How Turquoise Mountain Keeps Entrepreneurship Alive in Afghanistan

Headlines about Afghanistan over the past decade have centered on military conflict and the fight against global terrorism. Too often lost in that rubble are stories of rebuilding and entrepreneurship empowered by groups like Turquoise Mountain, a nonprofit organization that in the past 10 years has restored more than 110 historic buildings, run vocational training for thousands and helped traditional Afghan artisans earn more than $5 million in sales for their jewelry and other wares. Last week in Manhattan, as part of New York Fashion Week, Turquoise Mountain is showcasing and selling these Afghan goods. Turquoise Mountain CEO Shoshana Stewart said the organization expects to work with more than 10,000 artisans over the next ten years, and stabilize the craft industry in Afghanistan. “When we started working in 2006, there were only a handful of the last generation of masters left,” Stewart told Opportunity Lives. “With a few exceptions like carpet weaving, almost all production had stopped. If we manage to restart the craft industry and get it to the point where it doesn’t need us anymore I will be really proud of that. There are others working in the industry of course, and we’re all working together now to…
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