Geoff Crispin

Ethiopia

In 1995 I was emplyed as a Ceramic Consultant with Project Ploughshare, Ethiopia (7 months & 3 months).
The job involved setting up pottery utilising Ethiopian materials, location and testing of raw materials and small scale mining of the raw materials.

training in management of the pottery, technicalwork, skills, promotion of the pottery and training for indigenous people.

Preparation of business plan to enable financial viability including costing, budgets, production planning, negotiations for the supply of
materials from indigenous sources.

Initiation of marketing plan for the sale of products in Addis Ababa and initial contacts for export of the wares.

Skills training program for women potters and for management and technical staff.

Organising the design and making of specialised equipment in Ethiopia for the pottery.

Liaison with Ethiopian Development Corporation on related matters.

25 people employed in the pottery at the time. 14 potters, 3 management staff and security personel/labourers.

The project was funded by Project Ploughshare. (Scottish Episcipalian Church Agency).

Geoff with Tegist and Thopia learning how to throw on the wheel.

Music whilst you cut the "teff" (source of seed for flour to make "Injura" or sough dough pancake).

Market day at Tikel Dingay every Saturday unless it rained.

Ganet making coil and pinch/smear pot.

Firing the pots in a clamp using animal dung.

Almas throwing the first pots from stoneware clay