Kawaza

Elephant Dung Cards

Cards - with a difference - Elephant Dung handmade cards.

“We are supporting a local workshop where we can and I thought it would be WONDERFUL if some of you wanted to send special handmade cards! The cards are fabulous, well I love them, and they really help employ local people who are without jobs. I have asked Christina, who runs the workshop, to write the details for you (see below). Note, that they would also be able to include names, company names etc on the design of the card, as long as it was not too lengthy. So you could have personalised elephant dung cards! Do contact Christina directly if you want to discuss an order.

These are cards of excellent quality, are fun, and give employment in a rural area. Win win all round. ”

[dung/06.jpg] Handmade Elephant Dung Greeting Cards. Here is an opportunity to buy the most original and different cards which will not only delight your friends and family but help to make a real difference to the people and wild life of the South Luangwa Valley.

These unique cards are hand made with recycled paper, tea and elephant dung at a local workshop in Mfuwe not far from Nkwali Camp. There is no shortage of raw materials here in the valley. The dung is collected locally, laid out to dry in the scorching sun, effectively sterilizing it, and added to a pulp made from recycled waste paper. It gives the paper its unique texture and the addition of tea to the mix gives the paper it's warm, natural colour.

Once the pulp is made it stands over night to ensure it is soft enough to work. The pulp is then scooped into rectangular frames covered with mosquito netting and the excess water drained. The thin layer of pulp is turned out onto flat boards, partially dried in the sun and patted flat and smooth by hand. The papermaking ladies often get into rhythm with their patting and sing beautiful traditional songs.

Once the paper is dry it is folded into cards and envelopes. The designs are all hand painted using tea and water colour then gilded using real gold leaf.

On the back of each card there is a label explaining the idea behind using elephant dung to make the cards. The Luangwa Valley is a beautiful place to live but not without its problems. Here there is wildlife in abundance. Visitors come from overseas to see the huge herds of elephants and buffaloes, the hippos and crocodiles in the Luangwa River and the lions and leopards who roam the bush. They sometimes do not realize that local people have a very different perception of this wildlife.

People risk death or injury by elephants and buffaloes who come at night to raid crops; fishermen and women collecting water are caught and eaten by crocodiles, they live in fear of being ambushed by hippos, lions and leopards. Many people live by subsistence farming and it is not unusual for elephants to wreck their entire year's crop leaving them unable to feed their children or trade crops for cash.

So there is a serious message behind the novelty of using elephant dung to make the cards. Our card project provides employment to local people giving them the financial independence to feed, clothe and educate their children in an area where there are few opportunities to earn money. Education and health care have to be paid for here in Zambia and by using a bye product of the elephant in a small business which provides employment, we hope to encourage people to see these endangered creatures in a different light.

Many of our team are single mothers widowed by Aids or TB. They are now using their training in paper making and design to support their families and ensure a future for their children.

Our cards are available to buy in boxes of 100, 250, 500 or 1000. There are 4 bright and colourful elephant designs. Prices on request.

Order early - the cards are individually hand made and can't be made in a rush! To order, or for further details of other ranges or information about the workshop, contact Christina Huggins by e-mail on carr@zamtel.zm

And they do make cards for use all year round - not just for Christmas.

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Elephant Dung Cards