During one of my teaching trip with Alliance Francaise in Perú, and teaching my recycling art program around Perú, I get to meet many people. One of them who stood out was a little girl named Carmela. I conducted a workshop in one of the malls of Trujillo, the third city of Perú. People were lining up for the class which I was so happy to teach because the towns
people were all so eager to learn. I had a full house with fifty people taking the class and hundreds more lined up waiting for their turn to take the class.
At the time we were organizing the workshop the 9 years old Carmela who was following me tugging at my shirt, asked me if she can make a doll. I said yes certainly, you can make a doll. She explained to me that she wanted to search the mall for plastic plates, cup, bottles, spoons, forks, paper and magazine but she just wanted to be sure that I could keep a table for her. It was not easy but I did it. She returned with a large bag with all those materials washed and dried and sat in her table and she began to work with total focus and convection. She started to create the most incredible doll out of recycled materials. Her eagle eye focus to detail was impressive and the way she meticulously cut, glued and worked with recycled materials was like watching Michelangelo or any famous sculptor working. She was cutting and shaping the hair out of yarns and making her dress reminded me of haute couture dressmaker. Her attention to details was amazing to watch. After 2 hours her doll was completed and it took my breath away it was 3 feet tall with a full skirt, blouse, arms, hat and hair all made from the recycled material she collected at the mall. She proudly displayed her doll to me and I jokingly said, so is that my doll now which she didn't hesitate to say "no she's mine". This little girl walked with her head held high like a model in a fashion show parading her doll around the mall.