A necklace crafted by an Afghan refugee using agate stones. Photos: The Star/Low Lay Phon
A large number of refugees are waiting, in Malaysia, to be relocated to another country and this period of awaiting resettlement can sometimes be long.
A group of Hazara Afghan refugees have found a way to sustain themselves through jewellery making in a workshop called Peacemakers Studio.
A gemstone being polished by an artisan.
“These refugees need money to survive, and odd jobs can be dirty, dangerous and demeaning,” says Shanisse Goh, a volunteer for the workshop’s founding non-governmental organisation (NGO), ElShaddai.
“They are often exploited by their bosses and some are not even paid after working for a few months,” she explains. “This is where the workshop comes in to help provide a sustainable livelihood.”
Sanctuary of support
Although this workshop is still growing and can only hire them as part-time workers, it strives to provide a better wage for their labour.
The loss of professional identities is a crushing blow to the Afghan refugees as many of them had lucrative jobs back home but are unable to practise their professions here.
“Being unemployed in a foreign country takes a toll on their dignity and worth, so we try to restore it by offering them a chance to acquire new skills and produce quality jewellery,” Goh says. “We currently have four artisans crafting gemstone jewellery in our workshop.”
“This studio also offers refugees security from immigration raids, which are common when they work outside,” she adds.
Hamed says he is appreciative of the opportunities this workshop has given him.
For one of the artisans, Hamed Bahadari, 30, this creative endeavour offers him a source of income and a renewed sense of hope.
Hamed has spent the last three years in Malaysia, a stark contrast to his upbringing in Iran.
Having fled Afghanistan, Hamed experienced racism in Iran, a hardship compounded by the loneliness he felt as a refugee in Malaysia.
Despite holding a degree in graphic design, Hamed faced significant barriers to employment.
“Now, jewellery making has become a lifeline for me,” he says after being introduced to the workshop by Goh.
“I had finally discovered the sense of belonging I had been seeking... it’s not just a job to me,” Hamed adds. “It has become my community.”
Besides that, the money Hamed earns provides him with much needed financial support and most importantly, it gives him a sense of purpose.
Since refugees are frequent targets of bigotry and xenophobia in Malaysia, Hamed hopes that Malaysians will begin to see refugees in a new light.
He says it is a misconception that refugees are poor and uneducated. “We are not... many of us possess valuable skills and education,” he shares.
He wishes for a shift in mindset and a recognition of the potential and resilience that many refugees like him have, as a result of their experiences.
The workshop was first initiated by Lim Chee Keong, a craftsman who was enthusiastic in cutting and polishing diamonds, when he visited the NGO in May 2024.
“He wanted to impart his skils to some of the refugees upon seeing the difficulties they had in getting by,” Goh shares.
Now, the workshop brings in a professional craftsperson who visits once every two months to train the refugees and teach them new skills.
“We also give them the space to express their creativity and we support them by getting the resources they need to explore new designs such as wire wrapping,” she continues.
Goh says resources are provided to the artisans so that they can experiment with creative designs.
Goh also says the workshop applies the input and thoughts of the refugees on certain concepts such as the word “Peace”.
“We did this during Christmas,” Goh explains. “We started a Peace series in which each gemstone design we released was named after the maker’s interpretation of peace.”
When these jewellery pieces are marketed to consumers, it gives the refugee artisans a platform for their voices to be heard.
Reaching for peace
During one of the team meetings, Goh asked them to define the meaning of peace and what it means to them. One of them responded: “Peace for Afghan people is like a dream. We try to find it and jump to catch hold of it, but it eludes us.”
Although Ehsanullah Sherzad, 28, has only been in Malaysia for a year, he has already found a sense of peace in this country.
To alter the way the world views Afghan refugees, Ehsanullah says he wants to open a restaurant to showcase the beauty of his culture through food.
“I also find Malaysia to be modern and filled with tourists,” Ehsanullah says. A stark contrast to the turmoil he left behind in Afghanistan.
A computer science graduate, Ehsanullah once owned a store back home, a life that became disrupted by conflict.
Now, his primary focus is to provide a stable future for his wife, their two young children and his disabled younger brother.
Like Hamed, Ehsanullah understands the importance of education and he dreams of his children having the opportunity to further their education.
Each polished gemstone is not just a product but a story of resilience as the jewellery made is deeply meaningful to both the customers and the artisans.
“This reflection captures the challenges of living in a war-torn country... the workshop gives them a space to experience a form of peace and hope through their craft,” Goh states.
Gemstone polishing is also a skilled craft that is especially empowering for female refugees in the Afghan community.
“In their culture, women are often expected to do domestic chores... being able to support their family’s income and learn a new skill is something they are very proud of.”
According to Goh, a woman who does not wish to reveal her identity, shared how lonely and depressed she felt before joining the workshop.
Now, being a part of this small community has her feeling a sense of pride and joy as she crafts her jewellery pieces alongside her fellow team mates.
“Our refugee craftspeople gain empowerment and upskilling when they learn the art of jewellery making,” Goh says.
“This could offer them the chance to work for other jewellery-making companies and even create their own business in the future,” she concludes.
Female Afghan artisans who make jewellery to support their families feel empowered by their work.
More information: peacemakers.studio.com
A necklace crafted by an Afghan refugee using agate stones. Photos: The Star/Low Lay Phon
To alter the way the world views Afghan refugees, Ehsanullah says he wants to open a restaurant to showcase the beauty of his culture through food.
Hamed says he is appreciative of the opportunities this workshop has given him.
Goh says resources are provided to the artisans so that they can experiment with creative designs.
A gemstone being polished by an artisan.
Female Afghan artisans who make jewellery to support their families feel empowered by their work.
