What is Barak?
Barak is woven from local wool, fulled and boiled, to make a fabric that is both wind and water-resistant. Depending on the thickness of the weave, the fabric is either dense and heavy to be made into outerwear for the harsh winters in Afghanistan, or is lighter in weight, suitable for other kinds of clothing such as scarves and tailored fashions.
GPIA Fund Goal
Provide $1,000/month to the Bamiyan Weavers Project for six months to support the livelihoods of the twenty women who participate in the project during the Covid-19 pandemic for as much work as they are able to do in uncertain circumstances.
We have monthly Skype calls in which we discuss how things are going. In recent calls priorities for the next 6 months have been set.
In recent calls creative changes to the overall design and the patterns of the laptop computer bags have been discussed. The project has made sales of the thinner barak fabric used for clothing (as distinct from the heavier fabric for winter outerwear) to Bamiyan tailors, a promising step in developing local markets. The security situation in Bamiyan has improved following some personnel changes after the bombing there. GPIA Fund continues to provide medicines and vitamins to women in the area. In other health related concerns, the local hospital now has the capacity to test for the Covid virus.
What Your Donation Can Do
*If you prefer to send a check, please mail it to
Phil Smith, Treasurer, Growing Peace in Afghanistan Fund,
P.O. Box 5105, Neffsville, PA 17606.
Please put BWP on the memo line.
WHO WE ARE:
A group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who served in Afghanistan as well as other interested Americans.