Our Artisans

 

 

Re:new Artisans are refugee women who have who have survived war, persecution, or political conflict and have resettled in the United States. Re:new provides free training and flexible employment to refugee women from different countries.

Since our founding in 2009, Re:new has served over 150 refugee women from all over the world.  

 

 

 

Home Country: Uzbekistan

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Farida grew up in Uzbekistan enjoying a career as a school teacher. When ethnic and religious persecution swept through her family's close-knit community they fled to Russia and later to the U.S. in 2005. Immigration problems and no jobs made it a very difficult transition.Farida says, "I am so happy here. Re:new is my second home! When I am at home, I miss my sewing machine. I like my English teacher. I am understanding more!" Farida loves to spend time with her six grandchildren, be outside, walk and cook. She brings fun and laughter to the studio with her quick wit, and sweet spirit.

 

 

Home Country: Burma (Myanmar)

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Khuang and her husband left Myanmar in 2010 for Malaysia. Khuang was being forced to carry heavy equipment for soldiers and turn over any money they made. They applied for refugee status but her two children were not accepted. They made the difficult decision to come to America in 2015 while her children went back to Myanmar. Her goal is to work here and save money to bring her children and her grandson to America. She prays for their safety everyday. Khuang says, "I am very glad to be here. I like to learn English. When I know English and how to sew everything then I can teach others. It is my dream to help other women at Re:new."

 

 

Home Country: Eritrea

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Karin is from the country of Eritrea. She and her husband, along with their two small children fled Eritrea in 2008. Karin was 8 months pregnant at the time. Their journey took them to Sudan where her baby was born, and then to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Karin remembers crying a lot on that journey and being comforted by her four year old daughter who kept saying "God is our Shepherd." Karin always knew God, but she wasn't close to Him until she accepted Jesus as her Savior in 2010. She can never get enough of reading her Bible. Her love of Jesus overflows and spills out onto everyone at Re:new. Her beautiful spirit, wise words based on Biblical truth, and heartfelt prayers are a blessing.

 

 

Home Country: Burma

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Dim and her husband fled violence in her home country of Burma and were resettled in Chicago five years ago. She has three children who like living in Illinois and keep her very busy. Dim was sewing before she came to Re:new. She and her friends made clothes for each other and their children. She was sad to leave her country and her friends behind. Dim says, "I like my new friends at Re:new! And my new ideas for fashion! I feel more creative here. It's a happy place for me to work." Dim's future dream is to be a fashion designer.

 

 

Home Country: Iraq

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Arzo is from the country of Iraq. Armed violence made her fearful to go out after 7pm. Arzo and her husband came to America in 2016. She likes the freedom of living in America, especially being able to go out at night. Arzo had a sewing machine that she had to leave behind when she fled Iraq. She loves coming to Re:new to sew and enjoys friendships with the other women. She is working hard at two jobs to make enough money to send back to her sister in Iraq who has cancer. Arzo's dream is to own a business in the future.

 

 

Home Country: Uzbekistan

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Nigora is a Turkish refugee woman born in Uzbekistan. Her parents originally lived in Georgia, but during WWII, the government forced all Turks to leave, loading 40,000 onto cargo trains and shipping them to Uzbekistan. After 45 years in Uzbekistan, Nigora's family was forced to flee to Russia when she was 19, just 5 days after she got married! They were not welcome there and life was difficult. Nigora's family eventually came to the U.S. in 2006. She became a U.S. citizen in 2011. She is grateful for her family and her life now. Nigora has two daughters and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family and taking care of her grandchildren. Nigora says "I am so happy to be working at Re:new. I know we all have problems and stress, but at Re:new the stress goes away."

 

 

Home Country: Burma

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Adar is one of Re:new's newest Artisans. Za has taken Adar under her wing: teaching her everything about cutting the fabric for our bags. We are so excited to have her as part of this amazing team. Adar grew up in Burma as a gardener. She came to the United States in November of 2014. She says the hardest part of living here is being away from her dad. She really misses him. She thinks so much about her freedom now and how beautiful it is here. She is enjoying learning more about how to sew from other Artisans and she hopes to one day become a designer.