It started as a hands-on science lesson
It was in the province of Ghazni in 2005 that it all began. Camilla taught teachers how to make herbal skin ointment by steeping local herbs in olive oil, straining them and adding local beeswax to the mixture.
The beeswax came from a beekeeper in Ghazni and the olive oil was obtained from a factory in Jalalabad.
A micro-business was born
Teachers soon reported that the salve had quickly become a “must-have” in Ghazni. Its effectiveness against a variety of skin ailments made it very popular as the teachers began giving it away. It wasn’t long, however, before they learned that they could sell the salve, thus starting their own micro-business.
“Please return to teach us again!”
In 2007 it was too dangerous for Camilla to return to Ghazni, but the past Minister of Education traveled to meet her in Kabul, urging her to return to Ghazni to teach the people more about the herbs. Camilla took the minister and her entourage to a garden in the lodge where she was staying in Kabul and explained which plants were herbs and explained again how to make the salve and recommended some brass containers for the ointment. “Now I remember!” the minister told Camilla.
Its use has become wide-spread in Ghazni and many women now have their own micro-business.
With a donation of $10, you will receive a container of the salve made by the Afghan women.
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Note: We are in the process of providing easy payment options for online donations. We expect that process to be completed by July 31.
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