I started my LIA in a meeting room with 17 other scholars, all of who had signed up to do a Central LIA project with the organization Make_Sense in Mexico City, Mexico. Make_Sense is a global organization that partners with NGOs to design social and environmental impact programs. These programs aim to foster collaboration and solidarity with the communities they work with. Make_Sense connected all of us with local NGOs across Mexico City to work on social impact projects that expand their programming.
Stepping into the first meeting with all of the other scholars felt like the first day of school. We went through introductions, icebreakers, and spent a long time trying to get our SIM cards to work on our phones. Most people did not know each other, and our projects still felt abstract; it was hard to imagine what the next 6 weeks would look like. However, by the end of the day, and after a really great lunch at a local taco spot, I felt energized and excited to get started. We went over the general schedule, principles of project-based learning, and prepared for our first meeting with our partner organization.
For the next 6 weeks, myself and a team of four others (shoutout Claudia, Ali, Evie, and Ruby!) will work with Las Sabinas, an organization that seeks to provide support and aid to girls, adolescents, women, and gender and sexual dissidents who have experienced sexual violence. The name comes from the myth of the 30 Sabine women who were kidnapped, exploited, and forced to marry their captors, but who later forged peace and a society free of violence. This myth represents breaking cycles and the process of becoming an agent of justice.
Las Sabinas embodies resistance, bravery, and radical joy. On my second day in CDMX, I got to meet with the Las Sabinas team, and they reviewed their organization, mission, programs, and the harsh reality of sexual violence in Mexico. 7 in 10 women experience sexual violence in their lifetimes in Mexico, and of that, over 70% are under 30 years old. Violence against women, children, and sexual minorities is a violation of human rights and is part of a cycle of violence that Las Sabinas seeks to disrupt. I was moved during my first meeting with Pam and Claud, two staff members at Las Sabinas who talked with the rest of the team and me. During this meeting, they also explained the concept of "doulas." No, this is not doula in the medical sense. In this context, a doula is someone who has faced violence themselves and chooses to give back to the Las Sabinas community. Many of those involved in the organization are doulas and call themselves Sabinas. At the end of the meeting, Pam told us, "You can call yourselves Sabinas now, too." It was powerful to hear their words and the impact of their work across Mexico City and across the country.
For my project specifically, I will work with them to expand their educational work with children. Over the past year, they have begun using puppets to teach children about topics such as consent, autonomy, and healthy relationships. For my project, the rest of the team and I will create 5 puppets, a portable stage, and games for Las Sabinas to utilize in schools to teach young children these topics in an accessible manner. As someone interested in psychology and education, I am extremely excited for this project. Often, psychology internships entail research and lab work. Thus, I cannot wait to work in a community-based context and collaborate with and contribute to an organization that is doing essential work.
Outside of my project, I am excited to continue exploring the city and learn more about Mexican culture! I've already begun exploring different neighborhoods, bonding with my cohort, trying really amazing food, and asking locals for recommendations of where to go.
Until next week,
Mara