How one woman built one of Afghanistan's first gas-station convenience stores

When Hossai (not her real name) came to the U.S. in October as part of BART, she reported how thugs, crime and kidnappings were destabilizing the formerly very safe Afghan province of Herat. Security has improved a bit since then and so has the quality of life thanks to Hossai. She just opened one of Afghanistan's first gas-station convenience stores, thanks to ideas she picked up while at host companies during BART (Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip) and the $3,000 she won for the best Bpeace Forward Plan. Hossai's host companies were Gulf Oil, Alliance Energy and Mutual Oil. (At right, that's a happy customer, not Hossai who we can't show for security reasons.)

In only four months, Hossai conducted a market survey; rented space next to one of her client's gas stations; improved the fixtures; stocked it with food, drinks and other items; and hired a store manager--a man from an extremely poor family who is supporting 8 people. As anyone who has been to Afghanistan can attest, by the looks of this photo, this is one spiffy looking convenience store.

Bpeacer George Matouk, who accompanied Hossai on some of her visits said, "I can't believe how quickly she did this. One host company talked a lot about how competitive the fuel market was and how they attempted various strategies to generate additional profits. One strategy was to offer additional goods and services to the customers who were captive briefly for purchase of fuel. One of the executives said that they sell gas as a service to people that they wanted to sell the higher margin snacks and drinks to. Hossai picked up on it completely."