LIVE AND SHARE, OUR MISSION
"Knowing artisans who weave our backpacks: an experience that filled my soul."
Finally the day came, on February 17 it was a day that I was waiting with great joy. It was a dream that was going to realize to be able to know the Guajira and even better to know closely the Wayúu communities being part of the Sacred Thread School Kits Mission.
Sun, culture, companionship, expectation, fabric, backpacks, collaboration would be the perfect description of what this adventure that I lived was and that filled my soul absolutely.
How it started?
I barely arrived in Riohacha I met Mónica, my mission partner. We did not know each other but we made a very beautiful friendship and a great work team. As soon as I arrived the entire agenda changed and everything we had planned from Bogotá had to modify it, because just that weekend there was a national strike and the kits did not arrive when we planned it. So he had to improvise and make decisions on the fly. I stressed a little but in sacred thread I have learned that no matter the difficulties, we are all a single team and we work for the same purpose, to empower women and communities
First contact
The next day we met with the leaders of each community of artisans with whom the foundation works to carry out an empowerment workshop. I was very excited because this was my first approach to the Wayúu community. I loved knowing their ways of seeing the world, understanding the dynamics in which they live and understand that the rhythm of life is totally different from ours.
During this space we did a meditation exercise, it was a totally new activity for most of them and it was very gratifying to see how they became aware of the present and felt the calm that meditation brings. That although we are from two different cultures and we have a different rhythm of life, meditation is a practice that brings us benefits to all.
Our mission
The next day was one of the most exciting of the week because I first went to one of the communities, we were in Jaririmana, which is located very close to Riohacha. I was happy, because his reception was very friendly and cordial. I loved seeing the union within the women of the community, the desire they have to learn, of being part of the foundation and continuing to weaving quality backpacks full of love.
That day in the middle of the sand mists that arrived and interrupted the quality workshop we were doing we managed to raise awareness of the importance that is for us as a sacred thread, promote education and that this can transform communities in a good way.
Then we went to Uyaraip to share a quality workshop. This is a community that is in the middle of the desert. It is a beautiful community, full of joy, an indescribable tranquility is breathed. It was beautiful to see the union between them, their willingness to learn and for the first time I felt lost when they speak in Wayuunaiki but I understood that a smile is the universal language.
That afternoon the kits finally arrived. Then we leave everything ready and the next day we get up early to Suruekat, the biggest community with which the Foundation works. We share the quality workshop of the backpacks and deliver the kits. It was exciting to be part of the change and gratifying to see how they appreciate and value each contribution that we can provide. Likewise, being able to transmit that message of empowerment, the importance and value of the work of each artisan. And above all to emphasize the importance of education in the development of communities.
The next day was the activity in the Los Cabritos community. That this time it was the most special community for me because it opened the doors to stay. Amalfi The leader of this community is the best host I have had. She together with her family made me feel at home, part of the family. I love the family union in the communities, which meet in their chinchorros to share their day. This made me reflect on the importance of this family union and what we have lost in the big cities for the great hustle.
Here we also distribute the school kits, again all super grateful. But we also begin the socialization of a super project with Moringa, which full of happiness to many families, since this will have children's health and food benefits.
The last day we were getting up at the last community that we needed to visit Urachikat again received us with open arms and showed us their commitment to the Foundation later we returned to Jarijirimana and Uyaraip to deliver the school kits which filled us with joy to see all these children receiving the kits.
Weaving stories
This experience that Sacred thread gave me was really nutritious to me. It is a gain-great approach where we realize that we all have something to learn from the other. Sacred thread is an ally of communities so that they can fulfill their goals and dreams.
