By Anne W. Semmes
Witnessing the wondrous web of individuals and organizations working to help Afghan families since those dark evacuation days in 2021 with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, speaks to – it takes a village. In this case, the town of Greenwich, with a spotlight on the North Greenwich Congregational Church on Riversville Road.
There over a recent weekend was a sale – with reasonable prices – of artfully crafted throw pillows, tablecloths, quilted tote bags, dresses, and more, in appealing colors and patterns, made by the hands of Afghan women. Hence the sale’s title, “Hands of Hope – Making Good.”
Thank the Rev. Karen Halac and her North Greenwich Congregational Church that opened its doors two years ago “with the goal of assisting recent evacuees from Afghanistan – specifically women – to begin new lives in this country.” Thus, Hands of Hope – Making Good has become an interfaith and volunteer effort taking place primarily on the lower floor areas of the church where donated sewing machines are indeed providing these Afghan women with skills for their livelihood.
But there’s an important backstory. These Afghan women are part of some 200 Afghans now living in Stamford thanks to the help of the Jewish
Family Services (JFS) of Greenwich that has stepped up now for some 1,200 refugees and humanitarian parolees from around the world, shares JFS CEO Rachel Kornfeld. And with these women’s inherited customs of face coverings and living low profile alongside men, the need was to find avenues to acclimate these women to the openness of America.
With North Greenwich Church often hosting concerts featuring leading musicians. “And since the [Afghan] men had come here for a concert and they knew that this was a safe place, maybe the women could come here for fellowship for a women’s sewing circle,” says Stacia Morris. As a member of nearby Harvest Time Church, Morris had started a sewing circle at her church and would be invited by Halac to co-lead with Rev. Maria-Pia Seirup of Ridgefield, founder of the Hands of Hope project, a sewing circle of fellowship at North Greenwich Church.
And, following those sewing classes would be much needed English Language tutoring.
Entering one of those two community-use rooms on the church’s lower level, there were some eight sewing machines seen placed on long tables with nearby shelves of donated fabric. Giving this tour was Stacia Morris. With a career at IBM, and herself an immigrant from the Saint Vincent near the Grenadines Morris will also work to teach the Afghan women financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills.
Upstairs, customers were arriving at the sale, and Rev. Halac had good news to share. Her start-up outreach grant from the United Church of Christ grant application for $2500 was just accepted, “which is a big boost” she says. The grant proposal read, “This effort is entirely dependent upon volunteers (leaders, sewing teachers, babysitters, drivers, English language tutors) and donations (sewing machines, notions, fabric) to operate. “
It continued: “The women have met with great success on many levels thus far and have held two successful public sales of their work in Greenwich and in Ridgefield. For many, these sales were their first ever occasions of earning an income. For all, they received the encouraging message that there are people in this new world eager to support them, resulting in hope for these displaced persons who lost so much and left all possessions, loved ones, and familiar ways of life behind in Afghanistan.”
The grant also mentions the evolving openness of the women appearing at the public sales, of “approaching the sales tables and shyly announcing to interested patrons, ‘I made that!’ – a starting point for warm and affirming conversations.”
Arriving on Saturday was an Afghan family of mother and two grown daughters, all participants in the sewing fellowship, with works of their own featured. But no photos of themselves were requested – and only their first names to be shared. They were driven by a relative, Shabir who served as interpreter. They were happy to share their work on sale – a bag, napkins, and a pillow.
Their family had arrived only a few months ago, having moved north from Virginia where they were initially evacuated to. When asked what their biggest challenges were, the youngest, Zahra responded via Shabir, “We don’t know English – this is the big problem…Is it possible you can find someone who wants to volunteer to come to my home and teach me English?” She also “so needs someone” to teach her how to drive.
With her little daughter in tow, she needs a babysitter too, she says, “and a job. I don’t have money.” Zahra arrived in America with her daughter only two months old, and without her husband, who in the hurried evacuation got separated off and wound up in Sweden. And things were looking bleak for when and if she would see him again.
But a following conversation with another mother and two daughters, with two years in Stamford – and help from Hands of Hope, brought more positive responses. “It was the first time when I’m using the sewing machine, so I learned how to sew,” says Robina, with a smile. “We couldn’t talk anything in English when we were in Afghanistan,” says sister Horia, “But when we came here, we start to learn and study.” She adds, “It’s nice because people are very nice here. I really appreciate that. And they never make me feel that I’m foreign here in this country. I’m happy.”
For those wanting to see the handcrafted work of these Afghan women, the next Hands of Hope sale will be at The Carriage House located at Rev. Maria-Pia Seirup’s home Jesse Lee Church in Ridgefield Connecticut on Friday, December 6 from 10 to 3. For more information, visit www.greenwichchurch.org
