An imaginative scheme which has changed lives in Tanzania
Monday, 14 March 2005
An imaginative scheme which has changed lives in Tanzania
An innovative exhibition of art by polio victims opened in Tanzania highlighting their creative skills.`
Featuring animals sculptures using scrap metal and other inventive creations; the works have been carried out by ‘wonder welders’ who formerly were forced to beg on the streets.
Local businessman Paul Joynson-Hicks was inspired by watching welders at work on his own property to offer the men on the streets the opportunity to learn welding having noticed their incredible upper-body strength from using the hand pedals on their wheelchairs.
Funding from local community projects enabled a welding technician to be employed to teach the men basic skills and they were then paid a monthly salary when they joined the group.
Following their progress local businesses came on board to support the projects as corporate sponsors and along with that came a number of commissions.
The result is employment, self reliance and pride in their work for the Tanzanian sculptors.
