Hello all! my name is Mihai Micheal. I am originally from Romania, now a Roman resident, studying at the American University of Rome. I am adjusting to Italy, I joined LoopsofHope in hopes of meeting lots of new people. It has been an been an incredible experience, and I love that the club is helping out people outside of just my school. One of the most meaningful aspects of being part of loops of hope is the environmental impact of our work. With promoting handmade projects, and encouraging mindful consumption we help reduce unnecessary waste and support. Through loops of hope I have learned that creativity can go hand in hand with responsibility. By working together, we can support both people and the planet.
Slow made, Deeply Felt
Slow Made, Deeply Felt Sahid Patel, 20 Hello my name is Sahid Patel. I am 20 years old. I am originally from Kathmandu, Nepal and now a Roman resident, studying at AUR. I am excited to help out the club, by purchasing all their awesome products. I love how AUR supports the refugee community, with my parents being refugees . I, myself have helped out communities in several ways. During the summer i helped serve and donate food to the homeless shelter. My main project now has been helping out with Loopsofhope club at AUR. it has been an incredible way to build and share with the community I believe if you help others, when you need the help one day people are more willing to give back to you.
When Stitches Become Stories
From shared tables and tangled yarn comes something powerful: creativity shaped into care, and community turned into action.
From Yarn To Impact
What begins as yarn and conversation slowly becomes something more. In our weekly crochet sessions, creativity turns into action—supporting refugee students and building community, one stitch at a time.
Finding Calm, Connection, and Purpose
Finding Calm, Connection, and Purpose Sasha Bosic, 22 International Relations Major I am a crochet volunteer for the Loops of Hope Club, even though my major is international relations, I still have a strong passion for creating art. I am orginally from Sarjevo, Bosnia and am in my last year at AUR. Volunteer Club Experience Crocheting with Loop of Hope became my escape from academic stress. When I sit down with yarn and a hook, the noise of exams, assignments, and deadlines fades away. Crocheting isn’t just relaxing, it’s grounding. It gives me space to breathe, reflect, and feel connected to the people around me. Knowing that what I’m creating will help support refugee education gives every stitch meaning. Through crochet, I found community, mindfulness, and purpose. It reminds me that creativity can heal, connect, and empower not just myself, but others too. “I believe in taking breaks to enjoy the small pleasures in life, especially when it is to help others!” (-Sasha Bosic)
More Than A Purchase
More Than a Purchase Alessandra Bussata, 33 My name is Alessandra, and I am a Roman resident, orginally from Vicenza. I am also a marketing professor at AUR. I had been looking to buying a meaningful plushie for my niece, in which I saw Loops of Hope selling products on our AUR campus. Product Review When I purchased a Loop of Hope crochet product, I didn’t expect how emotional the experience would be. The quality of the product was excellent and carefully made, durable, and clearly crafted with care. What stood out most was the customer service. The volunteers were kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the mission. Knowing my purchase directly supported refugee education made it feel meaningful, not transactional. Buying from Loop of Hope felt like contributing to something bigger. It wasn’t just a product, it was a statement of support, compassion, and shared humanity. “You can buy anything for anywhere, but not everything has a meaningful story connected with it, that why I choose Loops of Hope.” (-Alessandra Bussata)
From the Table to the Real World
From the Table to the Real World Thomas Vargues, 21 Business Major My name is Thomas and I am a second year at AUR, I am American but my parents are from South India. I have a big passion for sales and through the Hoops of Hope Clube I can do both sales and volunteer work. Sales Volunteering Working at Loop of Hope sales tables gave me more than volunteer hours, it gave me real experience. I learned how to communicate our mission clearly, interact with customers, and manage sales responsibly. Explaining how each purchase supports refugee education makes every interaction feel important. I gained confidence, teamwork skills, and insight into how social enterprises operate in real life. This experience strengthened my CV, but more importantly, it showed me how business can be driven by purpose. Selling for Loop of Hope taught me that impact and professionalism can go hand in hand. ‘Everything can be an opportunity, some are just more meaningful then others.’ (-Thomas Vargues)