Respectful development of a stool

Carpenters from different parts of Uganda met to challenge design traditions. At the same time, they also debated corruption – and launched the new ‘Carpentry Network’

By Søren Christensen, development worker, HNSDA, and PAB member

Carpenters turned their critical eye towards the traditional locally made stool. New improved models were produced during a two-day workshop in Koboko and the eight prototypes can be seen at the MS country office in Kampala.

A red-hot metal rod, an axe and a saw are the tools used to produce a stool in the villages all over Uganda. The very same tools were used, when 20 carpenters, carpentry managers, carpentry instructors and carpentry students came up with their new designs of the classic stool.

The new development worker at Uganda Scouts Vocational School (USVS), Peter Hersted, facilitated the practical part of the workshop held at USVS in Koboko. The participants were to produce two different types of the traditional stool, using the same tools that craftsmen are using in the villages. After the traditional designs and techniques were studied and tried out in practice, the participants were given the task to produce a new and improved model.

The eight new models are all made with cheap locally available materials. The designs are innovative, yet respectful to the inheritance of the little stool. The stools are still made of branches of trees jointed by simple joints. But the seats have changed to woven seats of grass, papyrus ropes and tyre tube ropes.

In the weeks before the workshop, staff from USVS bought stools from the market to show to the participants. And when the new improved stools were ready, they were taken back to the market in Koboko for display. The people at the market were surprised and happy to see the new designs and some wished to buy the stools.

Corruption ruins quality work

Corruption related to the carpentry trade was discussed at USVS during the stool workshop. The participants agreed that the vicious circle of corruption is affecting all of us as organisations, as carpenters and as individuals. One example was when a bill of quantities must be reduced due to the need for recovering a bribe. In that situation, sub-standard work can appear.

Sub-standard work will then be connected to the contractor, to the carpenter and to the institution where the carpenter is trained. Hence the instructors are perceived as lousy – and so on: The vicious circle continues.

The participants discussed whether it could be a good idea to invite politicians, such as Local Councils and District Educational Officers, to join the boards of carpentry organisations and schools. Some were of the opinion that politicians could help in lobby work, while others saw politicians as the very core of the corruption problem.

All participants agreed that high quality work is the tool to beat corruption out of carpentry business. If the organisations refuse to take any part in corruption, but in stead focus on high quality work the customers will come because of our good work.

The writer of this article facilitated this session, while Steven Todoko, secretary of the Anti Corruption Coalition Koboko (ACCK) acted as resource person for the discussion.

Foundation for the future

The workshop was the first meeting between carpentry-related staff from Gulu Community Vocational School (GCVS), Nyabyeya Forestry College (NFC), Masindi Centre for the Handicapped (MCH), Hoima Nursery Schools Development Association (HNSDA) and USVS.

At the same time, the workshop functioned as the launch of the new Carpentry Network. The network’s objective is to build capacity for sustainable development through human resource development and product development. A side effect of the Carpentry Network is cultural exchange within the diverse cultural settings of Uganda through exchange visits of people from different tribal backgrounds but with the same trade.

The participants decided on the last day of the workshop that the successful experience should be the foundation for further development of the Carpentry Network. Future workshops will be rotating between members at a six months interval. The next workshop will be held at and arranged by NFC in May 2004.