5% Profits to CAT Malawi
The Centre for Appropriate Technology is a non profit organisation registered in Malawi with the overall objective being to - ‘contribute to improving the living conditions and livelihoods of the economically disadvantaged people in the region through adoption and promotion of appropriate technologies with particular reference to ecological design’.

CAT is a largely self financing enterprise which has previously received support from the Department for International Development (DFID) to establish roof tile production in the Northern Region of Malawi. CAT is currently developing solar drying technology and experimenting in ‘agricultural produce dehydration’, both initiatives support wider country goals of establishing better food security.

CAT has the benefit of architectural expertise at director level and this has enabled the development & promotion of timber frame technologies utilising soft wood resources available in the region therefore mitigating use of both hardwood timbers and cement based products. CAT continues to provide technical expertise to Ripple Africa, a British registered charity, whilst redeveloping its volunteer centre at the lakeshore, and for the building of a new secondary school and vocational training centre at Mwaya village.

Afrocentrique has agreed to donate 5% of net profits to CAT of which all funds will be used to purchase or procure materials required for rural infrastructure development projects. |

Currently Euros 5,000 is being raised for a primary school at Manchewe village near Livingstonia, this will pilot a number of technologies promoted by CAT intended to reduce dependency on external imports (imported steel roof sheeting & cement products) whilst utilising traditional skills and construction techniques.

Orphan made crafts
The facts cannot be overlooked - an explosion in the number of orphans as a result of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic. It is estimated that at the end of 2001, there were approximately 470,000 Malawian children under the age of 15 who had lost their mother or both parents to AIDS, a 71% increase in 3 years (UNAIDS/ WHO, 2002 update). In Mzuzu alone, 47% of the population are under 15years of age. Of these, just under 20% (around 8,000) are registered as orphans (Mzuzu City Assembly).

Well, we know a few and they have turned there hand to making something for you with the hope of earning them some money to help aging grandparents and pay for their future education. Andrew Kasambala, Given Njikho, Gift Gama, John Kumwenda and Franklin Chibowa would really appreciate it if you checked out their ‘wire jewellery’ - see ‘orphan’ under the jewellery section.

We will continue to support them and hope to give them a few more ideas on …….‘intricate wire things’ soon.

Reafforestation
We are often asked about the wood used to make our crafts! Not surprising as we specialise in Malawian crafts and Malawi has a wood carving pedigree second to none. Firstly, all our products are made from timber obtained under license from the Forestry Department who only issue licenses for these hardwood species for dead and dying trees. No trees are cut just for our products. However some of these trees have been killed by ring barking by local farmers who are extending their crop planting areas. Whilst this is certainly unfortunate the trees are going to be removed anyway and if not used for crafts they will be burnt for firewood or in some cases just burnt to get rid of them! We are happy to add value to African hardwoods by exporting wood products & crafts. We would, however, be even happier to know that future hardwood supplies will be available to sustain the industry. We are therefore looking into options available to improve indigenous forest management and of exotic species planting programmes, to safeguard the industry and future incomes it can derive.

We have taken preliminary advice from a regional specialist and discussions are ongoing.

For tree enthusiasts, here are the principal indigenous hardwoods used:

• ‘African Ebony’ - Dalbergia Melanoxylon
• ‘Leadwood’ - Combretum Imberbe or Combretum Molle
• ‘Mahogany’ - Pericopsis Angolensis
• ‘Red Mahogany’ - Khaya Anthotheca