Resettled refugees from Syria have been using their tailoring skills to help protect their local communities from Covid-19.

Zaher, originally from Syria, came to the UK as part of a resettlement scheme and participates in our Specialised Training and Employment Programme (STEP). He has been putting his tailoring skills to good use during the pandemic and has been sewing masks for many months now. Zaher distributes the masks to people seeking asylum that he met through a Conversation Club in Doncaster. Additionally, he has been teaching others how to make their own masks at home through Zoom tutorials.

Yousef, based in Sheffield, is also a STEP participant and has similarly been contributing his time and efforts to benefit the local community.  Yousef has hand sewn over 100 masks for Burngreave Food Bank that have been distributed in food parcels across the city to those in need.

Adil has 25 years experience as a tailor and although originally from Syria, was resettled to the UK from Turkey. Adil is a member of the STEP sewing group and when lockdown was first put in place he was inspired to do something to protect people against the virus. Initially STEP coordinated for him to receive materials and he made 70 masks, which he donated to his children’s school and his neighbours. He has now gone on to make 500 items of PPE for his local community, including masks and scrubs, purchasing many of the materials himself.

When asked for a comment Adil said he just wants to help protect the community around him and that he thanks everyone who helped him to resettle to the UK.