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Crocheting plastic shopping bags into sellable items such as purses. Money from this project is used to increase the household income. Some of the young people have used the proceeds to pay for school books and uniforms.
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USE YOUR HOBBIES AND SKILLS!
Whether you make your mission trip as an individual or join a team, LEAMIS encourages you to use your talents, gifts, skills, and hobbies in ways that can improve the living conditions of those with whom you will be working.
Workshops are designed to meet the expressed needs of the host church, and to address one’s relationship and responsibility to God, to others, one’s community, and a biblical approach for stewardship of the earth.
When needed, LEAMIS provides training to workshop leaders. The following are examples of the type of workshops that have been taught. There is no limit to the possibilities!
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The cooking and nutrition workshop is a lot of fun and well received. The use of Tippy-Taps for better sanitation (jug in upper right corner) is also taught.
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Cooking and Nutrition
A popular workshop is the cooking and nutrition class. Workshop participants learn how to take advantage of locally grown fruits and vegetables in order to improve daily nutrition. Many ideas are shared and of course, the end results have to be tasted by all! Methods of food preservation is also discussed. e
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Necklaces made from paper beads
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Arts and Crafts
Unfortunately, the arts quickly become neglected for those caught in the web of poverty. When one has to focus on meeting immediate needs so the family can survive another day, there is usually little time for the arts.
LEAMIS workshops include arts and crafts to encourage creative expression and problem solving. Arts and crafts workshops include ideas that can be turned into opportunities for added income to the family. Workshops have included things such as crocheting, sewing, and paper jewelry.
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Appropriate Technology
Hydraulic ram pump uses gravity from the river flow to pump water uphill so no electricity is needed.
LEAMIS encourages individuals and teams to use appropriate technology for the location in which they are working. Appropriate technology covers a broad spectrum and includes things such as solar food dehydrators and cookers, manually powered lathes, drill presses, and jig saws, hydraulic ram pumps, making safe drinking water through solar distillation, and a form of refrigeration that uses the principle of evaporation.
LEAMIS is also working on wind energy and drip/siphon irrigation projects.
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.Alternative Cooking Fuels
Biofuel briquettes are made from materials that most people would consider to be waste products.
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Many who live in developing nations depend upon charcoal for cooking fuel, resulting in serious deforestation problems. LEAMIS workshops share information on alternative fuels such as charcoal made from coconut shells, corn cobs and other agricultural waste.
Another alternative fuel is bio-fuel briquettes, which are also made from agricultural waste. Making bio-fuel briquettes can easily be developed into a small business.
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Cottage Industries
A cottage industry can be developed from the simplest things! Crocheting plastic shopping bags into marketable items such as rugs, sleeping mats, or purses can provide a family with additional income.
Candles are an every day need in countries where electricity is either not available or financially feasible. Learning how to make candles helps people meet their own needs as well as develop a small business.
Soap making workshops start with the basics, but also include how to make specialty soaps. Marketing and packaging ideas are discussed in the more advanced workshops.
From sewing to bee-keeping, there really is no end to cottage industry possibilities!
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Tippy-Taps improve sanitation and save water
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Sanitation and Clean Water
Composting techniques for food, animal, and human waste helps to protect water sources and reduce disease.
Tippy-taps (an example of appropriate technology) are an easy way to provide “running” water for better sanitation while at the same time conserving water.
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Filtration systems, made from readily available materials, can be installed within one day. The chlorination unit we uses common table salt and is powered by a car battery. In addition, team members always teach the SODIS water purification method. Each of these methods help to reduce disease and death caused by contaminated water. LEAMIS provides training on these methods.
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Animal Husbandry
LEAMIS provides workshops and start-up funds for animal husbandry projects.
Chickens begin producing eggs at six months. As a cottage industry resource, they provide eggs, meat, feathers, and fertilizer.
Goats produce 50% of the meat and 70% of the milk in developing countries. They are easy to care for – even by children. Goats provide milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, and fertilizer.
Milking Time
…. PAY IT FORWARD!
Rather than pay back the funds received for cottage industry development, those who benefit pay it forward by donating the first-born female or part of the first flock of chickens to a needy family so they can start their own small business.