Watch the live video blog above, or catch the highlight below!
Leather Class
We started our leather working class today. Senor Alberto and I met at the door right on time and it was smooth sailing getting through the door with our materials. We started the class with Senor Alberto explaining to the women that this class is about focusing on a single product, making it perfectly, and then being able to repeat the process without assistance so they can sell it in the local market.
Then the women started making the leather bracelets! Senor Alberto started the class by making a single bracelet and, after the women understood the steps, it was their turn to try it on their own with Senor Alberto’s help.
Halfway through the class more than half of the women left because Thursdays are appointment day for the women. This means that the women have appointments with their lawyers, social workers, and psychologist to get their documents in order.
At first I was disappointed about half the women leaving for appointments, but it turned out to be great because the women who stayed were able to advance on the project with the tools and attention they needed.
Later, as women came back from the appointments, the class became staggered so there were always enough tools to go around.
Stepping Up
One of the women who stayed was Lia and, as the women returned from their appointments, Lia stepped up as teacher’s assistant. She began explaining the steps to the women who were behind, gave them the measurements they needed, and helped them when they got stuck.
The best part about witnessing this was seeing how natural it was for Lia to step into the role. My hope is that when Lia leaves the prison in 4 months that she can lean into the confidence she’s felt as a leader in this class and bring that into other aspects of her life.