A young female entrepreneur from Afghanistan recently spent time in Batavia as part of a tour of U.S. businesses. The visit was sponsored by Bpeace and hosted by p.w. minor, the Batavia-based shoe manufacturer located on Treadeasy Avenue.
Shahla Akbari is a 19-year-old shoemaker from Kabul. She started her company with money from her mother, Fatima. Just one year later, Shahla’s shoes have grown so popular she can’t keep up with demand.
Her team currently produces 20 pairs of shoes per day, all by hand. All leather is cut with scissors and all stitching is done with one pedal-operated sewing machine. Outsoles are made from used vehicle tires.
Shahla brought two pair of men’s shoes with her for her visit to p.w. minor.
“The shoes produced by Shahla’s shoe company are extraordinary," said CEO Hank Minor. “The attention to detail and overall quality is amazing, considering they are made completely by hand with no automated machinery.”
The shoes remain at p.w. minor to remind the employees of the possibilities.
“We learned from her — just how much you can do with so little," he said. "It's very inspiring for everyone.”
While at the p.w. minor factory, Shahla actually produced her own pair of shoes. She also spent time with sales and marketing personnel, and learned about branding and how important customer service is.
Bpeace is a nonprofit network of business professionals which volunteers to teach skills to entrepreneurs in conflict-affected countries. The goal is to help them create significant employment for all, and expand the economic power of women.
Fundamentally, Bpeace believes that creating jobs creates peace. So does CEO Minor, who said he and his employees were doing their bit to promote world peace by sharing their knowledge with Shahla, who stayed for four days during the last week of October.
A total of 40 companies in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and California are hosting an Afghan entrepreneur as part of the Bpeace network.
p.w. minor specializes in foot health, offering quality footwear and foot-care products. It is currently under its fourth generation of family ownership and management.
OK Tim Howe what comment do
OK Tim Howe what comment do "you" intend to say to say about this subject matter? You should have the inside scoop!
LOL Herb. Yeah, it was a
LOL Herb.
Yeah, it was a pretty unique experience having her there. Before she came, we had this laundry list of do's and dont's we had to learn about her culture. Example: When we were introduced, I was not to extend my hand to her to shake it, UNLESS she did so first. When we met, she put her hand on her heart and bowed slightly. Also, she was not to be left alone in any room with only a man under any circumstances. She had an interpreter that traveled here to be with her, that VOLUNTEERED her time that lives in California I believe. I forgot the name of the orginization the interpreter worked for, (i dont remember if she was apart of that Bpeace or not) but to do it all strictly on a voluntary basis is pretty impressive.
One example of a "hardship" we had to endure while she was there was that we had a good ol' american as apple pie pizza party for her on day one (without the apple pie) and at least one of the pizza's could not have meat on it for her...Oh the humanity!!!! Needless to say, i stayed clear of the meatless one "out of respect" for her, and "suffered" my way through the meat infested ones :)
We have tours come through the factory every once and a while, but this was just such a different experience. Having her there and thinking about her situation in her home country, it really made me reflect and appriciate just how good we have it as a country and in our individual lives.
It was really cool to watch her go from department to department to watch a shoe go through the process of being made. If I had to describe what her reation was to the initial "tour", all I can compare it to is that she acted like a child on Christmas morning. (yes I realize the irony in comparing an afgans womans experience to a CHRISTmas morning) :)
She just seemed so wide eyed, so very amazed, yet humbled (because the fine shoe elves at PW make a couple hundred pair of shoes a day with "fancy machinery" compared to her business that makes 20 a day by hand) and she seemed very appreciative of the whole experience every minute she was there.
It's not really that ironic
It's not really that ironic to compare her experience to Christmas morning, Jesus has a very important and prominent position in Islam. =P
Except for the fact that they
Except for the fact that they do NOT believe he is the son of God :(
You are correct Frank that in islam he is looked upon to be a great man, great prophet, great teacher, but not God's son.
Correct! But he is supposed
Correct! But he is supposed to be coming back on the day of judgement, so you guys kind of agree on some things.
Thanks Tim for sharing your
Thanks Tim for sharing your experience. I used this at my job's Cultural Diversity training today as a teaching example.
The proper conduct of a man
The proper conduct of a man not offering his hand to a lady to shake, unless she offers it first, is not strictly an Islamic thing, or at least it wasn't always so.
In proper society only decades ago, it was considered forward and not well-mannered to offer a handshake to a woman first.
If she presented her hand after introduction, you could shake it politely, or kiss it politely, depending on the circumstances and on the gentleman himself.
If I am wrong, please correct me. While I in no way endorse the primitive, brutal and controlling practices of some cultures and their offshoots concerning women, I do appreciate gestures of chivalry and always will.