When the Taliban banned women from working, many found themselves jobless and confined to their homes. But rather than giving in, these women sought new ways to support themselves. One promising path was online or “network marketing,” which allowed them to work from home. Today, many young women are involved in this industry, with some even achieving financial independence.
Sana Rasooli, a determined young woman, entered this market eighteen months ago. She takes great pride in having ignored others’ doubts and starting her own business. From a young age, Sana had always dreamed of standing on her own. In her childhood games, she would pretend to be a businesswoman, confident and self-reliant.
Her first job was teaching girls who were not allowed to attend school. At just fifteen, Sana balanced her own studies with tutoring these girls. She continued this for three years but had to stop when her university entrance exams demanded her full attention. When the Taliban took control, her dreams were shattered, as they barred her from both school and her courses.
In 2022, the Taliban promoted female students without requiring any exams, and Sana was declared a high school graduate. Universities still welcomed female students at the time, which reignited hope in Sana’s heart and in thousands of other girls. Wasting no time, she enrolled in a private university, choosing economics—her long-standing passion. While there, she reconnected with an old classmate who introduced her to the idea of running a business from home. After learning more from friends and doing her own research, Sana decided to take the plunge, despite the risks involved.
Reflecting on her decision, she says: “I had already lost money on a few ventures before, so my family warned me not to jump into something I had no experience in. But I always dreamed of being an independent businesswoman, and the Taliban had robbed me of that chance. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away.”
Sana started her network marketing business with no capital. She borrowed money from friends and began investing. The judgment and negative comments came quickly, escalating to mockery and insults. But Sana tuned it all out and stayed focused on her goal. Once she started, she was prepared for any losses or challenges that might come her way. Yet, against all odds, within just a few months, she repaid her loans and even helped support her sisters financially: “My drive to succeed only grew stronger every day. Although I faced huge pressure early on, attending endless meetings—both online and in-person—and barely sleeping or eating, I felt proud. I had tasted the sweet joy of independence at such a young age.”
The only thing that kept Sana grounded after universities were closed to women—and that prevented her from spiraling into depression and isolation—was her work. She now firmly believes that everyone should focus on their goals, no matter what others think, and enjoy the journey. She remains optimistic, believing that even in the worst conditions, one can grow and achieve their dreams. As she puts it: “As the saying goes, ‘The sun shines on the plant that lifts its head out of the soil.’ Every venture has its risks, but we’ll never know what’s possible until we start.”
You can read the Persian version of this Afghan woman’s story here:
تجارت آنلاین؛ امکانی برای زنان کارآفرین | روزنامه ۸صبح
This post was originally published on here
