YUNGHI KIM PHOTOGRAPHY

WIDOW

Portrait of Miriam

Miriam, 36, lost her husband at the hands of the Taliban in 2000. She found out he was dead when his body was dropped off at their house. About four months later, her eldest son died of an epileptic-like illness. Financially desperate, she and five children weave carpets 17 hours a day for only $50 a month. When her husband and son died, dreams for the future perished too. Her battle to survive today is her gift to her remaining children.

Miriam worries about her daughters marrying into a proper family: daughters without fathers are seen as wild and undesirable in Afghanistan.

Miriam is just one of 50,000 widows in Kabul alone.

caption with each picture.

All images copyright 2012 Yunghi Kim,

all rights reserved

Miriam walks with her one surviving son Mysam, 7-years old, at the market near her home.
  
  
Four years after her husband's death, Miriam still grieves.
     
  
Their meals consist of bread and potatoes. Asked when they last consumed meat, 9-year-old daughter Shakila answered "last Eid" -- a year ago.
  
  
Miriam and her 5 children make a living by weaving rugs in their one room rental 16 hours a day. Only one daughter attends school. On right, eldest daughter Nasiba, 16, prays during Ramadan.
     
  
Miriam about to wash her hair.
  
Miriam with 4-year old Tamara, born after her husband's death. Afghan widows frequently don't remarry because their kids will be put out on the street or beaten.
   
She kisses her husband's gravestone. Her husband used to repair shoes on the street, barely making ends meet.
     
  
   
The future of the family weighs on Mysam's shoulders. The one surviving son, his mother and sisters see this 7-year old as their savior.