Tech Exchange: When one volunteer visits another volunteer's site to help develop a project

As PCV Olenka and I walked in leisurely fashion towards the Casita de Chocolate, I looked up and was amazed to see a huddle of women waiting for us outside the gate. After 16 months of constantly seeing community members arrive late to meetings and events (usually smiling and reminding me about the concept of la hora ecuatoriana), I knew these women were truly excited about our weekly manualidades and bisutería (crafts and jewelry-making) classes, because instead of arriving on time, they arrived early.

Seven women and their daughters sat at the table and looked at us expectantly. One proffered up a dollar coin; for previous classes, we had asked participants to contribute $1 each toward the purchase of materials. “Today’s class is gratis,” I explained, “because we’re working with recycled materials.” This pleasant surprise grabbed the women’s attention, and they seemed even more eager to get started.

Over a period of two hours that Saturday morning, Olenka shared with us her expertise in turning chip bags, milk cartons, and old magazines into wallets and beads. The ladies and I learned three new techniques that are low-cost; benefit the environment; and produce eye-catching products.

[Olenka shows the women how to roll paper beads from old magazines]

My favorite part of these classes always occurs right in the middle of our time together, after the ladies have grown confident enough with a new technique that they begin conversing among themselves while their hands are at work. Just a few weeks ago, these women were strangers to each other; now, they’re giving each other health advice, inquiring after one another’s families, and debating the merits of various platos and cooking styles. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the bond between them grow over such a short time, as it has been heartwarming to see the relationships between the older generation and their daughters manifest in different ways during the workshops. Often, the steady hands of the mothers will guide their daughters’ less graceful efforts, while at other times, the girls’ keen eyes and quick facility for learning turn them into their mothers’ instructors.

This particular class, Olenka captured the ladies’ imaginations by transforming common household items before their eyes. Previously, they had never envisioned a milk carton becoming a change purse, or old magazine pages turning into cute pieces of jewelry. By the end of the two hours, the women were brainstorming additional ways to use items from around the house that would otherwise go into the trash, and they left excited to return next week and continue practicing the techniques Olenka taught us.

[Working on milk carton wallets and paper beads]

The women’s enthusiasm is infectious, and while we are all hopeful that the concept for a microempresa will emerge from what we learn, for now I love cheering them on as they continue to plan classes and meet weekly in what has become a small but strong community, forming a foundation of friendship that will surely direct their future efforts toward success.

[The women show off their handiwork. All products are made from recycled materials]