TELI’S FIRST BRIQUETTES AT JUMBE VILLAGE
October 2003
But let me tell you how the whole process has been rolling on. My first worry was to find a village where people would welcome this new idea. I knew from the Cape Maclear experience that this is not to be taken for granted. I was lucky though, with the help of a Malawian colleague Hilton Nyamilandu, we started planning the work in Jumbe village (near Limbe) only a week after my return from Chembe. The people of Jumbe were fantastic: In few weeks the ground was levelled and cement pits built, a mould for briquettes made and the leaves collected. Carpenters nailed the lids ready and the leaves were covered with water.
BUT, how long does it take for leaves to rot? Mango leaves seem particularly reluctant to take part in this exercise: they just stayed and stayed well formed and I just had to leave them. But no worries, my two right hand men, Hilton and Joseph will be visiting the village regularly and a newborn briquette will soon appear.
(Latest news)--- I have just heard that they have made nearly 1,000 briquettes by now.
I have warned the people of Jumbe that there might be reluctance when it comes to using the briquettes and we have made a plan for persistent advertising and the briquette making team is also keen to start teaching neighbouring villages. Whether any single tree can be saved on Mount Soche (behind the Jumbe village) has to be seen, but one day the briquette idea will germinate. I am sure of it.
Briquette making photo’s
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