He trained as a mechanic. At 65, he carries other people's loads on his back. Faqir Mohammad is 65 years old. He was born in Jalalabad and has lived in Kabul for nearly twenty years. He did everything right. He went to school. He trained for a trade. Steady work never came. He started by selling bottled water by hand on Kabul's streets. But the margin on a single case is almost nothing, and his capital was never enough to grow. When water-selling could no longer feed his family, he went to the market and became a porter, loads on his back, a barrow in his hands, whatever work the day offers. He does that work with a damaged spine. His wife has rheumatism and can barely walk. They rent a single room. He raised sons. After they married, they left. Today he supports his wife, his daughter and one son, alone. He has told us that at times, even his own sons have raised their hands against him. "I feel ashamed," he said, "that I cannot put food on the table." But he is not asking for charity. He refuses to hold out his hand. He is asking for a kiosk. A small stall of his own, cold water, energy drinks, snacks, built low enough that he can work sitting down. So that at 65 he can put the load down and earn from the sweat of his own hands, with dignity. Four people depend on him. He has been holding them up alone for twenty years. Help him start from zero.

Starting From Zero: One Small Business at a Time

He trained as a mechanic. At 65, he carries other people's loads on his back.
Faqir Mohammad is 65 years old. He was born in Jalalabad and has lived in Kabul for nearly twenty years.
He did everything right. He went to school. He trained for a trade. Steady work never came.
He started by selling bottled water by hand on Kabul's streets. But the margin on a single case is almost nothing, and his capital was never enough to grow. When water-selling could no longer feed his family, he went to the market and became a porter, loads on his back, a barrow in his hands, whatever work the day offers.
He does that work with a damaged spine. His wife has rheumatism and can barely walk. They rent a single room.
He raised sons. After they married, they left. Today he supports his wife, his daughter and one son, alone. He has told us that at times, even his own sons have raised their hands against him.
"I feel ashamed," he said, "that I cannot put food on the table."
But he is not asking for charity. He refuses to hold out his hand.
He is asking for a kiosk. A small stall of his own, cold water, energy drinks, snacks, built low enough that he can work sitting down. So that at 65 he can put the load down and earn from the sweat of his own hands, with dignity.
Four people depend on him. He has been holding them up alone for twenty years.
Help him start from zero.

Help Faqir Start From Zero: One Small Business at a Time

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