Project Description
Title: Stop deforestation and Venture into Art Paper Technology
Development Objective: Get wood carving artists involved in the production of Art Paper Technology so they can support themselves by producing and selling art without cutting down trees.
Immediate Objective: Create awareness that art can be made from plant leaves, waste paper, and waste flour as an alternative to wood carving which requires the harvesting of trees which are already scarce.
Background
Wood carvings are sold to tourists throughout Malawi and some are exported to other countries for sale. The production and sale of wood carvings is an important source of income for many Malawians who would otherwise be jobless, however, the production of wood carvings requires the harvesting of trees, and currently no trees are being planted to replace those that are harvested.
Project Particulars
Over the course of the last fifteen years, we have produced sculptures and paintings, and we once sold in large quantity. we used the income generated from our sale to pilot a training at Traditional Authority Mlumbe in the district of Zomba. We proved that there is a possibility that local wood-carving artists and Charcoal burners can venture into the production of Artworks made from waste papers and dead plant leaves by training ten wood carving artists and five Charcoal bakers in 2007. For more information about how our technology has improved the livelihood of local wood carving artists and Charcoal bakers please contact the following people:
1. Mr. Stephen J. Carr (British Environmentalist and Chairman of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM)) Private Bag 5, Zomba, Malawi. Tel: (265) 152-4895 Email: [email protected]
2. Mr. S. Gondwe (District Environmental Officer) Cell: (265) 0999244802
3. Mr. A. Mitawa (The District Forestry Officer) Cell: (265) 099971-4637
In 2008, we also taught 20 Malawian secondary school students how to produce Artworks made from waste papers and dead plant leaves.
How You Can Get Involved
We would like to take this project countrywide in Malawi. You can help us by buying or advertising our art works, providing us with contacts to expand our project, or by donating money for workshops. You can contact us at [email protected]
CELL: 0996156292