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My Service Experience

From the corner of my eye, I notice a baby rattle and a pile of small rubber toy animals that invoke in me a sense of helplessness; I don’t quite know how I’m supposed to feel. What do you do when you are in a room with homeless young girls that are current and expectant mothers as a result of abuse? Girls that are younger than you, that deserve so much more and should be able to act like the eleven-to-sixteen-year-olds that they are. With such heavy thoughts in the back of my mind, I welcome the girls and prepare to give my regular speech, thoughtfully written words that I had just hours before said to distant communities in rural Bolivia. I feel it gnawing at me and find that those same words don’t fit. I set my cue cards down and look the girls in the eyes. Looking back at me is a sea of eager eyes, some with a hint of hesitation but willingness to hear what I have to say. I explain how I came to Bolivia to teach girls how to make washable menstrual pads to stay in school. Throug
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Juliette’s Circle Holiday Party

I was invited by Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCTX) to speak and present at the Juliette’s Circle Holiday Party about my Girl Scout experience. I took the opportunity to display my Gold Award and ATS Destinations Majestic Alps Tri-folds.  
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Delivering a Sew Machine to Hogar San Lorenzo Orfanato (Orphanage)

After returning to the US, I sent the funds needed to my grandmother so that she could purchase and deliver the requested sewing machine to Hogar San Lorenzo Orfanato ( Orphanage) in Santa Cruz. I fufilled my promise to Hermana (Sister) Angelina. 
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Madre María – Centro de Formación para Madres Adolescentes: Donating a Sewing Machine

After my worshops across Beni, I returned to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz, Bolivia for a second workshop at "Madre María" – Centro de Formación para Madres Adolescentes (Center for Homeless Teen Mothers). At the previous workshop, I encountered the need to donate a sewing machine for this center, so that the girls may continue making washable pads for the center and other rural communities in need within Santa Cruz. With Hermana (Sister) Cristina donating the sewing machine for the center.   At this workshop, there was a nun from the Hogar San Lorenzo Orfanato ( Orphanage) in Santa Cruz. She humbly requested a sewing machine for her orphanage.
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Acto Civico & Signed Acknowledgement of Donations

During my last workshop - with the university students - dancers from the university's performing arts, by request of SEDUCA, performed an Acto Civico (traditional dance in my honor). After my worshop, I signed an Acknowledgement of Donations along with Trinidad District Director of Education Lic. Elizabeth Corona and Principal of the Mario Saielli Secondary School Lic. Efrain Tambo. Thanks to Dick Montero (School Teacher), Elizabeth Tordoya (Save the Children Officer), and my mother for helping me at every workshop. Special thanks to my uncle Oscarin for ensuring our safety throughout the trip, and my mother for inspiring and supporting me during this ever-expanding adventure.
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La Universidad Autónoma del Beni "José Ballivián" (U.A.B.) – Carrera de Pedagogía

After driving back from Comunidad Villa Cruz – which is a rural village that is an hour away from the closest city: Trinidad – I held this workshop for university students. They are studying Pedagogy – the method and practice of teaching – and using my project to write their graduating thesis. Several boys and girls from Los Lideres (The Leaders) came to this workshop as well; they are students from Liceo "Mario Saielli" High School .  Getting off the van after the workshop at Communidad Villa Cruz and immediately heading to SEDUCA for the next workshop with university students.
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Comunidad Villa Cruz – Primaria

After driving an hour away from Trinidad, I arrived at a primary school and held a workshop with mothers, teachers and students. Everyone left with pad templates and learned the skills of how to make a complete washable sanitary pads. The teacher for this schoolhouse came all the way from the neighboring town - where she lives - to welcome her students at the workshop during her school winter break.
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SEDUCA (Servicio Departamental de Educación de Bolivia) – Primaria y Secundaria

I  had another workshop today at SEDUCA (Servicio Departamental de Educación de Bolivia), Beni Departmental Service of Education building, with a group of primary and secondary school students and teachers; most of the students were girls but a few boys came as well. Despite the younger age of the girls, they learned how to sew very quickly and finished making several washable pads. At every workshop, I made sure to give everyone posterboard paper to cut and trace out all the templates in both sizes: small and large. This allows individuals to make more at home and continue having workshops.
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U.E. (Unidad Educativa) Mary Ribera Gutierrez – SEDUCA – Primaria y Secundaria

I am at SEDUCA (Servicio Departamental de Educación de Bolivia), Beni Departmental Service of Education building, where students and families from Mary Ribera Gutierrez Secondary and Primary School have come to learn at my workshop. This workshop was a truly motivating experience as there was a father and two sons that joined the workshop. At first, the boys were reluctant to participate and it wasn't until I showed them a video called "The Beauty of Red" (with spanish subtitles) that they realized how global and how real  this issue is.  I think that most men don't usually take the feminine issue of the lack of menstrual resources seriously because it doesn't personally affect them. Once men are shown the extent of the matter, they understand the need to help.  For the rest of the workshop, the boys were active participants - the father even decided to learn how to sew and make a washable for his daughter. I am scheduled to have another workshop at the SED
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U.E. (Unidad Educativa) 25 de Diciembre

After my first workshop in Trinidad yesterday teaching Los Lideres , I prepared for my workshop today for primary students at  U.E. (Unidad Educativa) 25 de Diciembre .  I was expecting to teach about 10 young girls but at least 25 girls showed up. One of the girls from Los Lideres joined me as my assistant and was very helpful in teaching girls how to sew. I only showed her how to make the washable sanitary pads yesterday and she is already so capable and skilled. It is great to see how - only just starting these workshops - there are so many individuals willing to take the initiative and help expand this communal effort.  The principal of the primary school introduced me and I explained to the girls the importance of finishing their education and how washable sanitary pads will aid them in this personal commitment.  Throughout the workshop, there was girls tracing and cutting the fabric as well as girls learning how to sew and completing their own pad.  Towards the e
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