“My dream is to open salons across Tajikistan and employ other girls like me”: Yalda’s story, a young Afghan refugee in Tajikistan

In 2018, Yalda and her family left Afghanistan. They drove for 18 hours before reaching the city of Vahdat in western Tajikistan. At the time, Yalda was in her first year of university and like many young Afghan refugees, left before completing her studies or gaining any relevant work experience.

“I was always passionate about education and wanted to have a profession,” Yalda shares. “When I left Afghanistan, the lack of a diploma and profession became my main concern and I thought how lucky my classmates are as they were at home and will complete university.”

Tajikistan – and especially the city of Vahdat – has emerged as a place of hope for Afghan refugees like Yalda. Sharing a 1,357 km border, Tajikistan is home to around 10,000 refugees from Afghanistan, a number that has been steadily increasing over several years.

When Yalda settled in Vahdat, she was unable to re-enroll at university due to financial constraints. Instead, she decided to take courses in make-up artistry and lash-making, and began working in a beauty salon in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, 23km from Vahdat where she was living.

“Even though I started to earn money, it was not enough to pay my main expenses. I had to travel to Dushanbe every day, cover rent and electricity, and buy the beauty products I needed for my job. I always wished to open my own salon,” Yalda explains.

In March 2023, Yalda heard about the ‘Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Skills’ (YES) programme under the Aga Khan Foundation’s Local Impact project. Supported by USAID, the YES programme prepares young job seekers and aspiring entrepreneurs for employment by enhancing their knowledge and skills in business development, management, and information technology. Additionally, the programme focuses on developing work capacity and entrepreneurship, equipping participants with the necessary skills to enter the competitive job market.

Since 2022, around 295 students (including 192 women) have successfully graduated the YES programme. Yalda is one of 140 female Afghan graduates (out of 222 men and women in total) of the YES programme in Tajikistan, a transformative experience that has bolstered her confidence and entrepreneurial spirit.

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Since 2022, around 295 students – including 192 women – have successfully graduated the YES programme.

“I feel confident and excited about the opportunity I got,” Yalda reflects. “And now, when I imagine my life in Afghanistan, I think that even if I had a degree, I wouldn’t be able to work considering the current situation in my home country.”

During the training, Yalda learnt business planning, strengthened her knowledge in various computer programmes, and explored how refugees can open a business in Tajikistan.

Yalda is one of 222 Afghan graduates of the YES programme in Tajikistan, 140 of whom are women.

AKF / Sharofat Shafieva

Yalda has found success in Tajikistan, running her own beauty and bridal salon.

AKF / Sharofat Shafieva

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In October 2023, Yalda and her fellow graduates received certificates at the Centre for Adult Education of Tajikistan in Vahdat. Following her graduation, Yalda felt confident enough to open her own beauty salon. Now she offers a variety of beauty services to women, including bridal makeovers and wedding dress rental.

YES graduates have the opportunity to apply for grants to support their entrepreneurial endeavors – last year, 75 young people received a grant. Yalda has recently prepared a business proposal as part of her YES grant application and is eagerly anticipating the outcome. “If I receive a grant, I will buy furniture and some new machines for my salon and make it more comfortable for my clients,” she shared.

Looking towards her bright future, Yalda envisions further growth within the beauty industry and expanding her business across Tajikistan. She says, “I want to become a professional in my field and continue to learn new skills. I am planning to run my own courses to share my knowledge with other girls. My dream is to open salons across Tajikistan and employ other girls like me.”

Local Impact is a $150m multi-year, multi-sector, and multi-country global partnership between AKF and USAID for meaningful, sustained impact across Asia and Africa. It is a five-year Leader with Associates (LWA) cooperative agreement that allows USAID to work with AKF and its partners to design and implement projects that address development challenges across sectors.

For more information, visit: www.akfusa.org/local-impact

This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of AKF and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.