JONAMO

MEANS "SHOW YOUR HEART"

SHEGHNAN VILLAGE, AFGHANISTAN 

Jonamo thinks she is around 40 years old. They married her when she was very young and her husband was 30 years older than her. She did not love him. They had three sons and four daughters and he died two and a half years ago. Now she is a widow and has to support her family. Sometimes she gets help from her husband's brother. Her main concern is the wellbeing and health of her children and grandchildren. She would like to have a nice house with some amenities, and she hopes her children will be able to find work. Jonamo knows how to build a traditional outdoor oven for making bread. People invite her over to make such ovens for them. She is very resourceful and good in managing the household. She uses her income from spinning to buy food and clothing for her children and also to help pay for her relatives' weddings.