A
Larchmont-based nonprofit is
helping refugee women earn a living while helping those in need.
Shameela Azizi is a refugee from
Afghanistan who partakes in Neighbors for Refugee’s mask-making program.
"It's an occupation that I enjoy. It keeps me
busy," Azizi told News 12 through a
translator.
The Afghanistan woman is one of six women
sewing masks that are distributed to schools, prisons and nursing homes.
"I take pleasure in knowing that my
products are helping others," says Azizi.
The
talented seamstress arrived with her family in the U.S. in 2018 and was
embraced by organizations such as
Neighbors for Refugees.
The nonprofit assists families like
Azizi’s by helping them resettle.
"My
husband worked with the international community, and we were being targeted by the Taliban,” says Azizi.
According to Neighbors for Refugees
representative Holly Rosen Fink, the mask-making program seamstresses are paid
through donations.
"We
are able to help these women help their families, we love the
fact they will say they are saving lives," says Fink.
The
organization is preparing to help more refugee families build new lives in the
states as President Joe Biden
proposes to raise the cap on those admitted into the country. The current cap
is at 15,000, but the Biden administration plans to raise it to more than
62,000.
"We are completely ready to resettle,
we are anxious to get new families and support them," says Fink.
More
than 500 masks made in the latest batch are going to Poughkeepsie to an
organization called PPE 4 All. News 12 is told PPE 4 All
will distribute the masks to vulnerable populations across the country.