It was also important that I started to have some more formal classes that the children who were interested would be able to attend to learn some of the fundamental jewellery making techniques.During this learning and discovery process, many children came and went in between their schooling and other duties. After a few days a first sample came about. At first sight we were happy with the idea, but a discussion was set forth at diner time with Wayne and myself and we came to the conclusion that the bamboo pieces might look nice and more personalized with some small pictures painted onto them. Wayne even suggested the children could paint some with the words Wat Opot on them to personalize the bracelet.
We first had on
e half of the sewing room to set up a work shop and so myself, Marijke, the cleaner Serain and two volunteers Jean (NZ) and Jo (Aus) that were there the first week we arrived at Wat Opot, helped us clean up the first work space that we had to use.
We were only able to use our half of the sewing room in the afternoons due to the local communities Governors wife spent the mornings at Wat Opots Sewing room teaching local community girls how to sew to a level that would see them pass the sewing test for the garment factories.
But it soon became apparent to me that with the time frame I was working with and the fact that nearly two weeks had come and gone, it was important that we had a space for a workshop to be set up on a more permanent.
After having a discussion with Wayne about a better space to work and teach the children in the skills of jewellery making...he decided that we could use the room that was the meeting room that Partners in Compassion and the Home Care organisation use on occasion. So I moved the tools, beads and other supplies and set up a new work space in the meeting room.
It was a great space at we could leave everything out at the end of each day and the room was lockable with a pad lock w
hich was piece of mind of nothing going missing and also it was better for me as in the sewing room I was having to keep things in the Volunteers sleeping quaters and taking all the jewelery making stuff over to the room every day and bring it back to the sleeping quarters every night. The days feel warm enough and it takes more energy to teach in warmer temperatures let alone ferrying every thing back and forth each day.
Poor ole Marijke was left trying to work out and get going the sewing machines in the afternoons and after about a week she spoke to me how she felt lonely being over there in the afternoons while we were all in the new workshop space. I suggested that she bring one of the sewing machines over to the new work space but she felt that she may not beable to do so as it may upset the morning sewing teacher.....So me being me and not one to muck around thinking about things (action woman) decided that we would get some of the boys to carry it over in the afternoons to the new work space and get it taken back in the evenings.
This made Marijke very happy to be in the same space as myself and the children learning Jewellery making. In fact it became a great dual space for Marijke and myself and the skills we were able to teach the children.... not only was I able teach jewellery making fundamentals to the children and women, but Marijke was able to get a handle of the use of the tredal sewing machine and also instigated and getting occupied the younger and less interested children with painting on Paper and fabric. Later Marijke turned this into a opportunity to impove some of the young girls hand sewing skills.
This created a fun and active atmosphere in the new workshop space.
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