Church of Holy Spirit talk to highlight good works in Afghanistan

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Peace Cord bracelets can be purchased at The Mustard Seed in Lake Forest. | Submitted photo

Updated: November 16, 2011 10:07AM

There’s so much bad news coming out of Afghanistan, Razia Jan hopes her talk next week on the good works of ARZU -- created by Lake Forester Connie Duckworth -- will draw a large crowd to Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest.

“I think it is very important to spread the good things happening. There is a ray of hope in ARZU,” Jan said by e-mail from Afghanistan.

ARZU helps local Afghan women weave traditional woolen rugs and braid Peace Cords to provide financial support for their families and to gain social services for themselves, including the ability to make friends and share a laugh over a cup of tea at an ARZU-built community center.

Jan’s talk, “A Ray of Hope for Afghanistan,” will explore what ARZU has done to empower women in Afghanistan since its formation in 2004 when it started with a group of 30 women weavers. Today, ARZU employs about 1,350 women. It is one of the largest private employers of women in Afghanistan.

ARZU has been devoted to the women of Afghanistan “to give them self-respect, financial stability and a respectable place in the community,” said Jan, who works with ARZU as its country director.

“It’s important for different groups to know the success that ARZU has with women, wherever they have projects,” Jan said.

Duckworth thinks the talk, to be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20 at Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster Road, Lake Forest, is a good fit for the area and a good fit for the economic times.

‘Much more
conscious’

“Anybody interested in hearing about what’s happening in Afghanistan would be interested in hearing Razia,” Duckworth said. “Consumers are so much more conscious of how they spend their money. So many consumers now are really looking for products that have a purpose. ARZU absolutely fits that description.”

When individuals buy an ARZU rug, they are purchasing a 100 percent wool, hand-carded, hand-spun rug that uses as many natural dyes as possible, using centuries-old artisan craftsmanship.

A trunk show of ARZU’s award-winning rugs will be held at the Mustard Seed, a fair-trade shop at 202 Westminster in Lake Forest.

The rugs, which average around $2,500, have been made by hand in the homes of the weavers.

“People know whenever they’re buying an ARZU rug, they’re directly transforming the lives of women and a whole houseful of people,” said Duckworth.

When they put the ARZU rug in their home, purchasers have told Duckworth they feel “the good energy coming off their rugs,” Duckworth said. “They want to sit on it and feel it. It’s really bridging two worlds.”

Duckworth hopes the economic model set up for ARZU as a social business in Afghanistan will be used elsewhere.

“Instead of the profits going back to shareholders or owners, the revenues go back for the benefit of the women weavers, their families and the community through social programs,” Duckworth said.

She has high hopes for the business model worldwide.

“If we can prove it works in Afghanistan,” she said, “we believe it can work in any developing country.”