Wednesday 5 April
Started my framing workshops today. The first group were from the same family in Thalapitiya; keen but amateurish. They could do the work, to an adequate standard only, but it would just be a one-off venture for them and I couldn’t see them developing it as a business. It would be very sad if the equipment was just left to rust.
Tomorrow I’m seeing my big hope, Rifideen BA from Katugoda.
Friday 7 April
Big day today – I’ve appointed my framer and got a commitment from PG06 to buy the first 200 frames from us. We have to get them completed within 3 weeks and provided we comply, and they are happy with the product, we then get the next 200 and so on up to 1,000.
The deal is I provide the equipment to my framer and free issue the materials
to him. PG06 then pay him SRs. 75 per completed frame ( £90 for 200, £450 for 1,000), which is serious earnings for him and his team (as well as learning a new trade) and PG06 save SRs. 85 (160-75) per frame (£100 for 200, £500 per 1,000). I don’t think our funds will cover the cost of materials for all 1,00 frames; we’ll see how far it stretches.
I’m therefore happy that the equipment and cash donated are being put to good use – we are helping a family/business, seriously affected by the tsunami, get back on their feet and at the same time reducing PG06’s costs for the photographic enhancement project. If it all works out as planned I will be very pleased.
Rifideen BA came up trumps and I have every confidence he will use the training and equipment to develop his business in the future.
His is a jewellery box making business that before the tsunami earned him a reasonable living and he employed four others. He is a Moslem, married with two young girls (4 and 6 ish). One is in the second grade and the young one goes to a Montessori School. Their house was destroyed in the tsunami and they lost family members as well as the business. They have received no help from anyone save for £100 from PG05 to buy materials to help restart the business. They are currently rebuilding a permanent house, on the edge of an IDP camp in a very poor Moslem area, with a loan from the bank and earnings as they are achieved, so progress is slow. Rifideen works in a shack tagged on to his unfinished house. The railway line is literally 10 yards from the front door so it’s a lively spot.
The quality of his jewellery boxes is exceptional – comparable to the bracelet/necklace/ring boxes etc. we buy our jewellery in, in England. He delivers pan-Sri Lanka so must spend an awful lot of time travelling. His English is very limited but his wife speaks enough for us to just about get by.
I’m setting him up with all equipment and first batch of materials this coming Monday. Thereafter I’ll visit him every day to keep my eyes on things although I also still have my park project to look after of course.
After a promising start the park project is wavering a bit; mainly (so I’m told) because my trees have to dry out now they’ve been cut. Now I understand that, but so did they when they signed the contract. Mind you, having your own trees is a darn sight more interesting than buying a few lengths of twisted spruce from Wickes and Homebase! The finish to make the concrete columns look like tree trunks is really quite good, so a reasonable compromise has been achieved. The guys who did it are chewing beetle-nut juice all the time so that must be the secret behind their talent.
Started my framing workshops today. The first group were from the same family in Thalapitiya; keen but amateurish. They could do the work, to an adequate standard only, but it would just be a one-off venture for them and I couldn’t see them developing it as a business. It would be very sad if the equipment was just left to rust.
Tomorrow I’m seeing my big hope, Rifideen BA from Katugoda.
Friday 7 April
Big day today – I’ve appointed my framer and got a commitment from PG06 to buy the first 200 frames from us. We have to get them completed within 3 weeks and provided we comply, and they are happy with the product, we then get the next 200 and so on up to 1,000.
The deal is I provide the equipment to my framer and free issue the materials
to him. PG06 then pay him SRs. 75 per completed frame ( £90 for 200, £450 for 1,000), which is serious earnings for him and his team (as well as learning a new trade) and PG06 save SRs. 85 (160-75) per frame (£100 for 200, £500 per 1,000). I don’t think our funds will cover the cost of materials for all 1,00 frames; we’ll see how far it stretches.
I’m therefore happy that the equipment and cash donated are being put to good use – we are helping a family/business, seriously affected by the tsunami, get back on their feet and at the same time reducing PG06’s costs for the photographic enhancement project. If it all works out as planned I will be very pleased.
Rifideen BA came up trumps and I have every confidence he will use the training and equipment to develop his business in the future.
His is a jewellery box making business that before the tsunami earned him a reasonable living and he employed four others. He is a Moslem, married with two young girls (4 and 6 ish). One is in the second grade and the young one goes to a Montessori School. Their house was destroyed in the tsunami and they lost family members as well as the business. They have received no help from anyone save for £100 from PG05 to buy materials to help restart the business. They are currently rebuilding a permanent house, on the edge of an IDP camp in a very poor Moslem area, with a loan from the bank and earnings as they are achieved, so progress is slow. Rifideen works in a shack tagged on to his unfinished house. The railway line is literally 10 yards from the front door so it’s a lively spot.
The quality of his jewellery boxes is exceptional – comparable to the bracelet/necklace/ring boxes etc. we buy our jewellery in, in England. He delivers pan-Sri Lanka so must spend an awful lot of time travelling. His English is very limited but his wife speaks enough for us to just about get by.
I’m setting him up with all equipment and first batch of materials this coming Monday. Thereafter I’ll visit him every day to keep my eyes on things although I also still have my park project to look after of course.
After a promising start the park project is wavering a bit; mainly (so I’m told) because my trees have to dry out now they’ve been cut. Now I understand that, but so did they when they signed the contract. Mind you, having your own trees is a darn sight more interesting than buying a few lengths of twisted spruce from Wickes and Homebase! The finish to make the concrete columns look like tree trunks is really quite good, so a reasonable compromise has been achieved. The guys who did it are chewing beetle-nut juice all the time so that must be the secret behind their talent.
posted by Colin HARMAN at 4:00 AM
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