A woman in the northern province of Baghlan has opened a restaurant, providing employment opportunities to more than 10 girls who are deprived of education over the past year.

Zarghona Azimi, the owner of the restaurant, said the young women employed here are the breadwinners of their families.

The restaurant, located in Pul-e-Khumri, offers different types of food and has a delivery service as well.

“The girls who have been deprived of schooling can work here and they can support their families. This restaurant is also convenient for women who want to have food outside their homes,” Azimi told TOLOnews.

Hamida, an employee of the restaurant, said she is the only breadwinner for her family of seven members. She said that she was in the seventh grade when schools were closed. 

“After being deprived of education, I came here because it is a women’s place and I work. With the income I receive, I can help my family,” Hamida said.

“I have been working here for almost two months. It is good that we can support our families by working here,” said Maryam Sadiqi, a young woman who works at the restaurant.

Residents of Pul-e-Khumri said it is an excellent opportunity for them to go to the restaurant and spend some time together with their families.

“We are free to buy food and drinks here and buying from women is better than going outside and buying from men. Here, all employees are women,” said Zohra Ebadi, a resident of Pul-e-Khumri.

This comes as female students in Baghlan said that the majority of them have turned to labor after the closure of their schools.

Female employees at the restaurant asked the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools and universities for women and girls at the beginning of the new solar year.