OpOpportunity for Afghan Women

Bpeace is seeking female and male business people in Mazar-i-Sharif and the Balkh Province who are committed to creating jobs for other Afghans, and who need technical assistance to grow their businesses.

Female and male businesspeople who have a vision to move Afghanistan to greater prosperity will find a proven ally in Bpeace. We will work side by side with the best entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, understanding their businesses, solving problems, and collaborating with them on ideas to increase employment and peace. The most successful Afghans are those who understand that growing a business is a full-time job, and that making a profit sustains the business and the community.

You can apply for this program if you:

• Are a female or male businessperson between the ages of 21 and 35 years of age.
• Are an Afghan citizen and live in the Balkh Province.
• Already operate a business or desire to start a business.
• Are willing to devote at least 10 hours a month for six months to work with the Bpeace program and 5 hours a month for 18 months thereafter.

To download the Microsoft Word version of the application form, please click here.

You must submit your application by January 15, 2010.

Bpeace is a non-profit organization of U.S. volunteer business professionals.

• Bpeace will assist 30 female and male business owners create 1,000 jobs in Balkh over the next two-three years.
• Bpeace delivers business skills to motivated Afghan business people.
• Bpeace does not provide grants or cash.

Young entrepreneurs accepted into the Bpeace program will receive:

• Business skills training in Mazar and technical assistance at their places of business in finance, marketing, customer service, and staff recruitment and management.
• Most importantly, Bpeace will connect each entrepreneur with U.S. business professionals who will provide technical guidance in industries important to the economic development of Balkh.

Since 2004, Bpeace has helped Afghan businesswomen create more than 1,400 jobs supporting more than 12,000 Afghan family members. For the first time, Bpeace is inviting a limited number of male Afghan entrepreneurs into its program in addition to women. Partial funding for this program comes from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Citizen Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

How to Apply

To download the Microsoft Word version of the application form, please click here.

• Complete this application form, in English.
• Email completed applications to mazar@bpeace.org by January 15, 2010. Applications submitted after January 15th will not be considered.