RISING International is promoting women’s economic development. In Afghanistan, the organization assists widows and women living in refugee camps with the marketing of their beautiful crafts, such as Kuchi lapis jewelry and clothing, silk scarves, beaded jewelry boxes, embroidered pillows and tablecloths, as well as traditional Afghan children’s dolls. After 23 years of war, many Afghan men have been killed, leaving 2.5 million widows fighting to keep their children alive. Seventy nine percent of Afghan women are illiterate; they are limited as to what they can do for income. Since the wars began, homes have been destroyed and people have been forced to move to refugee camps. Often the camps don’t have schools, hospitals or even potable water. It’s not uncommon for a mother to wait until her child is a year old before giving her child a name …she knows it is unlikely that her child will live that long. Afghanistan has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the world.

The income earned from craft making provides the Afghan women with a much needed chance to change their destiniesand provide for their childrens future.
 
RISING International also works with groups of women in several other countries such as Nepal, on various income generating projects that help women use their artistic skills to generate a sustainable income for their families.