Story by Capt. Tamara Gonzales, USA
Photo by SrA Matt Davis, USAF
NTM-A
For some sewing is a hobby or a way to fix clothing; for the Afghan men and women at the Afghan National Army (ANA) sewing factory, it is a way of life.
"This is a good opportunity for us," said Safia Barkzi, a widow, putting buttons on uniforms and performing uniform quality contol. "I can pay the bills because of this job."
The sewing shop provides jobs for 250 Afghans; 120 women, 80 of which are widows and the rest men.
The tailors make a variety of uniforms including those for ANA soldiers, generals, the infantry, the Air Force’s class A uniform and the honor guard’s lightweight, music and ceremonial uniforms. There are also cooks, doctors and patients uniforms as well ANA unit flags with more colors and patterns imaginable. The employees produce an average 1,000 ANA uniforms a month in addition to everything else.
“Everyone is willing to work actively,” said Ghulan Sakhi, a tailor who has worked at the factory for 27 years. Sakhi makes military and doctor uniforms.
While the factory is helping to create a more independent Afghanistan, it is also helping educate Afghan children. The tailors with children under five years old benefit from the onsite kindergarten where children have a schedule of lessons in Koran and math, balanced with drawing and sports.
“I like to work with children,” said Frozan Afzaly, one of the teachers. “They are the new generation of Afghanistan.”
Another Afghan first effort is turning the factory over to the Afghan people.
“The goal is to transfer the factory from Combined Security Transitions Command-Afghanistan to the ANA,” said Capt. Saifurahman Ayar, a liaison officer at the combined joint logistics office serving in ANA acquisitions, technology and logistics. “If the sewing shop has the capability in the future to make all ANA uniforms, it will be good for the government, the widows and the tailors, increasing jobs and getting more people involved.”
The first step in this process is transferring the blankets from CSTC-A to ANA with future goals of transferring boots and uniforms.
The goals of the ANA sewing factory are many, all with the intent of creating a self-sustaining Afghanistan.
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