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The David Thornton Memorial Project
When David passed away in April 2006, his family asked that donations in lieu of flowers be passed to The Rotary Club of Stone & District to be put towards an overseas project identified by our Honorary Member (and Rotary Peace Scholar) Sarah Williams whilst she was working with the Institute for International Mediation and Conflict resolution in Cape Town in 2006. The project in Cape Town, South Africa aims to provide additional equipment and skills training for some of the young people in the township area of Langa to produce pottery and other gift items for sale to visitors. The response has been so overwhelming that the project has been extended to provide a similar facility in the neighbouring township of Bonteheul. David spent several years in South Africa, was, of course, involved in ceramics and was closely interested in the development of young people, and the project is a fitting tribute to the memory of a very special Rotarian. The donations have been collected in the
Rotary Club’s Service Account, and total £2,300 a truly staggering amount
that would have both amazed and humbled David. In addition our ‘twin’ Club,
the Rotary Club of Offenbach-Dreieich have donated €1,000 to the fund. Also involved is the Rotary Club of Pinelands (South Africa) which is based just 4km from the site - and their members will provide local oversight of the Project as well as using their own PR and Commercial skills to support the activity. Last update
16 Feb 2007 |
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The David Thornton Memorial Project - Project Update Feb 2007
The problem that they have is that the existing kilns are too small to fire the large commemorative plates and items they produce. This limits their ability to produce items at a market related cost. The firing capacity is also affected by the product from the trained potters working from home. This directly affects the earning power of the potters and artists of the Langa Workshop. The Bonteheul Community Centre has a building but no job creating projects have been started. The Langa team have now trained potters and artists that can start a new project. This can be done with making full use of the managing staff. The new workshop is only 1.5km away, making the management of both workshops practical and more effective. All that is needed is equipment to set the project up. Income can be generated from the training courses being run. The new workshop members will produce saleable goods within 6 weeks of setting up as they will be fully trained. The existing market outlet at the Langa Community Tourist Centre will enable them to generate income within 8-10 weeks. The existing operating model is a small cooperative of 6-8 people who distribute the money earned from sales after paying all expenses. This makes the project viable and sustainable. The principal being "NO quality product = NO earnings". All existing equipment and kilns are owned by the Naledi Pottery Trust. All equipment will be ordered by Naledi Trust and paid for by Pinelands Rotary Naledi Account. The Naledi Pottery Project is supported by the Cape Town Municipality for free power and maintenance. The security of equipment is very good, in secure premises and with 24 hour security. The project is run by a community committee participating as a co-operative.
* The Rotary Foundation programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Last update
16 Feb 2007 |
The
Langa community centre has developed the Naledi Pottery project as a job
creation project. It has established a stand alone cooperative employing
some 6 full time workers. These people were unemployed community members and
Naledi has trained them to a high standard of workmanship. The pottery
produced is very saleable and they are able to produce special items to
order, particularly for the tourist.
The project has been running as a
training
operation for the past year and this will continue. Community members are
trained to work from their homes with firing and technical support provided
by the Project. Kilns are the major item requiring a degree of maintenance;
this is supplied by Cape Pottery Supplies and paid for and managed by the
project as an expense.