The barn is filled with the sounds of tools at work, grinding and hammering. On the walls hang posters; one is a copy of the famous World War II poster, “We Can Do It.” Rosie the Riveter, her bicep bulging with hard muscle, watches as her twenty-first century descendants experience a day in a woodworker’s trade. Other items adorn the walls: photos of previous classes, along with samples of handiwork, including tables, cabinets, and bird houses. Overall, it is pretty clean for a workshop, but amidst the noise and sawdust, there is much focus and concentration.
Welcome to the woodshop of Girls at Work, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization located in New Hampshire that empowers girls and women by teaching the art of woodworking, and founded by Elaine Hamel. There are 10 girls from the Exeter Teen Outlook Center in today’s class, some wearing jeans, other in capris; all are focused on today’s project: building shelves. In fully equipped workstations, each girl is carefully taking measurements-twice-before cutting. While keeping a watchful eye on everyone, Elaine still gives her full attention to each girl.