Community

“The sense of community is the most essential element in building a better world.”

“Community is not just about being together; it's about doing life together.”

“A strong community is a place of joy and belonging.”

“The community is the gathering place where people connect, build relationships, and support each other.”

Lately I have been thinking about the gift of community and what that means for me as an individual and how my life has been enriched by the community I am planted in. Not only have I been thinking about community but have also been thinking about ways I can engage with the community I am a part of in a way that benefits those around me.

During the month of December, I had this idea of creating a space within our space at Imbali and invite young Artisans in the community to come and set tables  up and sell their products to the wider community. Initially I did not have a clear idea of what that would look like or how to go about, but as I shared with some friends in the community, the idea became clearer and people got excited. So , we had our first ever Christmas Bazaar in the space we have and during that time my relationship with the women who participated was strengthened and many times we would talk and laugh and then the community would come as individuals or as families and stop by at our tables and that increased the sense of truly belonging. From that simple idea came the idea of wanting to do more events like that to bring the community together and provide an outlet for people to engage with each other and the community at large. We did experience some challenges but together we stood hand in hand and overcame and now we are talking about more bazaars  and workshops in 2026.

Now workshops are something we have always wanted to provide but never really set down to think of making them an integral part of the work here. As I have reflected on wanting to grow and expand I do believe that offering workshops to the community will strengthen our desire to truly belong to the community and give back to the community that has been so welcoming to me and the work I do.

I do believe that the workshops we will offer this year are key to staying together as a community because during a workshop people will share life and ideas and people will walk away enriched through a skill learned and through the people around them.

So ,I would like to invite you to pray with me that these workshops will truly serve the community because that is what I am here for. The community of Lavrio has  been very gracious to me and have made me feel and know that I am welcomed and loved. I want to give back to the community. I desire to strengthen relationships that already exist and pave the way for new relationships.

I will be offering workhops in:

• Sewing

• Weaving

I will have my friends offer workshops in Jewelery making, candle making and other things we will think of as move forward.

These workshops will be for both adults and children and some will be short-term and others will be for longer periods of time. Workshops will be offered in both individual and group settings.

For more information on our workshops click here

I am excited to be on this journey with each of you who is praying and have stopped by to purchase products and those who will come by soon.

Have a great and fruitful 2026.

Cecilia Sakatira