2nd wood and bamboo workshop,8th February - 29th March 2018.
MAMIE FOUNDATION organized an 8 Module residential Wood and Bamboo Workshop which held in FEBRUARY and MARCH 2018 at the EMERALD FOREST RESERVE at Abayomi Farm Estates (AFE), Aworin, Ikoyi-Osun.
OBJECTIVE: To encourage and train the rural dwellers in sustainable forest development and uses of sustainable forest produce/materials.
FACILITATORS: MR. GRAHAM BELL (ENGINEER TOKUNBO), MR. MATTHEW OLOJEDE, MR GBENGA OTENAIKE
The FOUNDATION sourced for sponsorship funds for indigent participants.
A subsidized Registration Fee was N25,000= per participant.
12 Participants who completed 80% to 100% of the modules were certified.
Mr Graham Bell arrived in Nigeria on the 26th of January, 2018 and stayed at the Emerald Forest Bed & Breakfast facility, 5 Ladele Close, Old Ife Road, Ibadan for planning before the movement to the Forest Reserve.
During the 1st week of Feb, the planned work space was prepared and wooden staircase built to access more accommodation space for participants.
8th-11th Feb Module 1- The opening of the workshop by a Trustee of the MAMIE Foundation, Dr Modupe Ladipo was held. Mr Graham Bell (Engineer Tokunbo) from the UK introduced the aims and objectives.
The Forest Reserve manager, Mr James Olanihun and his assistant, Mr Aduwo explained the Codes of conduct in the forest and the Safety and health rules.
Mr Matthew Olojede, an experienced carpenter, introduced the participants to the motorized tools that Mr Graham Bell brought from the UK which help to make the manual work much easier.
Engineeer Tokunbo explained the previous Wood and Bamboo Preparation and Storage facilities on ground and how they would go about organizing the workspace.
The wood storage sheds put together earlier were moved to the permanent woodwork space.
The concrete slabs for carpentry work were set and each space was constructed with tree trunk pillars and bamboo roofs and sides.
The catering staff provided delicious meals with some produce from the Forest Reserve.
The participants and Facilitators were settled into their rooms that were provided by the Forest Reserve. All the workshop days were recorded on video.
Module 2, 15th to 18th. The farm Tacoma truck was used to convey most of the staff and participants to and from the forest through out the workshop.
Abayomi Farm Estate Forest Reserve identified the teak trees that had been planted about 10 years ago that were now ready to be felled for use and also some forest trees that had fallen in previous storms in the area. These were carried to the workshop site with the truck.
The participants were put through designing and preparing home furnishing like reclined stools, tables and beds combining wood and bamboo. Participants prepared materials for the next module.
It was arranged that there would be a break after the 2nd module for about 4 days whilst all facilitators and participants left the forest.
Module 3, 22nd- 25th Feb – The first stages of designing and preparing the Prototype of living apartment for rural dwelling with sustainable forest materials took place. The site and foundation was dug and concrete floor put in place. The Forest Reserve provided the sand used for the foundation.
Participants also chose what projects they wanted to do under supervision; the designs and materials were prepared.
Module 4, 1st-4th March, Participants continued to work on their projects and completing the workstations especially the 3rd station for the wood carver which had carved tree trunks as pillars.
Module 5, 8th-11th March. The Participants learnt how to split the bamboo and make roofing designs. They also continued with their projects which included a bee hive, rabbit cage, coffee table, stools, tables, beds and a bamboo recreational-parlour.
Module 6, 15th-18th March. The front vertical wall of the cabin was started with circular blocks of teak wood that had been debarked fitted with cement.
This was to be followed by another break from the forest, however, some of the participants and the Facilitators decided to stay in the forest.
Module 7. This continued from Module 6 with the completion of Projects and Tool maintenance and storage .
The wood carver from Osogbo, Mr Adekunle, made some beautiful, intricate carvings from wood cut-offs and small teak tree trunks.
28th March was a Community Engagement and tree-planting exercise at the Palace with the King and his Chiefs of the town and surrounding communities.
Module 8, 29th March was Closing ceremony and certificate presentation. The Participants that had outstanding assessments for their ability to learn from scratch and their attitude during the workshop were a young man who made a coffee table and a young lady who made a bee-hive.
Invited guests at the closing ceremony were the local community leaders and community vigilante group.
Thereafter, there was a sumptuous picnic by the River Osun which was abruptly ended by a heavy downpour later in the afternoon.
Everybody left the forest in readiness for the Easter break and Mr Graham Bell left to Lagos on the 30th of March to get his return flight to London.
CHALLENGES
There were a number of challenges during the workshop listed below.
I. The water level in the deep-water well was very low as this was at the end of the 6 months of dry season. This meant that water had to be brought in water kegs from the town on a daily basis. This resulted in more fuel being used and the need for repairs to the truck because of the rough road track.
II. The water pumps that pumped water from the river for general cleaning required maintenance work and replacement of parts from time to time.
III. There was a delay in the setting of the foundation for the cabin due to the time required for the process itself and bereavement in the family of the Bricklayer which took him away for a while. The cabin could not be completed before the end of the workshop.
IV. There was an underestimation of the number of brick blocks required and the time was too short to prepare new blocks.
V. Even though most of the objectives of the workshop were met, the participants and facilitators showed effects of burn-out at the end.
The cost of the workshop was much higher than planned budget.
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