Barakat is a non-profit that provides education for women and children in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The organization was founded by Chris Walters, owner of Yayla Tribal Rugs in Cambridge. Chris sold rugs made by carpet weavers in South Asia and often traveled to met with them. Many of theses weavers were Afghan refugees who had fled their country as the political climate grew increasingly violent. After witnessing their daily struggles, Chris became determined to find a way to help these people. So he teamed up with friend Habibullah Karimi, a native of Afghanistan and founded the Weaving Project in 1987. They channeled Yayla’s profits into what was soon to become Barakat and opened the first school for Afghan refugees in Pakistan in 1994.
Today, in partnership with its local affiliates, Barakat runs seven schools and more than 30 literacy programs for girls and women in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Find more ways to help Barakat’s mission by reading our blog, following us on Twitter, friending us on Facebook or checking out our Web site.
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