Holistic Healing Through Employment
Have you ever seen a plate spinner, at the circus or on TV? You know, the person who sets up several thin wobbly poles and sets a top china plates a spinning? Going from one wobbly pole to the next, starting to spin plates, letting centrifugal force do its thing, while then rushing around from plate to plate to continue to nudge the plates to stay in motion. It's mesmerizing and magical to watch. How does not a single plate come crashing to the floor? How can the spinner move with such grace and coordination? Surly when they were starting their career there were more shards than platters at the end of a practice session.
I feel a bit like a plate spinner these days. The cafe space is one plate spinning at Lamprini. Another one is our six-month holistic training program, for which we just launched our fourth cohort. Tackling big problems like extreme poverty, exploitation, and limited educational opportunities takes a variety of strategies. Creating a social enterprise is one aspect, but how many women can one business sustain? In conjunction with our social enterprise, we also have a hand-in-hand training program in which women are trained and equipped with not only the practice baking and kitchen skills needed for a job, but also math, english, and life skills to help them grow and thrive as individuals. Upon completion of the program we work with partner cafes around the city to help the women get jobs in safe and positive work environments.
When I think about the community where we work, where tens of thousands of women are held down by circumstances, culture, and powers outside their control it can be an overwhelming burden. I’m often in two minds - On one side I think how can we effect lasting change when the problem is so far-reaching? On the other - I see the faces of individuals who are being impacted; I hear before and after stories and know the power of good is fighting against the power of evil. I am reminded the fight is worth it, and one business can not engage in the fight alone; we are stronger together. This is why we delight in partnering with a variety of businesses and individuals to effect lasting change and fight evil, from different directions.
Our current cohort has three women embarking on a brave opportunity to try something new! Trusting strangers, even though strangers have hurt them in the past. The women will be stretched and challenged, and they will grow and change and have stories to tell their friends and family. And as experience has shown, they will be surprised at all they are capable of, and feel empowered that they can earn a living to support their family.
Join us as we celebrate the three women on their journey, and also celebrate the Ladies of Lamprini as we walk alongside them as they go.
