Creating a Beautiful Hobby

The girls sit in a relaxed atmosphere, laughing and chatting about friends, shopping, and broken summer diets at family barbeques, while their hands move rhythmically, stitching colorful threads of yarn in and out through plastic canvas, each one creating her own unique design.   The Arts & Crafts Club, one of the summer youth programs offered at the Mosque Foundation Community Center, gives these girls a chance to learn how to make their own hand crafted art projects, while also giving them a welcome break from the monotony of summer vacation.  The Club is led by Maha Abuzir, an Arts & Crafts teacher at Universal School, who volunteers her time to give these girls an outlet for their creative energy as she instructs them in various craft projects.  Smaller groups guarantee more personal instruction with seven girls in the Beginner group and five girls in the Advanced group.  The girls are focused on designing and creating jewelry boxes, key chains, and book marks out of yarn and plastic canvas.  Some of the girls are keeping their work, while others plan to give them as gifts.  Mrs. Abuzir has a gentle rapport with the girls as she praises them for their steady work and creativity.  "I like the Craft Club because we're doing something fun and at the end we end up with something beautiful," says Abrar Najjar.  "I thought coming here would just give me something to do, but it gave me a hobby," Yusra Zarzour quietly chimes in.  All of the girls agree that the Arts & Craft Club is a great way to enjoy the summer vacation.  For more information about youth programs at the Mosque Foundation Community Center, call (708) 598-6307.