Week 4! This week, our team at Las Sabinas reached a major milestone on the educational materials we're creating, and we finished building out puppets! All the designing, sewing, and patching has been worth it to see Arlo (my puppet) come to life.

To go alongside the physical puppets, we have developed unique 'character profiles' for each animal to help guide our workshops. Each physical element of the puppets, as well as their personalities, has been created intentionally to teach different lessons. Specifically, Arlo is a curious armadillo and the group's science teacher, and uses the tough shell of an armadillo to teach children about healthy boundaries, body autonomy, and emotional expression. Additionally, Arlo has patches along their shell that represent curiosity, self-discovery, and compassion, while others pay tribute to the U.S. women's suffrage movement and the long history of women advocating for equality around the world. Together, these details hope to encourage children to ask questions and stand up for themselves and others. I can't wait to see all the puppets in action with the children in the coming weeks. See Arlo below! 

AND, as promised, here's an update vlog from our weekend trip to Puebla! While I was there for less than 24 hours, Puebla was the perfect opportunity to recharge before returning to work in Mexico City. Walking through the colorful historic center, watching bread-making, and visiting the beautiful churches for a day reminded me how diverse Mexico is, even just a couple of hours outside the capital. See the (very short) video, and enjoy a glimpse of beautiful Puebla!