A working day at WSS- Mauro
What does a work day look like
As a workshop facilitator, my day usually starts early in the morning at the WSS office, where I prepare all the necessary materials for the day's woodworking and painting workshops. This involves preparing the colors (die Farben) and filling the jars (die Gläser), cutting and sanding the wood (das Holz) into appropriate sizes for the participants to practice on, and gathering all the necessary tools and supplies, such as pencils (die Bleistifte) and chisels (die Stechbeitel).
Once everything is prepared, I load the materials onto the truck (der Lastwagen) that we use to transport them to the schools where the workshops will take place. This can be a bit of a process, as I need to ensure that everything is securely packed and organized in a way that makes it easy to unload and set up once we arrive. Once we arrive at the school, I work with the other facilitators to unload the materials and set up the workshop space. This involves arranging tables (die Tische) and chairs (die Stühle), laying out the tools and supplies, and getting everything ready for the participants to start working.
During the workshop, I provide guidance and support to the participants as they work on their projects. For the woodworking workshop, this might involve demonstrating carving techniques (die Schnitztechniken), guidance and support to the participants as they work on their projects. In the woodworking workshop, participants will learn how to construct and assemble various wooden pieces, including chairs, tables, and benches. They will also learn how to use different tools such as chisels (die Stechbeitel), saws (die Sägen), and hammers (die Hämmer) to shape and carve the wood into intricate designs. For those interested in creating outdoor games and playground equipment, we offer a workshop on building swings, slides, and other fun structures using wood, stone and concrete.
During this workshop, participants will learn how to measure and cut wood pieces to the appropriate length and shape, as well as how to sand and smooth the surface of the wood to ensure safety and comfort. Finally, for those interested in sculpture, we make workshops on wood carving (die Holzschnitzerei) , stone and other materials, where participants will learn the fundamentals of creating sculptures .They will learn how to use different carving techniques to bring their designs to life, and will also learn how to finish and polish the final product to showcase its beauty.
For the painting workshop, I might demonstrate different techniques for applying oil-based paints (die Ölfarben) and help participants mix colors to achieve the desired shades. This could include showing them how to apply oil-based stains (die Ölbeize) or water-based finishes (die Lacke), and helping them mix colors to achieve the desired shade. I might also demonstrate different techniques for distressing or aging the wood to give it a rustic or antique look (die Holzalterung and for mixing colors where it is important to use high-quality oil-based pigments (hochwertige Ölfarbpigmente) and mix them thoroughly to achieve the desired shade. To lighten a color, you can add white pigment (weißer Pigment) or mix in a lighter color. To darken a color, you can add black pigment (schwarzer Pigment) or mix in a darker color. It is important to clean brushes and other painting tools after use to prevent them from becoming damaged or clogged with paint.
At the end of the workshop, I work with the other facilitators to clean up the space and pack everything back onto the truck. This includes cleaning all the tools and supplies with a solution of turpentine (Verdünner) and making sure that all the materials are securely packed for transport back to the office. Back at the office, I unload everything from the truck and begin the process of cleaning and organizing all the tools and supplies for the next workshop. This involves carefully washing and drying brushes (die Pinsel) and other tools, disposing of any leftover paints or solvents (Verdünner) , and restocking any materials that were used up during the day.
Overall, my work at WSS is incredibly rewarding. I enojoy to be able to help young people learn new skills and express their creativity through woodworking and painting. And while the work can be challenging at times, especially when it comes to organizing and transporting materials, it's always worth it when I see the sense of accomplishment and pride on the faces of the participants as they complete their projects.
