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In the heart of Herat, a new sock production workshop is turning craft into a powerful source of dignity and income for workers with disabilities, offering hope and purpose to people who have long struggled to find employment.
The factory was founded about a month ago by Mohammad Amiri, a 35-year-old man disabled by childhood polio who wanted to create meaningful work opportunities for others like him. Drawing on his own experiences and challenges, Amiri teamed up with another polio survivor to launch the business that now employs around 50 people with disabilities.
Most of the factory’s employees have disabilities acquired through conflict-related injuries, congenital conditions or disease. Many had been unemployed for years and depended on family or informal support before joining the production line in Herat.
Workers at the facility are involved in producing, packaging and selling four types of socks, including long and short styles suitable for summer and winter. For employees like Shahabuddin, a father of four who lost both legs in a roadside explosion, the job has not only brought regular income but also a renewed sense of purpose after a decade without work.
“The factory gives me dignity and a chance to support my family,” he said, reflecting a sentiment shared by many on the workshop floor.
Amiri acknowledges the challenges his business faces, including competition from cheap imported textiles, but remains optimistic about its potential growth. He hopes to secure government contracts to supply socks to Afghan security forces, which could pave the way for the factory to expand its workforce to as many as 2,000 disabled employees over time.
The initiative is especially significant in a country where disability rates are high and access to employment remains limited. According to survey data cited by international missions, around 40 percent of Afghan adults live with moderate disability, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive job opportunities.
By creating work that values skill and contribution rather than focusing on limitations, the Herat sock factory stands as a symbol of empowerment and integration — not just a business, but a community-building effort that demonstrates what can be achieved when people with disabilities are given a chance to succeed.
