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Project B: Establishment of Kalasha Woodcarving School

How to Vote (Members only): Please review each project, then either vote through the poll facility on the top left of this page, or click here

01. Organisation’s Official Name (Please enter your own name if self-employed)

Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT)

02. Name & Official position/role at this Organisation

Shams Uddin, Manager CAMAT, Mountain Inn, Chitral, Pakistan - Email: camatchitral [at] yahoo [dot] com

03. Company Registration Number / TAX ID / VAT Registration / Year of Incorporation

1725/4/32, 12/09/2009

04. Website

http://ecoclub.com/blogs/blogger/Shams%20Uddin

05. Project Title (up to 5 words)

Establishment of Kalasha Woodcarving School

06. Project Short Summary (up to 40 words)

The project is aimed at establishing a community-based school for woodcarving in Kalasha Gram, Rumbor valley, where young people will be trained in carving out wooden images and patterns—one of the endangered material heritages of the Kalash community.

07. Project Description (up to 400 words)

The project is intended to establish a Kalash woodcarving school through the involvement of the local community in Kalasha Gram, Rumbor valley, Chitral, northern Pakistan. The objective is to protect and promote the wooden images and woodcarving patterns—the precious and endangered wooden heritage of the Kalash community. In recent years there has been an assessable decline in this valuable material heritage. It is worth noting that the wooden images, having different nomenclatures and categories, are inseparably linked with the Kalasha religion and culture. For instance, 'gandau' is erected on the grave of a deceased family member with intent to immortalise the sprit of the departed soul in material shape. Furthermore, the community is historically recognized for their stunning woodcarving with asymmetrical patterns on wooden boxes besides decorating the pillars and beams of Jastakhan, Bashali and guesthouses.

At present there are few experts of Kalasha woodcarving, e.g. those who curve out wooden images and delicate asymmetrical patterns. One such expert is Mr Rehmat Wali of Kalasha Gram. He is a disabled person with unmatched skills in the profession. His work has to be carried forward through practical training by establishing a formal school for woodcarving.

To this end, there have been two meetings with the local community to record their concerns about the declining aspects of the heritage and to embark on initiatives to revive the same. The only feasible option that the community recommended was the establishment of a community-based school for woodcarving in Kalasha Gram, Rumbor valley.

The cost of the project will involve labour payments for break lying, walls raising, plastering and levelling the floor of the two-roomed community school. It will also involve cost to purchase construction wood, tin roof and payment for the carpenter. In addition, the total set of carpentry equipments for the school would also be purchased. The breakdown of detailed budget is attached in article 09 of the proposal.

To run the project on sustainable basis, following measures will be undertaken:

1. A civil society, under the name of Kalasha Association for Woodcarving [KAW] will be established and registered with social welfare department at district level. This association will be responsible for the over-all administration and functioning of the school besides fund raising for the purpose.
2. Certain percent of revenue from selling the wooden images will go to the account to be operated by selected community representatives.
3. Contact with ministry culture at both provincial and federal government will be made soliciting their support for the revival of the endangered Kalasha heritage.
4. Contact with ministry minorities at both provincial and federal level will be made seeking their support for the cause.
5. Efforts to market the wooden images [under certain conditions to those who buy] would be made so that income earning opportunities would be encouraged.

All the responsibilities of managing the school, evaluating its performance and fund raising will rest with what is called the Kalasha Association for Woodcarving [KAW]—a community organisation established for the materialization of the project. KAW will be registered with social welfare department at district level to be ultimately approved by provincial government.

7b. Clarifications:

(a) Who will legally own the school?
Kalasha Association for Woodcarving would legally own the school

(b) Will there be tuition fees?
In the beginning things will be done voluntarily until funding will be generated. But the income to Mr Rehmat Wali will come from selling the wooden images.

(c) Remuneration of Mr Wali for teaching?
In the beginning there will be no remuneration for Mr Rehmat Wali. Later on when KAW will be sustainable and remuneration will be given to Mr Wali.

(d) Approximate number of students for the first year?
In the beginning stages, there might be 4 to 8 students, not more than that. It would be better to keep the number less so that the teacher will have teach them with good concentration. Not more students in the beginning.

(e) Length of tuition? (hours per week?, number of weeks?)
It depends on how soon the student will learn. The duration of the course depends on the speed with which the students will be able to learn. However, not more than 2 years.

(f) Will there be some sort of official vocational recognition for such tuition?
Well, as the school will be established by KAW, so it will have the supervision and monitoring visit of the social welfare department, both in Chitral and at provincial level.

