Sophie snips, as Olga sews. The hum of the sewing machine the only sound in the garden where the two work. Olga Voytenko and her 16-year-old daughter Sophie are among 15 women living in six direct provision centres in Co Cork, who are part of the Sanctuary Masks Initiative.
The women have set themselves the task of making 6,000 masks for the close to 2,000 people living in direct provision in the county.
Supported by the Cork Migrant Centre and the charity Better Together, the initiative is a response to demands for masks from those living in direct provision where social distancing is challenging.
Dr Naomi Masheti of the Cork Migrant Centre said "there is a lot of anxiety and genuine concern within the centres, so from a mental health