the UK to assist this process and enable good communication.

Afghan Action is wholly owned by a UK registered charity, the Afghan Training Foundation (charity no 1111897). It came about through work with Afghan refugees living in East London. In September 2007 Yusof Mirzazada joined the team (supported with funding from the City Parochial Foundation) - specifically to work with Afghan people living in London and their community organisations and groups. His work is already bearing fruit and his workshops programme has been expanded and developed with support from Awards for All.
Startup funding for Afghan Action’s work in Kabul came from the Department for International Development (DFID) through its Business Linkages Challenge Fund - administered by the Emerging Markets Group (EMG), an offshoot of Deloittes. EMG visited our Karte Se site and reviewed our work in April 2008 and were impressed with what they found.

A growing number of companies, trusts, faith groups and individuals are supporting the work and volunteers provide vital assistance, bringing expertise and commitment to create a viable project.