08. Total Project Budget. Budget should include all costs including materials, fees and wages.

In Local Currency: 206,000

In Euros: 2,000

Any Important Notes: - 

09. Project Budget Breakdown in as much detail as possible.

 

Number of Items

Item Description

Item Cost
per unit in local currency

Total Item
Cost in local currency

Total Item Cost in
Euros

exchange rate used: 103

 

Construction of wood carving school:

 

 

 

50

Cement

450

22500

214

85

Cost of tin roof ( steels )

480

40800

389

4

Unskilled labor

7,500

30000

286

2

Skilled labour Mason

8,000

16000

152

4

Cost of doors + windows

3000

12000

114

 

Other materials (nail, paints hinges)

5000

5000

48

 

Equipment for centre:

 

 

 

1

Gulkar machine small size

12000

12000

114

1

Electric plane (for leveling wood)

4000

4000

38

2

Handy plane

500

1000

9

2

Saw

500

1000

9

3

Wazh  (for leveling wood)

600

1800

17

3

Corner

150

450

4

3

Inch tape

120

360

4

2

Harmer

550

1100

10

2

Sand

1700

3400

32

3

Chisel (general)

500

1500

14

3

½ chisel

300

900

9

3

1 inch chisel

250

750

7

3

Iron-cutting saw

250

750

7

2

Tin cutting scissors

350

700

7

3

Plus  (to twist wire etc)

220

660

6

2

Screw range

280

560

5

10

Drilling augur

250

2500

24

1

Jack saw

3000

3000

29

1

Ishkinja

1600

3200

30

3

Sand stone

250

1050

10

3

Scale large size

300

900

9

150 feet

Woods

250

37500

357

1 PayPal / Bank Transfer Charges 5250 5250 50

TOTAL:

210,630

EUROS 2,044


09b. Budget Clarifications:

(a) You must include a budget item related to the establishment and registration (legal fees?) of the Kalasha Association for Woodcarving.
I have done it. (Ed. ??)

(b) What is a "Gulkar" Machine. Please also provide a photo of the Gulkar machine.
Will send the picture of the machine but later on.

(c) What is an "Ishkinja"?
'Ishkinja' is a device to press wood together whilst securing joints.

(d) You need to deduct Euros 44 from the budget, so that it does not exceed Euros 2,000
(Ed. ??)

10. Exact physical location of the project:

Address: Village Kalasha Gram, Rumbor Valley, District Chitral, Northern Pakistan

Map: Precise Longitude & Latitude and / or link to location using Google Maps

{source}
<iframe width="600" height="300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;t=h&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=110759961594711404007.00048db627dabe6e3ea93&amp;ll=35.737595,71.667252&amp;spn=0.167205,0.411301&amp;z=11&amp;output=embed"></iframe>
{/source}

10b - Location Clarifications:

Please provide:

(a) a detailed Map of Chitral so that we can understand where exactly the village is.

(b) a detailed Map of the Village or a picture of the Village illustrating with an arrow where the house of Mr Wali is located.

(c) a current photo of the house of Mr Wali from the exterior.

(d) a current photo of the location where the School will be built.

Reply (Aug 2, 2010): One of the pictures is of the meeting which I had had with the Kalash community in Kalasha gram. But as I took one picture, the batteries of the camera gave in and the picture of Wali's house and the place of the school could not be photographed. Now as you have given us grace period, I have time to go there and take detail picture and more discussion with the communities, individually and collectively.

Reply (Aug 8, 2010): Please note that road to Rumbor has been cut-off due to heavy flood. Can not visit the valley in recent situation. I request you to please update the application in its present form. Will furnish the rest of the information and pictures when road will be clear later on.

11. Pictures - Up to five relevant pictures illustrating the site of the project and what it is all about.

b1
11a: Project Proposal Coordinator Shams Uddin (left) with traditional woodcarver Mr Rehmat Wali (right) in the latter's workshop.

b2
11b: Mr Rehmat Wali with one of his creations in his workshop.

b3
11c: Project Coordinator Mr Shams Uddin with Mr Rehmat Wali and members of the community, discussing the project proposal on 31 July 2010

b4
11d: Mr Rehmat Wali and his family.

b5
11e: A typical example of a traditional Kalash wooden statue made by Mr Rehmat Wali.

12. Is this project, or parts of this project already under way?

No.

13. Project Completion Schedule with dates

Sept 1, 2010: Work on the construction of the school building will start
Sept 1, 2010:  Preparation of KAW registration docs will be prepared and submitted to social welfare department at district level
Nov 20, 2010: The school will start functioning
December 15, 2010: Registration of KAW and handing over the school to the society [Ed: The project should be completed by December 1]

14. Who or what will mostly benefit from your project? (up to 200 words)

The project will give benefits to the entire Kalash community in Rumbor in particular and the rest of the valleys in general in respect of protecting the cultural heritage of the target community. It will provide a sustainable mean of income to the local youths also.

