HIMA RAD

Sanandaj - Recently, many housewives have started their home businesses to make money in Sanandaj since they do not have to pay any taxes or rent. By knowing what people need, many women in Sanandaj work at home to meet those needs and make money.

NuJINHA spoke to several women working at home in Sanandaj. Leila Fathi is one of them. She has a small but successful home business. She is the producer of homemade products such as dry aromatic vegetables, stewed fried vegetables, pickles, baking bread and kolire (traditional bread of Kurdistan) in one of her house’s rooms.

“I am very happy to work because I’m the owner of my own business”

"I am Leila Fathi. I was born in Sanandaj. Since 1997, I have been producing dried vegetables, herbs, juice [dates, berries...] bread and kalaneh...etc. Drying vegetables is very hard. I have to wash and chop them, then take them to the fourth floor and dry them on the balcony. I keep them there for three days, they are healthy for the stomach because they dry slowly. That is why I have so many customers from many nearby cities, villages, and Tehran.”

High quality products at an affordable price

Stating that she produces and sell very high quality products, she said, “I use vegetables growing in Kurdistan because they are of high quality and I can find fresh vegetables last from mid-spring to mid-autumn, I sell them at a reasonable price compared to others, because I work in one of my house’s room and I don’t pay rent. The poor quality products are sold for 200,000 Tomans in the market but I sell very high quality products for 150,000 Tomans. In the beginning of autumn, when the pickling season starts, I make all kinds of pickles.”

She wants to expand her business

“I’d like to expand my business in the future so that other women can learn this business to make money,” she said, “But I cannot expand it for now because I don't have enough money to rent a shop. Now two women in my neighborhood and sometimes other women come to help me.”

Leila Fathi is very happy to work independently and have her own business. She sometimes works until midnight to prepare orders.

“Women should work to stand on their own feet”  

Hajar Noshadi is one of the women who help Leila Fathi. Introducing herself to NuJINHA, she said, “I live in Sanandaj, I am Leila’s neighbor and I work with her. Women should work to stand on their own feet. They should earn money not to depend on anyone. I have only one child but I still cannot provide a good life for my child because of the difficult economic situation in Iran. Women can work and make money just like men, if they want to.”