Courtown Hotel residents play their part sewing masks
WEXFORD’S asylum seekers have been putting their skills to great use and helping those on the front line during the Covid-19 crisis.
Seamstress Mariam Dudashvili has been living with her family in Courtown Hotel for some months now, and when she heard about refugees in Waterford making face masks, she thought it was something she could also do to lend a hand.
Mariam put her skills to the test and tried making a mask with a few bits of cloth and needle and thread.
It took her about five minutes and she was pleased with how it looked, so local friends at Places of Sanctuary Ireland put out an appeal for a sewing machine and materials.
Within a few days supporters had loaned two sewing machines, some good quality material and other essentials materials needed to produce some masks.
Meanwhile, Mariam researched how to make the safest possible masks, and enlisted the help of her friend Ekaterine Kirvalodze and her husband. They began by cutting material and quickly got to work.
Due to the demand, there is now a special bin set up outside the hotel where people in the locality can leave clean, dry material, whether that be bed sheets, clothing fabric or any elastic for the masks.
‘When I see that more people like and need the masks, I want to do more and more. I’m happy,’ said Mariam.
Social distancing is being practised throughout this process, and the masks are being donated to local nursing homes and vulnerable people.
One person of those who is very grateful to the asylum seekers at the Courtown Hotel is Sarah Kavanagh, Local Services Manager of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.
Ms Kavanagh had been looking for good face masks for the team and residents and was delighted when a batch of 30 masks were donated to her.
‘I would like to thank Mariam and Eka for their kind donation. At this challenging time we very much appreciate the time and effort that has gone into this and thank them for thinking of us in these very challenging times,’ she said.
Tiffy Allen of Places of Sanctuary said that she is very encouraged by the actions of everyone involved.
‘We’re encouraged and heartened by these examples of sanctuary in action, people seeking safety reaching out to ensure the safety of others,’ she said.
Mariam’s team of residents at the Courtown Hotel are now producing up to seven masks a day, all to benefit carers and care homes in these difficult times.
Although Mariam and Ekaterine took a break to celebrate the Orthodox Easter, which falls a week later than Easter Sunday, but they are back hard at work sewing again for Wexford.
If you are in need of these type of masks, you can reach out to Tiffy Allen by email at tiffy@ cityofsanctuary.org or contact John Kelly through Wexford Local Development.
The team are very grateful to the people of Courtown and Riverchapel for their generous donations.