26 February 2004

Dear All,

It has been a quite a long time since I have been in contact with you - but, as I'm sure you are aware, communications in San Francisco Libre are somewhat limited. I hope that all involved with the project, the Association, and especially those who I worked and stayed with during my time in England, are well.

My not having been in contact recently not meaning that I am not still extremely grateful for everything you have done. I now have a new account that I can use to send and receive emails, allowing me to be in more frequent contact with you. Although, as Julian Stutley, who is currently living here, will testify getting to a computer is not the easiest of things.

I am writing with information about the Reading San Francisco Libre Association Carpentry Workshop. The workshop area was set up on the 1st of August, with all the structural elements complete. However, it was not until the 26th of December that we were ready to begin making furniture.

The workshop started with three employees, Gustavo Urbina, carpenter, Heyner Martinez, an apprentice and myself. But in order to make lots of furniture we were going to need more staff. So Juan Alberto Urbina, another carpenter and Norwing Urbina, a second apprentice, joined the team.

The two trained carpenters are paid a salary based on 12% of the value of each piece of furniture made. Thus every month they receive a wage of between 1000 and 2000 Cordobas (the equivalent of $64 to $128) The apprentices receive a salary based on 6% of the value of each item made. When their training is complete they will likewise earn the same amount as the already trained carpenters.

The workshop consists of four storage rooms at the Town Market area. The use of the communal owned facilities has been kindly provided free of charge by the local administration. At the moment we do not have to pay for electricity or water at the site. The electricity supply was put in at a cost of 3996 Cordobas or $255. The workshop has received donations from various organizations, including Reading College of Art and Technology who provided us with a variety of tools and equipment. Also money has been donated enabling the Reading SFL Association to buy a number of electrical tools and machines. The sum of the money donations has been 13,700 Cordobas or $877.

Within two months of beginning production we have generated 8,500 Cordobas or $544 in revenue from making and selling furniture in the locality of San Francisco Libre.

We are very grateful for all the donations we have received, although we would also welcome any further donations. This is because at the moment due to a lack of equipment we are unable to do things as quickly and efficiently as we would hope. The problem is that we have more work than we can do due to the process of making each piece of furniture being very time consuming. Also in terms of our role as a service to the community, providing cheaper furniture for people within SFL we feel that anything that can be done to improve the way we can operate does not only benefit us but the wider community. Especially as for the first time local people have access to products locally at affordable prices.

For us as a team there is particularly good piece of news. The money we individually are earning is currently allowing two members to fund their way through university. So not only have I benefited from an improved education by spending in Britain, but the skills learnt and the opportunity provided is allowing us to improve our own education here in Nicaragua. Also the two apprentices are also able to buy everything they need to study on Saturday at the school, whilst having a steady income and training in a profession, giving them much better prospects for the future.

Anyway I hope that this news of the success of the workshop so far is good news for you and news that has been worth waiting for. I will keep you all posted or any new developments. I wish you all the best,

Jeyserd