By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Embroidery patterns and techniques from half a world away were displayed recently at the Hooksett library. (The Hooksett Banner/Nicholas Brown)

Master embroiderer Hafiza Malikbaba, who’s lived most her life in rural eastern Afghanistan, recently spoke about life in her home country to a crowd of more than 30 people gathered at the Hooksett Public Library.

Malikbaba, accompanied by her translator, Rachel Lehr, said she’s probably the first woman from her region ever to travel to America.

Lehr and Malikbaba are the cofounders of Rubia, the Afghan Women’s Handwork Project, a nonprofit program serving rural Afghan women and children with education and promotion of traditional Afghan handwork.

The handcrafted piece shown above grew out of Rubia.

Malikbaba coordinates handwork projects for more than 200 women in her native Afghanistan. The work gives rural Afghan women a source of income to help support their families.