Kamela: Turning a Skill Learned in Iran into a New Beginning in Afghanistan
After years of living and working in Iran, Kamela returned to Afghanistan. She transformed the footwear production skills she had gained during her migration journey into an economic opportunity by establishing a small shoe workshop in Herat and creating a new path for herself and her family.
The return journey
Kamela spent several years of her life living and working in Iran. Like many Afghan migrants, her migration journey was not only a period of waiting or uncertainty; it was also a time when she gained new skills and professional experience.
During her years in Iran, Kamela worked in a shoe manufacturing factory, where she learned different aspects of footwear production, including the skills and processes needed to produce shoes.
After returning to Afghanistan, she faced an important question: how could she rebuild her life and create a stable source of income for herself and her family?
Instead of only searching for employment opportunities, Kamela decided to use the skills she had developed during her migration experience. She established a small shoe production workshop in Herat and began applying her previous work experience in a new environment.
The beginning was not easy. Access to initial capital, understanding the local market, and building a customer base were among her main challenges. However, having a specific skill and previous professional experience helped her take the first steps toward rebuilding her livelihood.
Over time, her business developed. The workshop became not only a source of income for her family but also contributed to creating employment opportunities for others.
Kamela’s story shows that successful return is not only about going back to a country of origin; it is about rebuilding a sustainable life by using personal skills, experiences, and available opportunities in the destination community.
Why return?
After spending years living and working in Iran, Kamela decided to return to Afghanistan and attempt to build a new life in her country of origin.
An important factor in her reintegration journey was that she did not see return as simply the end of migration; instead, she viewed it as the beginning of a new chapter based on the skills and experiences she had gained abroad.
Challenges after return
Finding a sustainable source of income after return
Accessing initial financial resources
Understanding the local market conditions
Building customers and expanding the business
Adjusting to the social and economic environment after years abroad
The restart point
Kamela used the skills she had acquired during her years in Iran.
Her restart journey included:
Identifying her main skill (footwear production)
Assessing how this skill could be used in her destination community
Establishing a small-scale workshop
Gradually developing her business
Creating employment opportunities for others
Lessons for others
Skills acquired during migration can become valuable assets for life after return.
Having an economic plan before returning can increase the chances of successful reintegration.
A new beginning often starts with a small but meaningful step.
Understanding the local market and conditions of the destination is as important as having a skill.