WNAM REPORT: Hashoo Foundation, with support from the UNHCR, and in collaboration with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees, inaugurated the third Crafts of Compassion outlet at Kabir Restaurant, Peshawar. Under UNHCR’s Afghan Skills Program for Inclusion, Resilience & Employment (ASPIRE), the initiative marks another milestone in promoting sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment for female and male Afghan refugees.
The inauguration was attended by CEO of Hashoo Foundation Haris Qayyum Khan, Head of UNHCR Sub-office Peshawar Kofi Ohenenana Dwomo, senior officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government, senior officials from the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees, and other distinguished guests, alongside trainees under the ASPIRE initiative.
Following the success of Crafts of Compassion outlets at Pearl-Continental Hotel, Malam Jabba and Pearl-Continental Hotel, Bhurban, the outlet at Kabir Restaurant, Peshawar, offers a wide range of handcrafted products, including embroidery, jewellery, and decorative pieces. These outlets provide Afghan artisans with a commercial space to market their skills, generate income, and achieve financial independence. By linking indigenous craft to commerce, the Foundation is actively driving economic independence and long-term self-reliance.
In its continued commitment to empowering youth through tech-enabled entrepreneurship, Hashoo Foundation awarded digital tablets to winners of the recent Business Plan Competition among Professional Cooking trainees under ASPIRE. These tablets will help the trainees access online resources, promote their culinary ventures, and engage with customers in today’s AI- and IT-driven digital marketplace.
Kofi Ohenenana Dwomo, Head of UNHCR Sub-office Peshawar, praised the initiative, stating, “The Crafts of Compassion initiative is a beacon of hope for Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is a practical step towards economic inclusion, allowing Afghan women and men to support their families with dignity.”
Reaffirming Hashoo Foundation’s commitment to creating sustainable and diverse income generating avenues for socio-economic uplift, Haris Qayyum Khan, CEO Hashoo Foundation, said: “At Hashoo Foundation, we believe sustainable livelihoods are the cornerstone of resilient communities. Through initiatives like Crafts of Compassion, we are not only creating economic opportunities for Afghan refugees but also driving dignity, inclusion, and long-term self-reliance.”
About Hashoo Foundation:
Since its establishment in 1988, the Hashoo Foundation has pioneered knowledge-based progress across Pakistan. Its initiatives span education, health, climate action, sustainability, and community development, with impactful partnerships with the UN, INGOs, government entities, and the private sector. Through its holistic approach, the foundation continues to create opportunities that transform lives and communities.
