In Kenya June 2010

Mombasa is very hot (of course this is a pesonal opinion - it is the cold season here). Having spent ages preparing it is wonderful to be back at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation Centre. Great changes are in progress with new classes including growing plants and cooking being introduced. Elizabeth and the new Occupational Therapist are kept busy with children coming in for therapy.

The reclining chair made by Libby and decorated by Denise (from Paper Furniture Enterprise) has be designated to one child already. First we will use it as a teaching aid. It is quite tricky to help seat children who are very tight with spasticity. This child is one of them but Libby's eclining chair will help a lot. We will add a curved back and a lapstrap and give it to them after

Preparing to go to Kenya

There is to be a workshop on Appropriate paper-based technology in Mombasa June 2010.

It will be run in the Swahili Cultural Centre and Libby, Jean and Margaret are preparing by making some examples.

Libby constructed a reclining chair

Beanie helped with the final covering in brown flour-sack paper

Denise collaged and painted to make it look fantastic

We love the results including the funky chicken/bittern/??

Kennett has made a box to keep the chair safe on it's journey

It is wonderful to have lots of people using their talents!

Trugs getting ready for sale

First lots of papering

Then painting

NEWS!

1. PFSE will have a stand at local fetes - busy preparing and hoping to find more Volunteers.

We have been having trug-making days

Getting started (Jean chatting with Margaret Stratton who is going to Kalene, Zambia)

The trugs taking shape

2. The first Trip with Paper Furniture Social Enterprise Volunteers is being planned.

The Tiwi Group of people with Disabilities in Kenya are helping children with disabilities! They organise meetings and an Occupational Therapist travels to help the children. Now the Tiwi group will learn to make equipment so that the children can have good support sitting and doing everyday tasks at home. Jean, Libby and Margaret are preparing to run a course in making APT chairs and other useful items with the group

Tiwi group leaders and community leader representative at meeting to discuss this last year

3. Paper Furniture Social Enterprise is going to rent a workshop space from Ian McNeill Horse Supplies in Medstead

Work has started to clean and paint the workshop!

Kennett and Libby in full swing. Lots of cleaning done by Jane, Sue and Margaret

First order for Paper Furniture Social Enterprise

The work of Charity Treasurers can be wide and varied. Beatrice, the Treasurer for Cerebral Palsy Africa, set our new Paper Furniture Social Enterprise (PFSE) group into action.

She gave us our first order - steps to help her reach the high shelves.

The steps made with stripes being organised.

Margaret was visiting from Uganda and liked the Paper Furniture items very much.

She is field-testing the steps.

From Beatrice:

Just to report that the steps arrived this morning and the green stripes look fine. It fits exactly where I wanted it.

Just to add to the description of the steps. The design is really thought through. I have used the steps today several times and I like that it has this "grip" under the top step, so it is easy to grab and shift around.

Paper Furniture Social Enterprise starting production

The first course!

Sue and Libby setting up the pieces of the chairs they have designed

Sue's throne chair being modelled - the measurements were good!

We had two Taster sessions and more volunteers visited

Many thanks to Jardinique in Beech who donated the use of a room

in their beautiful Hampshire barn

Paper Furniture courses starting in Hampshire UK

Paper Furniture Social Enterprise

The first small training course for Volunteers is from 23-25th February.

The Diocese of Ndola CBR Staff 2009 showing the different chairs they have learnt to make

Visitors Welcome

Drop in and see/experience the work in action!

There will be 2 Taster sessions.

Come any time between 2-5pm or 7.30 - 9.30 pm on Wednesday 24th Feb 2010.

Please send a message for directions