Comments on: AfriGadget Innovator Series: Simon Mwacharo of Craftskills http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/ Gadgets in Africa: Solving everyday problems with African ingenuity Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:58:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jessica Taggart http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13946 Jessica Taggart Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:01:13 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13946 I thoroughly enjoyed this post discussing Simon Mwacharo of Craftskills, and providing those of us who are not familiar with his business and its mission with a sufficient introduction into the world of producing self-sustaining renewable energies. First of all, I was particularly pleased to discover that Mr. Mwacharo was originally from a village in the Taita Hills, a place I learned a great deal about after studying abroad in the coastal province of Kenya in the fall of 2007. My personal attachment to the Kenyan coast aside, his native heritage is of huge significance to his projects, both emphasizing and celebrating African "home grown" ingenuity and creativity, pointing to the success of initiative and action from within the community for its own preservation and prosperity. Craftskill's flexibility concerning the financial strain on the local community, as well as its understanding of deep rooted practices and beliefs, are also to the advantage of the company. This increases local popularity and support of these programs, and makes their innovative actions a tale of sustainable development "by the people, for the people", with projects encouraging the involvement and participation of the local community. A second poignant element of Simon's operation was his own motivation: training himself and working from the ground up, now with a skilled and growing work force of technicians, engineers, and sales representatives. Additionally, the use of local and inexpensive materials also makes Craftskills' projects easy on the pocket of the community while, once again, encouraging local sustainability. Overall, this post was inspirational and informative about small scale fuel technologies that do not receive much recognition. My one critique of the post and thus the interview stems from the lack of in-depth explanations of some of the individual projects, such as the Chifiri Water Pan Project, in order to gain more perspective on how these programs function and operate. How do the ideas come to fruition? How are these turbines faring today, and what are the reactions of the local community in regards to these creative and innovative renewable energy sources? Has it inspired other community members to get involved in other alternative fuel projects? Once again, thank you for uncovering such a unique and positive account on the developing nature of alternative fuels, and I hope to hear more about Craftskills (and its successes) in the future! I thoroughly enjoyed this post discussing Simon Mwacharo of Craftskills, and providing those of us who are not familiar with his business and its mission with a sufficient introduction into the world of producing self-sustaining renewable energies. First of all, I was particularly pleased to discover that Mr. Mwacharo was originally from a village in the Taita Hills, a place I learned a great deal about after studying abroad in the coastal province of Kenya in the fall of 2007. My personal attachment to the Kenyan coast aside, his native heritage is of huge significance to his projects, both emphasizing and celebrating African “home grown” ingenuity and creativity, pointing to the success of initiative and action from within the community for its own preservation and prosperity. Craftskill’s flexibility concerning the financial strain on the local community, as well as its understanding of deep rooted practices and beliefs, are also to the advantage of the company. This increases local popularity and support of these programs, and makes their innovative actions a tale of sustainable development “by the people, for the people”, with projects encouraging the involvement and participation of the local community. A second poignant element of Simon’s operation was his own motivation: training himself and working from the ground up, now with a skilled and growing work force of technicians, engineers, and sales representatives. Additionally, the use of local and inexpensive materials also makes Craftskills’ projects easy on the pocket of the community while, once again, encouraging local sustainability. Overall, this post was inspirational and informative about small scale fuel technologies that do not receive much recognition. My one critique of the post and thus the interview stems from the lack of in-depth explanations of some of the individual projects, such as the Chifiri Water Pan Project, in order to gain more perspective on how these programs function and operate. How do the ideas come to fruition? How are these turbines faring today, and what are the reactions of the local community in regards to these creative and innovative renewable energy sources? Has it inspired other community members to get involved in other alternative fuel projects? Once again, thank you for uncovering such a unique and positive account on the developing nature of alternative fuels, and I hope to hear more about Craftskills (and its successes) in the future!

]]> By: AfriGadget » Blog Archive » AfriGadget makes Time Magazine’s “50 best sites for 2008″ list. http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13551 AfriGadget » Blog Archive » AfriGadget makes Time Magazine’s “50 best sites for 2008″ list. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:01:16 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13551 [...] and the Grassroots Reporting Project as well as a list of our 5 favorite/most popular stories. - AfriGadget Innovator Series: Simon Mwacharo of Craftskills - The amazing story of William Kakwamba and his home made windmill. William later went on to tell [...] [...] and the Grassroots Reporting Project as well as a list of our 5 favorite/most popular stories. – AfriGadget Innovator Series: Simon Mwacharo of Craftskills – The amazing story of William Kakwamba and his home made windmill. William later went on to tell [...]

