Behnaz Saljuqi, a young woman from Herat, always knew that she wanted to own a wedding catering business. She believed that there would be ample business opportunities since weddings are huge social events in Afghan culture and sometimes take years to arrange.

After graduating from university, Behnaz had the academic know-how to start a catering business, but lacked the motivational and leadership skills needed to see it through. Then she discovered Jawana.

Jawana is part of a USAID women’s leadership development program. Jawana, a three-month training program, aims to provide young Afghan women with self-confidence, decision-making, and leadership skills.

After graduating from Jawana, Behnaz started her business with three employees and almost $1,200 of her own money. Eighteen months later, she now has five employees and is profiting enough to expand and hire more employees.

“Despite the many challenges I faced launching my catering business, my training from Jawana showed me the processes for working hard and, most importantly, to believe in myself to achieve my goals,” said Behnaz.

Bahnaz’s catering business has made a positive mark in her community. As a result, she was awarded with the Bibi Khadija Award for Women’s Business Innovation from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce, which recognizes one female entrepreneur each year.

“Afghan women have the same capacity as men to work for themselves, and for the betterment of their communities and families. We need to become business leaders and break the culture of male dominance in the workplace, something which has been institutionalized for a long time,” said Behnaz.