Currently we are working on some advertising projects for the
Stationary Shop business. We decided to post some hand painted wood signs in
front of the Stationary Shop as well as around town promoting those items that makes
our store only our store sells. We knew that we would spend at least 70,000 TZ
shillings ($47) on two small and two medium sized signs. So Mwenda (the shop
manager), Fabian (our carpenter) and I decided we would do it ourselves by
utilizing some supplies left over from the sea container in order to stretch
our donations as far as possible.
Since the sea container arrived two years ago every piece
has been utilized. The wood boxes, generously donated by American Packaging,
which held all of the donated books and school items was an unforeseen gem.
These boxes became shelves, desks and chairs for the library, lab tables, doors
and even bunk beds. Every fastener, screw and nail was saved and is still used
today.
Mwenda and I went into the back room of the assembly hall at
school where some supplies were being stored to scrounge up some wood pieces
for the signs. Fabian assembled the scrap pieces from the used nails to make a
clean surface to paint on. We used the paint brushes that TEP purchased two
years ago and bought eye catching paint for just 8,000 TZ shillings ($5). I
spent a few days prepping the surface with a white back ground, sketching the
words and carefully painting each letter. Everyone reminded me a hundred times over
how Eileen was the best artist for painting letters and she should be here to
take my place, I fully agreed. Although
I was much slower than Eileen would have been, the signs turned out great. This
was such a simple, cheap way to increase business and keep our shop not only
self sustainable but thriving.
-Cassie
-Cassie
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