Day 39

June 12

Well, today is a new day. The sun has chosen to shine. It was a small
victory. I arrived at joy bringers for our second session at about
ten. I was at first discoureged by the numbers. There were about five
people in the room, all looking for answers and excuses for the
attendance. They didn't need them. I'm not sure how me teaching 35
people in a ten by 12 room would go over anyhow. I inquired about the
assignment I gave yesterday. I asked each member to think about three
new products and three local materials.

I honestly gave this not expecting great things. I simply wanted them
to think. However, I managed to get some mind blowing responces such
as 'we could make Vaseline.' unexpected signs of life in seemingly
idle minds. But it was the very first volunteer who gave the most
compelling thought. Tin lamps. They are a local favorite among the
industrious with little means. They typically are made from assorted
tin cans and soldered to make something that resembles a very small
lantern. They are then filled with some flamable fluid and then given
a wick that sticks out of the top. A 20ks item that is pricesless in a
slum with no power.

I entertained the idea and asked if people have them locally
available. That turned out to be a dumb question. I was escorted 2
blocks south where there is something of a slum industrial paradise.
There are people making something from nothing in all directions. As
someone who values and respects objects and the production of them, I
was quite moved.

We followed the trail of tin lamp stands asking where they were
getting them. We were led to a string of shacks with men working
diligantly outside. It was clear that they were the main tin lamp
producers in the area.

I introduced myself and asked if my group could observe. Situations
like this can be a real gamble at times. People with nothing to lose
can be quick to act. Quite on the contrary, these guys were very
excited and happy to show off the skills they've honed. They walked us
through the entire process from getting the cans to the finer points
of low tech soldering. Their methods made me feel extra spoiled by my
western conviences. These guys were soldering with what looked like
small hatchets with corncob handles. They let them sit in a charcoal
burner and then use them to scoop up bits of solder from a stone with
a small pit. They had even devised a way to make their own flux and
shared their recipie.

They let all of us try to make our own, giving us guidence along the
way. They were the teachers today. It made me realize how valuable the
local knowledge can be. A title of facilitator might have been more
suiting for me. I just brought the right people together. Either way,
we all learned a lot. It was another 'real' moment in my trip. Not
many people get an experience like that, ever.

I had to force some small money onto the workers as we left. They gave
us too much for me to just walk away. They also gave us a bag full of
cans to get started. These are not people with much. They work for
weeks to get as much as we would quickly pay for a cup of coffee.

I've had my moments where I've been quick to judge the intentions of
some locals. Today I was proved 100% wrong. If I hadn't let my gaurd
down for just a second, I ( and my class ) would have been at square
one. I feel like I'm ready to go at these things!

We are, of course, not intending to actually make containers for
flamable liquid and open flames. The plan is to take the method and
make travel candles. I think they are going to be sweet! I haven't
seen one but I already want it.

Now that you've heard the story, i bet you do too.

-cheers