German funds enabling Chenapau villagers to thrive

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56529138

German funds enabling Chenapau villagers to thrive
Stabroek News,
Thursday, September 20th 2007

More than fifty persons from Chenapau Village have benefited from a
craft-making course aimed at allowing them to use their skills to
become economically independent.

The project, which was funded by the KfW Small Grants Project, is
intended to empower the 500-strong population in the village located
adjacent to the Kaieteur National Park.

According to a press release from the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) the government implemented the project through it and funding was
sourced from the German Development Bank (KfW) through the German
government.

This project is a component of the Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS)
project and its objectives are to support local projects by providing
grants to communities in and around protected areas, or areas proposed
for protection. The projects are also intended to be sustainable.

Since it began last March, the KFW project has supported a number of
community projects at Shell Beach and at the Kaieteur and Kanuku
mountains.

It aimed to develop local artisans to produce craft for sale at the
craft shop at Kaieteur. The $1.2M project was implemented by the
Chenapau Development Council in two phases: textile craft training and
natural craft training. The Chenapau Craft Development (CCD) initiative
began in June.

In the first phase of the project, trainees were brought from the North
Rupununi to facilitate a workshop in embroidery, knitting and
crochet-making. For two weeks 34 women and a few men were given
hands-on training.

The craft they produced was showcased at a community exhibition. Most
of the items displayed were sold within the first hour, the release
said, and the income generated from the exhibition is now being used to
buy additional materials for production.

The EPA said the second phase of the project began two weeks later with
a craftsman from Paramakatoi helping 22 local men and women to produce
craft from natural materials.

This segment of the training incorporated forest vines, reeds such as
the kufu, mocru, nibbi and tibisiri to produce wicker furniture and
other woven miniature craft items. Due to its popularity the workshop
was extended for two weeks.

The EPA said by facilitating initiatives like the CCD the KfW Small
Grants Project will contribute to the long-term success of the GPAS.