Today marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, where we highlight the achievements and leadership of people with disabilities in shaping their own destinies and contributing to society.

Displaced father-of-six, Mohammad Kazim, used to struggle to support himself and his family. He lost both legs in a landmine explosion as a child. Despite being rejected for many jobs due to his disability, he was able to earn some money through repairing shoes by the roadside in Matun city, using cobbling skills he had learnt from his father.

Even so, he often had to borrow money to cover his family’s basic needs and pay rent on accommodation for his family.

But things changed after he received help through a UNHCR livelihood programme, with partner, organization Community Action for Healing Poverty Organization (CAHPO). He was one of 170 people in Khost province selected for cash grants, helping them to expand their small businesses, thanks to funding from the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan – STFA.

Mohammad Kazim used the cash to buy extra equipment and rent a shop in Matun, a UNHCR-designated Priority Area of Return and Reintegration, where the agency works with partners to provide protection and other key services to promote social cohesion and resilience. He is now able to earn around 11,500 Afghanis per month ($170 USD), enough to cover the family’s needs, rent and his children’s school fees.

“I feel very positive changes in my life and my economic situation after receiving the cash grant,” he said.

“I started with very limited tools inherited from my father, working on the roadside under challenging conditions. Now, I have a proper shop with enough equipment, making it easier for my customers to access my services. This transformation has made a huge difference in my life,” he added.