El Campo continued.

Our second meeting for the day was in the Village of Toliman.  This puebla is very impressive, the cobbled streets are neat and tidy, and the buildings freshly painted.  The puebla gives the impression of a community that takes great pride in their town.  This afternoons meeting is with a small group of women who have a small sewing business.  The purpose of the meeting is to help the women turn the business into a profit making organisation. 

We are welcomed into the small factory which is a semi covered area attached to one of the lady's houses.  There are a number of industrial sewing machines and all the fittings that go with a business that produces clothing. 

 Marco sets up the sheets of butchers paper on the wall ready to record the business of the meeting.  (This is the system of "White Board" that is used at all the meetings.)  All the points and instructions are written on Butchers paper.  After the meeting these are folded up and filed, with dates and places for future reference).  An interesting and practical form of record and minute keeping, which on reflection is the same as the electronic white boards that we use in our meeting rooms at home. 

  

The main theme of the meeting was to show the women how to estimate the cost of producing a garment.  A cost that included hours of work, electricity, wear and tear on machinery etc.  It was very interesting, as this was a new concept to them.  It has been very interesting to observe the way the two consultants from CAMPO present their capacity building programs to the women of the area and to watch how the women take on the new information and use it to improve their business.

Then of course after the meeting we were provided with an evening meal.  Another huge bowl of soup with meat and corn.  Yes I think we went close to eating dos vacas that day.  I could not finish my bowl.