KABUL, Afghanistan — The corridors of Safe Path Prosperity hum with a palpable dynamism. This women-led social enterprise, spearheaded by the visionary Arezo Osmani, is an engine of progress for Afghan women’s economic independence and empowerment – all powered by the sustainable promise of solar energy.

In a land where over 90 percent of women and girls lack access to menstrual hygiene products, information, or services, Safe Path Prosperity is unique in mission and impact. The company produces sanitary products, women's hygienic clothing, and customized clothing. 

Safe Path Prosperity began in 2020 as a hopeful endeavor, with 15 machines and an ambitious team. Today, it has expanded into a fully functional enterprise, supporting over 110 women—and improving the living conditions of over 800 family members—across two production centers in Kabul and Kandahar, redefining the landscape of menstrual hygiene and textile production.

"Our mission is simple yet transformative: to create dignified employment opportunities for socially and economically vulnerable women and girls in Afghanistan," says Osmani. 

But like any other business in Afghanistan, which imports around 80 percent of its electricity, Safe Path Prosperity has had to contend with frequent and protracted power outages that impair output, raise operating expenses, and disrupt productivity. Reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable, and diesel generators are prohibitively expensive to operate. These obstacles affect workers' livelihoods and limit the company's ability to expand and innovate.

In response, the business, with UNDP support, has acquired and installed fourteen 540W monocrystalline solar modules, alongside an 8kW smart hybrid inverter and 10.3 kWh lithium-ion battery storage. This allows for enough energy capture even on days with low light levels – and allows Safe Path Prosperity’s electric sewing machines to stay on through grid outages.

The sounds of these machines reverberate through the spacious production floor. This energy autonomy, a rarity in Afghanistan's electricity-starved economy, has been a game-changer for Safe Path Prosperity, Osmani explains. 

"With solar panels and advanced energy storage systems, we now enjoy reliable power even when the grid fails," she says.

Within the bustling workshop, women focus intently on their tasks, expertly crafting Safe Pads and other essential textiles. Some 95 percent of Safe Path Prosperity’s employees are primary breadwinners of their families. The financial independence and sense of agency gained through employment here ripple outwards, uplifting the surrounding communities.

"Electricity fuels not only our machines, but also our mission," Osmani remarks. 

Thanks to a generous contribution from the Government of Japan and with the support of UNDP, Safe Path Prosperity has amplified its outreach through comprehensive training and innovative business models. These include initiatives like creating associations to manage and trade excess electricity, fostering communal growth alongside industrial expansion.

Thus far, the enterprise has distributed over 250,000 Safe Pad kits, ensuring Afghan women and girls have access to essential hygiene products in spite of Afghanistan’s challenging infrastructure and the societal stigma surrounding menstrual health. By reducing reliance on disposable sanitary products, Safe Path Prosperity also promotes environmental sustainability, a goal aligned with Afghanistan's broader aspirations.

One of the most difficult aspects of this business, Osmani explains, is saying no to the women who knock on their door every day seeking a job. Many are high school students or former university students who, given the education ban, cannot continue their studies. 

In this fraught socio-economic landscape, Safe Path Prosperity stands as a beacon of progress, demonstrating the intersection between renewable energy and the empowerment of women.

"We're not just operating machines," Osmani says. "We're illuminating a path to economic resilience for Afghan women and girls." 

Asked what she needs next, Osmani grins and unhesitatingly responds: "More kilowatts."