When I signed up to volunteer at Mozaic, I expected to teach crochet. I brought along hooks, yarn, and a few patterns. What I didn’t expect was to walk away with a heart stretched wider and fuller than it had been in a long time.

It was my first day with the crochet class—fifteen bright, eager girls from various backgrounds, all gathered in a room full of colorful yarn and curiosity- some refugees, others were born and raised here in America. We began with the basics: how to hold the hook, how to form a slip knot, how to chain. For many, it was their first time ever attempting anything like this.

At first, their hands were unsure. There were dropped stitches, tangled yarn, and deep sighs of frustration. A few girls looked at me with watery eyes and said, “I can’t do this.” One even quietly pushed her yarn aside, embarrassed and ready to give up.

So I sat beside her, and I said the only thing I knew to be true: “One small step at a time. Let’s just get this loop right. Forget the rest for now.” She tried again. This time, her hands moved slower. She breathed deeper. And when the hook finally slipped through just the right way, her eyes lit up.

That moment, when frustration turns to pride, is why crochet matters. Yes, it’s a craft. But in this room, it’s also a lifeline. These girls are learning much more than how to make a scarf or a square. They’re building resilience, one loop at a time. Every finished row is a reminder that they can do hard things. Every completed stitch is a quiet victory over doubt.

Crochet teaches patience. It teaches how to untangle knots—literally and emotionally. For refugee girls navigating a new world, often with the weight of loss or change on their shoulders, these simple, repetitive motions offer a rhythm that calms. It becomes a way to feel grounded, to feel creative, to feel in control.

But here’s the secret I’ve come to realize: when you volunteer your time and your skills, you’re the one who gains the most. I came to give—but I received stories, smiles, strength, and the unspoken gift of witnessing courage up close. These girls, with their determination and laughter, reminded me how tenacious the human spirit is. Even when life unravels, we can pick up the thread and begin again.

At Mozaic, crochet is not just a program. It’s a place of belonging. And I’m honored to be a small stitch in the beautiful tapestry they are weaving.

Written By: Sakineh Zarrincalaki