Today marked the conclusion of our weeklong community skills training in Quezon City. Our instructors Doreen Cannon and Kristine Byers developed the curriculum and provided instruction around basic plumbing and carpentry skills.

The other delegates provided support during the hands-on learning experience. 

Over the past few days, participants built a bathroom shelf with a towel rack as a way to practice what they learned. These ladies demonstrated measuring and marking skills. They were able to practice cutting, clamping, layout, alignment, fastening and use of basic hand tools.

The towel rack on the bottom of the project provided them with an opportunity to practice finding pitch on pipes, using nuts and bolts, as well as working with threaded pipe connections.

Students also painted their projects and created crafts using scrap wood.

We finished the training with a group reflection. Many of the ladies expressed excitement about what they learned, and a boost to their self-confidence. 

We finished the training with a graduation ceremony and celebration. Next week the delegates will be shifting from teacher to student as we begin to learn about the community and gain organizing skills.