A Tale of Iranian Rural Women’s Skilled Hands

Maryam Shaverdi, 40, is an inspiring woman from Shadegan County in Khuzestan Province. She began her journey 14 years ago, becoming the first woman in her community to cultivate mushrooms and raise quail. Driven by motivation and vision, Maryam began training young people who were eager to work but unsure of where to start both in person and virtually. 

Even though Maryam’s first language is Arabic, she learned Farsi to reach more people and teach them effectively. She also grew up mastering traditional mat weaving and baking yellow bread, two crafts common in Khuzestan. These skills were about to change her life in ways she did not expect.

One day, the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, as an implementing partner of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP) invited Maryam to join this project which is one of UNDP’s longest-running initiatives, launched in 2005. The project aims to improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods by empowering local communities including women. The main issues with the local people to enhance their livelihoods were access to markets such as digital market, or lack of opportunities to trainings that build on local cultures and traditions.

“When I learned about CIWP’s objectives and realized that I could help women improve their lives through their skills, I knew I had to be part of it. It changed my life,” Maryam recalled. “At the time, I did not have a fixed income. But once I started working with the project, I earned enough to buy essential equipment and move forward. The training sessions were very well received, and I was inspired to offer free trainings to those who had the drive but lacked the financial means to start their own businesses. I believe everyone—especially unemployed youth—deserves a chance to succeed.”

Maryam’s commitment to helping others is deeply rooted in her own experience. At the beginning of her journey, she faced significant challenges and had to travel to neighboring villages to attend training classes herself. This struggle motivated her to support others who are in similar situations. “I do not want others to face challenges the way I did and use their potential to reach their dreams even if they do not have the money,” she said. This empathy drives her to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder others from achieving their goals.

She started her training sessions in villages near Shadegan, where women were eager to learn and find ways to support themselves. To assist them, Maryam purchased their products, ensuring they had some financial security even when buyers were not immediately available. Now, she either sells their work directly or buys it herself, holding onto it until she can find buyers.

Maryam works with women of various ages, many of whom are the bread winners of their families and rely on mushroom cultivation, dairy production, or weaving for income. Since they lack a communal workshop, they work from their homes, skillfully crafting products using natural, plastic-free materials. Palm leaves and a type of weed found in palm groves are used as both the base and binding for their intricate creations, while the dairy products they make are entirely organic and free of additives.

“When I first started, it was just me,” Maryam recalled. “But little by little, neighbors joined, and then more women from the village came along. Today, there are around twenty of us, all weaving and producing together.” She continued, “My dream is to have a dedicated space soon—a weaving workshop where we can work and display our locally made products. Joining CIWP was a turning point for me. It gave me the chance to make a real difference in others’ lives while transforming my own. Since then, we have sold our products at exhibitions we were invited to. I am currently preparing to register our products on digital platforms to reach wider markets, and I am also working on getting export permissions for neighboring countries.” She added.

Maryam also shared that the project has inspired her to adopt environmentally friendly practices in her business. She is currently working on sustainable packaging for the products to reach a wider network and continue the mission she embraced with CIWP.

UNDP Iran remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote natural resource conservation and enhance beneficiaries' livelihoods, including women. Maryam’s impact goes beyond economic support; she has fostered a vibrant community. Her story exemplifies how individual efforts can lead to profound and transformative community change.