]]> By: marguerite manteau-rao http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13536 marguerite manteau-rao Sat, 31 May 2008 16:24:51 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13536 So inspiring. I am just so awed by Afrigadget. So often, we the white people think of ourselves with all the knowledge and the creativity. This and all the other initiatives featured on this site, demonstrate how much we could learn from our African brothers and sisters. I wrote a post a while back about the misleading nature of the developed vs developing countries narrative. At least from a carbon footprint standpoint, we would do well to learn lessons from the African people. The objection that 'that's because they don't have a choice' is irrelevant as far as I am concerned. Did you see the video "The Ball"? - Pangea Day - Marguerite (from Stanford Peace Innovation Project) So inspiring. I am just so awed by Afrigadget. So often, we the white people think of ourselves with all the knowledge and the creativity. This and all the other initiatives featured on this site, demonstrate how much we could learn from our African brothers and sisters. I wrote a post a while back about the misleading nature of the developed vs developing countries narrative. At least from a carbon footprint standpoint, we would do well to learn lessons from the African people. The objection that ‘that’s because they don’t have a choice’ is irrelevant as far as I am concerned.

Did you see the video “The Ball”? – Pangea Day -

Marguerite (from Stanford Peace Innovation Project)

]]> By: cheap solar projects http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13422 cheap solar projects Wed, 14 May 2008 11:11:51 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13422 [...] has so aptly described as ???The Cheetah Generation???. Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a smahttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/Building with intention Methow Valley NewsThere is something to be said about being aware of your [...] [...] has so aptly described as ???The Cheetah Generation???. Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a smahttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/Building with intention Methow Valley NewsThere is something to be said about being aware of your [...]

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Kenya: AfriGadget Innovator Series http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13419 Global Voices Online » Kenya: AfriGadget Innovator Series Tue, 13 May 2008 17:45:10 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13419 [...] Ntwiga interviews Simon Mwacharo, a Kenyan entrepreneur: “Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a small business based in Nairobi, Kenya that focuses on designing and building self-sustaining renewable energy projects in places not accessible to the electric grid. Craftskills had to date undertaken challenging projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon and Rwanda among other places.” Posted by Ndesanjo Macha Share This [...] [...] Ntwiga interviews Simon Mwacharo, a Kenyan entrepreneur: “Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a small business based in Nairobi, Kenya that focuses on designing and building self-sustaining renewable energy projects in places not accessible to the electric grid. Craftskills had to date undertaken challenging projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon and Rwanda among other places.” Posted by Ndesanjo Macha Share This [...]

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Kenya: AfriGadget Innovator Series http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13418 Global Voices Online » Kenya: AfriGadget Innovator Series Tue, 13 May 2008 17:45:10 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13418 [...] Ntwiga interviews Simon Mwacharo, a Kenyan entrepreneur: “Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a small business based in Nairobi, Kenya that focuses on designing and building self-sustaining renewable energy projects in places not accessible to the electric grid. Craftskills had to date undertaken challenging projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon and Rwanda among other places.” Posted by Ndesanjo Macha Share This [...] [...] Ntwiga interviews Simon Mwacharo, a Kenyan entrepreneur: “Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a small business based in Nairobi, Kenya that focuses on designing and building self-sustaining renewable energy projects in places not accessible to the electric grid. Craftskills had to date undertaken challenging projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon and Rwanda among other places.” Posted by Ndesanjo Macha Share This [...]

]]> By: who made windmill http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13412 who made windmill Sat, 10 May 2008 00:19:57 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13412 [...] has so aptly described as ???The Cheetah Generation???. Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a smahttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/Site Search Express and StarMetal detectors should be installed at a crime-plagued Black Country [...] [...] has so aptly described as ???The Cheetah Generation???. Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a smahttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/Site Search Express and StarMetal detectors should be installed at a crime-plagued Black Country [...]

]]> By: new seasons market http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13399 new seasons market Mon, 05 May 2008 09:53:12 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13399 [...] has so aptly described as ???The Cheetah Generation???. Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a smahttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/Spas use lighter touch on your wallet San Diego Union-TribuneSpas have been working hard over the [...] [...] has so aptly described as ???The Cheetah Generation???. Simon owns and runs CraftSkills, a smahttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/Spas use lighter touch on your wallet San Diego Union-TribuneSpas have been working hard over the [...]

]]> By: kip/bot/blog » Africa and Shirky’s Cognitive Surplus http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13398 kip/bot/blog » Africa and Shirky’s Cognitive Surplus Sun, 04 May 2008 12:41:55 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13398 [...] blog White African (”where Africa and technology collide!”). On White African I read an interview of the founder of CraftSkills, Simon Mwacharo. I’m having one of the moments where accessible technology + surplus time + [...] [...] blog White African (”where Africa and technology collide!”). On White African I read an interview of the founder of CraftSkills, Simon Mwacharo. I’m having one of the moments where accessible technology + surplus time + [...]

]]> By: darkness falls http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/comment-page-1/#comment-13397 darkness falls Sun, 04 May 2008 01:32:51 +0000 http://www.afrigadget.com/?p=211#comment-13397 [...] electric grid. Craftskills had to date undertaken challenging projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/London Sinfonietta/ Ad??s, Royal Festival Hall, London LSO/Colin Davies, Barbican, London Heiner [...] [...] electric grid. Craftskills had to date undertaken challenging projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Chttp://www.afrigadget.com/2008/04/30/afrigadget-innovator-series-simon-mwacharo-of-craftskillz/London Sinfonietta/ Ad??s, Royal Festival Hall, London LSO/Colin Davies, Barbican, London Heiner [...]

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