Lady Dianna »

Today was we had a braiding test and the ladies were so nervous. They came in focused and ready to go.

We had the girls go up in groups of 4 and they were graded on speed, accuracy, overall apperance, and attitude. So, many girls made up for their speed with a great attitude. They didn’t give up and even started over if they felt the style wasn’t up to par.

The best part (and the worst part) was keeping the rest of the class quiet while the team that was up was testing. The other ladies were trying to help them knowing we couldn’t understand what they were saying. Luckily, we have the best 2 translators ever who ratted them out and told us they were helping them. As much as we needed to be the authoritative figures and tell them not to cheat, it was so wonderful to see them cheer each other on. They truly want to see their sisters and friends succeed.

After the scores were tallied, 1 girl scored 19 out of 2o, and 4 girls scored 18 out of 20. The rest have more practice to do, but they all know and understand that practice makes perfect. The winner each received a paddle brush and everyone received a comb donated from hair hookups for their hard work. By completing all their tests and quizzes, they will be able to begin building their kits to do hair on their own. We have lots more to treat the girls to to help them move along in their new career.

Tomorrow, the girls will be extra excited to receive the surprise after their pop quiz…

One of our translators, Michel, even wanted to compete!!

In other news, Melissa and I got to see two of our faves from the last course we taught in Brazil in  the fall of 2011. Elisama and Michely inspired each of us in different ways. They are both resiliant women with knowledge beyond their years. Melissa and I are so thankful that they are in our lives. Their stories have even inspired our friends and familes back at home. A friend of mine, Carley, was so moved by Elisama’s story that she painted her a portrait and googled translated a message to her. Elisama was so overwhelmed and thankful that someone on the other side of the world was touched by her.

Eu ti amo meninas…

I am ecstatic to be back in Brazil! This is the second beauty school project in Rio I have been a part of with The Trade and I’m so totally excited to meet the girls we will be training.

I landed in Rio at 6am and I was so nervous to go through customs… Of course I worked myself all up and they just waved me through. Customs let me right through with 8 flatirons in my suitcases. Success! I couldn’t wait to eat, have my first açai, and meet the girls that Maria, Melissa, and Jilee have been working with for the past week. They set up the school, did inventory of all the tools and products, and began the course. All of this in 90` weather with 90% humidity. Basically, all the super hard work!! They got in a week and a half before me and have filled me in on how hard working this group of girls is. One woman in the course who lives on the other side of the community has a daughter in school. Her bus comes to get her 30 minutes before class starts. As soon as the bus comes to get her daughter, she runs as fast as she can so she won’t be late to school. By the way, she is 6 months pregnant!

Raquel, our Brazilian mommy, was so concerned that I needed sleep and all I wanted to do was get to school! We all got into the community and I was eager to see our past students and friends we had made from before. We ran into so many familair faces along the walk and I felt right at home again! (Don’t worry, Grandma, I promise I’ll come home!) As we set up for the day at school, slowly the students began coming in. Since Maria, Melissa, and Jilee have already gotten to know the girls, they are already taking bets in which student will be my fave! Not that we have faves or anything…

Maria taught haircutting the week before, so today we jumped right into updos. I showed them a few styling techniques and they were off and running. They went straight over to their doll heads and tried all the techniques I showed them. How incredible to see their desire for knowledge.

After updos, Maria taught blow drying and round brushing. In the horrible heat and terrible humidity. Again, Maria is doing all the hard work! Even in this heat the girls have not complained once! Its us whimpy Americans who are hating the heat.

This next month here in Brazil is going to be amazing. I can already tell…

 

Beauty school with the Bits begins again! This time on my birthday!

Once again, I have the privilege of sharing knowledge with 20 ladies at 31 Bits. Today, we learned about chemical relaxing. On the grass they sat as I relaxed Agnes’s hair, one of the jewelry makers. When I learned her name, I told her Agnes was my grandmother’s name. After that all the women called her Grandma for the rest of the day!

As the class went on, their curiosity and interest peaked. It was so beautiful to me. The questions going back and forth from English to Luo, their native language, it was clear that they have a yearning for knowledge.

Knowing that running water is one of the few luxuries of Africa, we did what we could with what we had. That means we rinsed her hair with buckets of water. Four buckets to be exact. Janet poured the water while I took the relaxer out of her hair as Pamela and Jackie caught the water in an empty bucket below her head. It was a sight to see. Teamwork at its best!

Not once did I miss having a shampoo sink with warm running water with water pressure. Being able to be with these ladies teaching them how they will do hair in their own element was such an indescribable experience. Having them pay such close attention to every detail of my lecture was so much more rewarding than teaching on any platform in the States. They valued everything I said. They were grateful just to have knowledge.

In the 2 days I taught in Uganda, I learned so much about a culture of women I never thought I would meet. I have done hair for the seasonal catalogs and fashion shoots for 31 Bits in America for the past year and only heard about these incredible hardworking women. To have, not only the opportunity to meet them, but also to really get to know them and hear about their lives has been life-changing for me. Seeing such undeniable strength and diligence in women who have seen the world at its darkest is so inspirational.

Thank you, Kallie, for your vision and passion to help to lost, the hurting, and the suffering. These ladies have looked to you for so much support and you have given them so much more. You have empowered them to stand on their own. Independent. Strong. Courageous.

As we leave Uganda tomorrow, I am feeling more than ever like there is more work to do. I would love to come back here and continue the education of the lovely ladies. They are so determined. They are all so willing to learn. They all want so badly to be successful. And I want so badly for them to succeed!

In Kisses From Katie (a book that I think everybody should read!), Katie Davis talks about her life in the red dirt in Uganda. She says that everyday her life in Uganda has been filled with unforgettable experiences. Every day she has been there she experiences something heart-breaking, yet she has such a sense of fulfillment and purpose. In my 5 days there, I have a small understanding of how she feels. I know I am here to help women provide for their children in dignified way. I know that I am to make people aware about the injustices of this world. Whether they care or not, now they know. But, for me, knowing is not an action. I hope and pray that my friends and family and anyone else I meet at home understand that.

These ladies here in Uganda have been so welcoming to us. We have enjoyed every second of our time here at 31 Bits. Kaylie and I have had so much fun getting to know them and learning to roll paper beads. As it turns out, I am great at it. But Kaylie needs a little more practice!

At 31 Bits, everyday is “Bring Your Kids To Work” day! It is wonderful to see these precious little children laugh and play. When their mommies came to work here, many of them where malnourished and very sick. One of these cuties is named Gifty. That’s right, Gifty! And she is a gift. When her mother came to work at 31 Bits, she was a little less than a year old and was the size of a newborn. Now, she is a year and a half, walking, and very healthy. This is the case for almost all of the children here.

31 Bits has a chef who comes everyday and provides lunch for the ladies and their children. They are so appreciative that they can bring their children to work and feed them as well. So appreciative in fact, that some of these women have even named their children after the Americans who work with them. There are 3 Emilys and 1 Kallie running around the yard at 31 Bits!

In America children are named after relatives and people who have made a positive impact on our parents lives. What a honor to be named after someone who impacted their mother’s life in such a positive way. Emily and Kallie are not very popular names in Uganda. How incredible that years from now when these little girls are asked by their classmates and friends how they got their name they’ll be able to say a woman came from a place that is 10,000 miles away to give their family a chance at freedom and hope.

This is Kallie….

Her mother named after Kallie, the founder of 31 Bits. She is a beautiful little girl filled with so much joy, just like Kallie!