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September 2005

OTHER PROJECTS

Cassava Chips and Fruit Drying

Several of our volunteers, namely Anneke, Elly, Diana, and Kerry, became involved with the women's groups to start a cassava chip and fruit drying business. This has been slow to get going, but there really is commercial promise with the cassava chip business which is now being run by Joey Banda, who was a cook for a while in South Africa. These cassava chips are first boiled, sliced, then fried in oil and flavoured with salt, pepper and chilli powder. Joey and the ladies have now perfected a product that is really delicious when sipping a cold 'Green' or Kuche Kuche beer. The cassava chips are bagged and labelled, and are sold in quantities of 50 to 100 to local Lodges. It is a commercial business where the ladies can make a profit and likewise the Lodges can also make a profit, so it is in everybody's interests to promote these delicious snacks. The fruit drying has had varying levels of success as there is probably a limited market. However, some sun dried bananas and sun dried tomatoes have been sold through Caroline at the Soft Sand Café at Kande Beach, and we will be developing more efficient ways of drying larger quantities and providing consistent standards in the future.

North Mazembe Women’s Group

As promised, RIPPLE Africa purchased a treadle sewing machine for the North Mazembe Women's Group in February. Unfortunately, it turned out that nobody knew how to operate it so it has been used as a table in Selina's house! But Geoff’s daughter, Jane, who is keen on sewing, decided to train the ladies in the art of using a treadle sewing machine. It took Jane a little while to learn how to work the treadle machine since she's used to an electric sewing machine! Also, it became apparent that the machine needed immediate repairs before she could attempt to do any work on it.

Once the machine was in full working order, the ladies were shown how to operate the treadle and the following day, Jane, with the help of the ladies, cut out and made a child's dress from a pattern that was given to her by Petra, Christian's wife. Hopefully, we will have some more volunteers in the future who are keen on sewing and who can help this group to produce some commercially viable clothing.

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