Two siblings who arrived in Arizona recently found work in essential services during the COVID-19 crisis using skills handed down from their mother . 

Giti and Mujtaba are two refugees who came to Arizona in January 2020, Catholic Charities of Arizona reported. Their family fled from Afghanistan to Iran 15 years ago. At the time that they left their homeland, they were making shirts and pants for their family members.

The family relocated to Turkey in 2013, where brother and sister worked at a sewing factory, making T-shirts and dress pants at scale. After five years of this life, they moved to the United States. 

GIti actually taught her younger brother, Mujtaba how to sew, just as her mother had taught her, Catholic Charities reported.

Once they arrived in Arizona, the siblings told their job developer that they were experienced with tailoring and making clothes. They wanted to continue using these skills in their work if possible.

The Arizona Catholic Charities employment team was happy to find work for them as sewing assistants. The two are now working at Tyr Tactical, which produces military gear normally, Catholic Charities said. However, since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the company has been tackling the task of making N95 masks and filters, which are in great demand. 

Gita and Mujtaba are working every day on 10-hour shifts making the vital masks. While they are concerned about the virus and the danger it poses to so many individuals, they are grateful that they have the opportunity to work during such an uncertain time and to provide supplies that are so desperately needed at this time. 

The sister and brother are grateful to have a job during this time that gives them a sense of security and purpose, Catholic Charities said.

Many refugees are finding work in retail stores, as well as in bakeries, food and paper manufacturing and textile and clothing manufacturing companies.