Last week, a student reached out to me to ask if I was open to being a resource person for their school project called, ArtiSoul. This is a Service-Learning Project in partnership with CCP and their community partner, REKASAKA, a group that advocates for women's rights and gender equality.
Even before learning about the story behind ArtiSoul, my answer was already a yes, since one of my personal goals as an artist-educator is to reach as many communities/groups of people as possible and share what I know about crocheting, art, sustainability, and other aspects in between. Then when I learned about the depth of the project, this whole thing became more meaningful for me.
Aside from being able to talk about what I am passionate about, it was also a good opportunity to hear stories from people I don't interact with regularly. I got see a portion of their lives even for a bit.
The students-- Upon conversing with ArtiSoul's leader, I found out that they had a hard time looking for a resource person. "What would have happened if you didn't find me?" I asked. "We would probably fail this class," she answered. I didn't know how else to feel that time but be grateful we got to connect kahit medyo last minute na. Let's say, it was meant to be. It was nice being surrounded by College Students for a few hours. I saw how they juggled tasks and how each took part in making their project successful. For a moment, it reminded me of my College days too.
REKASAKA members-- Our nanays/ tatays/ titas/ titos who joined were a joy to talk to. Although it took some of them longer time to warm up, I was happy when I got to make the room laugh. A shared laughter never fails to make the vibe of the group a lot lighter and warmer. It was also nice to see how most of them were eager to learn/relearn to crochet despite the challenges with their eyesight and fine motor muscles. Proof that there is no age limit when it comes to learning, if we really want to learn.
I am grateful and happy the universe found a way for me to cross paths with the ArtiSoul Team.
❤
