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Introduction
 The “Made by Afghan Women” program is a branding program.
ýThrough the Made by Afghan Women Program, AWBF focuses on
branding "heirloom quality" hand made carpets on the U.S.
market. Once a brand has been built for carpets, ýAWBF may,
using private funds, focus on textiles and other sectors
ýdominated by women. The purpose of the program is to brand
on the ýU.S. market high end Afghan carpets made by women
and to do so by ýdeveloping partnerships with socially
responsible Afghan organizations ýand companies that
specialize in carpets. The ultimate objective, of course,
ýwill be to raise visibility, which will lead to increased
sales and ýultimately more income for the weavers’
themselves.ý
The Made by
Afghan Women initiative involves socially conscious carpet
producing organizations and companies. AWBF believes that by
ýincreasing sales for the program participants they will
provide better wages, working conditions and educational
opportunities for their weavers. In fact, this is a program
requirement that must be met by all participants.
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ýObjectivesý
The program’s objectives are to:ý
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Brand Afghan carpets as “heirloom quality” and as
one-of-a-kind ýpieces of art instead of as home décor.ý
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Provide potential new customers for socially responsible
Afghan ýcompanies and organizations that specialize in
carpets.ý |
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Increase the economic, social and educational capacity of
carpet ýweavers by advocating social responsibility on the
part of the ýcompanies and organizations that represent
them.ý |
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Increase quality standards by introducing a “RugMark”
quality ýsystem in Afghanistan.ý
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Increase participation in women’s business associations
that are ýmembers of the AWBF network.ý
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ýMissioný
The mission of the Made by Afghan Women program is to
increase the ývisibility and marketability of Afghan carpets
while at the same time ýpromoting social responsibility and
economic empowerment within ýAfghanistan’s carpet weaving
industry.ý
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