Sep 01, 2011

EES NandoPeretti 2010-2013: Batwa Activities August 2011


 

As part of the ongoing project ‘Earth, Exploitation and Survival; dimensions of indigenous identities’ a 3 day workshop on bamboo making and art and craft creation was held in August 2011, with the aim of equipping the Batwa with the skills to transmit their knowledge to others.

Objective and Participants    

This training equipped the participants with the necessary skills to allow the expanded implementation of planned bamboo husbandry and craft making activities, aimed at improving the daily life of Rwandan people.

Training materials were prepared ahead of time, and focused on the following topics:

- Training of trainers

- Elementary accounting

- Art and craft activities

- Alphabetization

 

Methodology 

The participative approaches characterized by interactive methods, case studies and exchange of best practices were used throughout this training. The training was delivered over the course of 3 days. During the first 2 days, the training concentrated on the pre-prepared training material, while one additional day concentrated on in-depth participatory training with practical exercises.


Bamboo as alternative

Bamboo promises good opportunities for restoring degraded landscapes and improving soil quality. Planting bamboo for reforestation and conservation also promotes the ecological nature to sustain soil. Its roots can hold up topsoil saving soil erosion. The bamboo rhizomes will anchor topsoil. Its leaves and fallen culms decompose and create thick humus layer that enriches the soil. This in turn increases food production, provides causal work, and mitigates other environmental risks for poverty reduction initiatives. Bamboo is a dependable source of income, as it can be used to manufacture baskets and other furniture.

 

Bamboo is very environmentally friendly; on a hectare land, bamboo can absorb as much as 12 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide, thereby aiding in the fight against global warming. Rural Stakeholders can be part of the solution for climate change. The bamboo addresses the resiliency initiatives of climate change “adaptation, mitigation, technology and financial incomes.” The bamboo would address these risks of climate change through reforestation, mobilization and public awareness. The idea is to employ greater policy attention to accelerate the up-take of existing green technologies and practices to encourage efficiency and market–based production. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation into all relevant areas of public policies is a priority if MDGs are to be achieved.

 

Art and crafts

The facilitator introduced bamboo ornaments and crafts stages of production and materials. The training began with the instructor showing the necessary equipment and materials to be applied in the making of different items made in bamboo.

 

While giving more explanation on how earrings are made, the participants were shown how to start production process. In this session trainees were allowed to ask questions, and they also participated directly in demonstrations of what they know about bamboo and its by-products. This allowed the trainer to determine in which area he needed to put more emphasis.

 

The final workshop focussed on providing participants basic business accounting skills.