15. Do you have experience with similar projects in the past? (up to 200 words)

CAMAT has won the ECOCLUB.com in 2008 for a project involving the protection of the natural environment of the Kalash community in Rumbor and Bumborate. CAMAT has also been involved in implementing UNESCO projects in Bumborate and Rumbor.

16. Have you consulted the local community and/or their elected representatives about their real needs and feelings about this project? Please clarify and provide evidence if you can. (up to 200 words) 

To make the need and priority and integral part of the project design, formal meetings with the target community have been made and their recommendation and feedback has been included in the project design. In the meetings, the Kalash religious and political leadership, women and students representatives were involved. Thus the present project has been conceived by the local community themselves in keeping with the declining prospect of their material cultural heritage. Besides, the community gave commitment to provide land for the establishment of the school at Kalasha Gram, quite near to the house of Mr Rehmat Wali Khan, the would be master trainer in the woodcarving school.

17. Have you examined all legal, tax and technical aspects of this project? Please clarify and provide evidence if you can. (up to 200 words) 

Chitral, being part of the Malakand division is legally exempted from tax. So no project coming to Chitral is being charged with taxation. The non-taxation certificate from District Revenue Officer [DRO] would be provided to substantiate the fact.

18. Are there any other unknown or uncertain parameters about this project?  Does it depend on any external factors? (up to 100 words)

The only external factor that could potentially hinder the project is intolerance and iconoclastic traditions. Wooden images [idols] are anathema for some segments of the community. However, when we undertake a noble effort for reviving the precious cultural heritage of the colourful Kalash community and taking care for their creed and culture, it is worth pressing ahead with the task without any compromise. It is because our work involves genuine intention and noble purpose with an overall philosophy to promote diversity and accommodation.

18b - Clarifications:

(a) You mention the intolerance & iconoclastic traditions. So what measures are you planning to take to avoid generating hostility? For example, could the woodcarving products also include some utilitarian / decorative products (cups, plates, abstract art etc). Would Muslim Kalash students be welcome to join if they wanted to?

In the beginning stages we will keep the wooden images on the line of the Kalasha religion. Later on we will see whether we can also produce decorative items for the general public.
1. We'll involve the local community
2. Will highlight the cause through media
3. Divert tourists to visit the school
4. Involve the government through ministry culture and ministry minority at both federal and provincial level

19. Who will actually implement this project? (organisation employees, local volunteers, tourist volunteers, local workers, others?) (up to 100 words)

The project will be implemented by the local Kalash community, Kalash religious and political leadership and educated young people apart from the trainees and master trainer. Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT) will facilitate the implementation of the project.

20. If your project is not chosen, will you still go ahead with its implementation? (up to 50 words)

 If my project is not chosen, I will still continue my work in the same direction through my contacts within the country, say, ministry culture, ministry minority in addition to involving the local Kalash communities for the purpose.

Please enter your full name below and the date to indicate acceptance of the above terms:

Shams Uddin

Date:  July 23, 2010

 

 

Number of Items

Item Description

Item Cost
per unit in local currency

Total Item
Cost in local currency

Total Item Cost in
Euros

exchange rate used: 103

1

Construction of wood carving school

 

 

 

2

Cements cost ( 450 x 50)

450

22500

214

3

Cost of tin roof ( steels ) ( 85 x 480)

480

40800

389

4

Unskilled labor ( 4 x250x30) 

280

30000

286

5

Skilled labor Meson ( 2 x 400x20)

400

16000

152

6

Cost of doors + windows ( 4 x 3000) 

3000

12000

114

7

Other materials ( nail, paints hinges)

5000

5000

48

8

Equipment for centre

 

 

 

9

Gulkar machine small size

12000

12000

114

10

Electric plane (for leveling wood)

4000

4000

38

11

Handy plane 2 qty

500

1000

9

12

Saw 2 qty

500

1000

9                    

13

Wazh 3 qty (for leveling wood)

600

1800

17

14

Corner 3 qty

150

450

4

15

Inch tape 3 qty

120

360

4

16

Harmer 2 qty

550

1100

10

17

Sand 2 qty

1700

3400

32

18

Chisel 3 qty (general)

500

1500

14

19

½ chisel 3 qty

300

900

9

20

1 inch chisel 3 qty

250

750

7

21

Iron-cutting saw 3 qty

250

750

7

22

Tin cutting scissors 2 qty

350

700

7

23

Plus 3 qty (to twist wire etc)

220

660

6

24

Screw range 2 qty

280

560

5

25

Pay Pal Payment

5250

5250

50

26

Drilling augur 10 qty

250

2500

24

27

Jack saw

3000

3000

29

28

Ishkinja 1 qty

1600

3200

30

29.

Sand stone 3 qty

250

1050

10

30

Scale large size 3 qty

300

900

9

31

Cost of woods 150 feet 

250

37500

357

32

 

 

 

Euros 2000

TOTAL:

213,442

EUROS