Week two is officially in the books, and Mexico City is feeling less like somewhere I'm visiting and more like somewhere I'm living. With the excitement of arriving behind us, this week has been all about finding a routine, settling into the rhythm of our work with Las Sabinas, and continuing to explore the city. From meetings and discussions with the full Make_Sense central project cohort in the shared workspace (the "Impact Hub") on project management, design thinking, and intercultural leadership to brainstorming in the Las Sabinas office, I have been learning so much about leadership, project design, and Mexico more broadly.
More specifically, the five of us working with Las Sabinas have spent this week developing the educational resources we'll be creating over the coming weeks. Our focus is on designing a series of interactive puppets and accompanying games that use anthropomorphic storytelling to help children engage with complex topics in an accessible way. Through the puppets, their stories, and different activities, we hope to teach concepts such as body autonomy, healthy boundaries, emotional expression, agency, and identifying trusted support systems, giving children practical tools while creating a safe space for conversation.
This week, we also had the chance to meet the incredible volunteers who will be working alongside us throughout the project. It was so inspiring to meet people from such different backgrounds and walks of life, all dedicating their time and skills to supporting Las Sabinas' mission. I'm looking forward to learning from their perspectives and leading a collaborative and creative team to make a meaningful impact together.
Beyond the work, my favorite memory from this week has been trying chilaquiles, a traditional Mexican breakfast dish made with tortilla chips, salsa, and various toppings. It's safe to say I now understand the hype and am sure it will become a staple for my time here. See the photo below and more to come next week!