The Wamunyu Handcraft Society has been making similar products from the time of its conception to present. This is because the
inability to come up with new designs and different products due to lack of additional knowledge and the depletion of raw
materials. Initially, they used to carve their wood items from hardwoods such as Mahogany, ebony and other tree species. The
cutting of trees from their surroundings has led to nature destruction and it has contributed to arid conditions experienced around
this region. The proposed project aims to leverage on sustainable wood harvesting and training members on the importance and
ways of conserving the environment.
The association lacks a reliable and regular market for their products and this not only affects their output and contribution to
poverty alleviation. The economic potential of the technical skills of the craftsmen of Wamunyu are in dire need of advancement.
Currently, their economic activities remain at a domestic scale and are practised in an uncoordinated manner that causes the people
practising the crafts to reap little economic gains. Some of these economic activities include wood carving and weaving. For
example, most of the woven products they make are often sold in Emali and Wamunyu Retail Market by the artisans because they
lack enough clients drawn to their town.
Another challenge faced, is that the participation of the youth in learning these technical skills is low thus limiting the economic
development of the town and the passing down of knowledge from the older generation to the youth. The proposed project seeks
to create monetary value addition to the technical skills of the people, to motivate the people to value their skills and craft and to
provide access to the latest information and technology to improve their crafts. The goal of this project is to develop this centre to
turn around the lives of the people if Wamunyu.