A loan helped to move production of rugs to a larger workshop, have a showroom to display rugs & increase the number of rugs produced.


Ayar's story

Ayar is a talented and passionate artist and entrepreneur. She links traditional Iraqi rug weaving with modern fashionable rugs, preserving traditional Iraqi rug weaving techniques and protecting them from extinction.
Traditional Iraqi handmade rugs hold a special place in the hearts of Iraqis, with every family, regardless of income level, having a traditional rug in their home. Ayar’s rugs are woven with love; love for her art, love for her heritage, and love for Iraq’s culture.
Ayar, a 53 year old mother of three, owns a small hand-woven rug workshop. In addition to supporting her own family, she employs four other women, thereby enabling them to support their families.
To expand her business, Ayar is taking an SME loan in the amount of 10,000 USD. She will use this loan to move production to a larger workshop where she can increase the number of rugs produced and where she can have a showroom to display her rugs, thereby increasing sales. She plans to hire more women to work with her and will provide them with training in this traditional art-form.
Ayar describes her business with her own words in the video: “I’m Ayar, from Iraq, the owner of this handmade rug weaving business, which is one of the most Iraqi traditional works/arts. I received a 10,000 USD loan from Relief International to improve my business; I will rent a larger workshop where I can have a large fixed showroom. Thank you”.

Note: The disbursal date for this loan is actually January 15, 2014, not January 29, 2014 as listed on this loan profile. Relief International initially tried to upload this loan to Kiva's system on February 14, however given the large file size of the video, it was not successfully completed within the 30 days Kiva typically allows for posting a loan to Kiva after the disbursal date. Because of the limitations of our system, and the technical issue that resulted in this loan not being uploaded as intended, Kiva has allowed Relief International to re-post this loan with another disbursal date. Lenders can still expect to receive repayments according to the noted repayment schedule for this loan.



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