Czech Republic: Two Romani women sew 1000+ face masks for the indigent and seniors

Renata Fečová and Klára Pulová are just some of the Romani women in the Czech Republic who have recently decided to produce the face masks needed in their area during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I know the social workers from Romodrom, and when they posted to social media that they need face masks, I didn't hesitate and I told them I would sew them," Pulová, who works as a health support mediator, explained to the Hate Free Culture project.

Pulová, a former seamstress, decided to take advantage of her know-how to aid those in her area. She got the necessary fabric from her friends and her former boss made it possible for her to use a high-quality sewing machine, thanks to which the production of the masks is efficient.

Since the beginning of the quarantine in the Czech Republic, Fečová and Pulová have managed to sew and distribute more than 1000 face masks. "I brought 20 to the retirement home today where they have none. Otherwise, people write to me through the Internet that they need them," Pulová describes.

"In Tanvald alone there are approximately 500 people at risk of social exclusion or already living in socially excluded localities. One-quarter of the inhabitants of Tanvald are of retirement age," describes Patrik Kotlár, chair of an association that offers children from excluded localities meaningful recreational activities.

"Most of the people to whom the face masks were distributed are in financial distress, and if they did find a face mask for sale on the Internet, the price was in the hundreds of crowns and the delivery date for it was approximately 30 days away. For that reason, Renata and Klára decided to get their sewing machines out and begin sewing face masks for people irrespective of their skin color," Kotlár said.

"This is necessary, it's an important thing. I'm a seamstress and it doesn't take me much time. I believe I've made the correct decision, this is of aid to people," Fečová said.

First published on HateFree.cz.