Born in Bamiyan province of Afghanistan Tor Pekai (18 years) was deprived of peaceful and positive environment and opportunities that are instrumental to a child’s development. She barely remembers playing with her friends in an open space, wandering outside her house fearlessly or meeting her family members during vacations. The armed violence threatened her family’s survival. Fortunately, she had an opportunity to enroll herself for an English course conducted by JRS Afghanistan in 2013. The course gave her a break to experience solidarity with children of her age who were also coping with war borne traumas. Soon as she begun to develop resilience, the warfare compounded forcing her family to flee Afghanistan for a temporary safe haven in New Delhi, India. At the age of 15 she had no choice but to participate in her family’s struggle to survive in a host country with meagre resources.

She got re-enrolled at an education programme in Bosco Organization for Social Concern and Operation (New Delhi), but her family’s economic situation concerned her. She wished to attain financial empowerment to support her family. Her quest encouraged her to join JRS Beginners Tailoring and Embroidery Classes in 2019. Her performance in the training highlighted her enthusiasm to develop her potentials for a self-reliant future. Just after completing one year of training, Tor Pekai became the first ever trainee at JRS to be referred to Fair Trade Forum India’s micro grant support. This aided her to launch her own micro enterprise in the host community. Though the pandemic adversely affected her start-up, her spirit remained empowered, and she began imparting learnt skills to her younger siblings envisioning to expand her business and generate more employment.

Tor Pekai’s journey of empowerment is an eye opener for several refugee girls and women who are striving to rebuild their life and resilience.

“Even when I felt unnoticed JRS gave me wings to fly; I take pride in my accomplishment”

– Tor Pekai