Connie Duckworth — Founder, Arzu Rugs

Afghanistan women face a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.  Less than 22 percent of women living in Afghanistan can read and write, and the nation has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world.  The Chicago-based organization Arzu Rugs offers Afghani women a sustainable income and basic education through their rug program. Arzu sources and sells rugs woven by Afghan women and in return asks that women attend literacy classes and enroll their children in school. For today’s Global Activism segment, we talk with the founder of Arzu about her work with Afghan women.