Savannah Christian Church in Zimbabwe

Made in Zimbabwe with Mediocrity?

Interesting blog contribution by a Zimbabwean living in Zimbabwe who is disappointed by the quality of the workmanship at a low income furniture complex in one of Harare's high density suburbs. It gives a glimpse of one aspect of Zimbabwean life. This blog story is taken from Kubatana (note that spellings are UK English).  The book The End of Poverty (on the left) is a fantastic read in our opinon, and our motivation for adding this blog article today:

When a friend suggested that I should go and check out the home furniture industry located in the teeming high density suburb of Glen View 3, approximately eight kilometers out of the city centre, little did I know I was in for a quick lesson on Zimbabwean mediocrity at its most basic level. First things first: I firmly support local entrepreneurship but only if it adheres to high levels of excellence at every step of execution. Suffice to state that my story began after I complained that the prices of furniture in the city centre were simply too exorbitant for the quality of the items on offer.


My friend told me that many of the furniture items being showcased in the city shops were actually originating from Glen View 3. I immediately became curious to check out this goldmine of furniture. So, I jumped on a Kombi (public transport) at Market Square and headed out to Glen View 3 keen to strike a furniture deal that would not damage my pocket yet beautify my apartment.


Because I wasn’t sure about the location of the place, I constantly reminded the Kombi’s conductor that I wanted to drop off at the furniture joint. The complex, he retorted, to my amazement. Complex is actually what the furniture joint is called by the locals, I discovered later. In recent years, the place where the furniture is being made has grown so much to deserve being referred to as a complex.

Granted, it is a home industry which is providing employment for hundreds of people that may otherwise be out of jobs in today’s precarious economic environment. I could only premise that many of the people that are working at the complex could otherwise be criminals or beer drinking and dagga smoking ghetto thugs. So it is great that such an alternative exists.


The first thing that greeted me when I arrived at the so-called complex was dust. There were dirty plastics strewn all over, and particles of dust swirled in the air. Blades of grass and plants were covered in dust. My concern with the dust was quickly swept away when I looked around and saw magnificent furniture items on display on dusty ground.


There were quite a number of stands, each guarded by salespeople who as was to be expected hassled and harassed me to buy some of their wares. The furniture items looked exactly as what I had seen in the furniture shops in the city. In spite of the bits of dust that constantly wafted into my nostrils, I decided to purchase a bed and a set of sofas.


After the transaction, the salesman commandeered me to a workshop area as he ran around to make transport arrangements at my request. And then there it hit me. In front of me, I saw one young man working on the framework of a sofa. He punched nails mercilessly into the wood. I saw him picking rusty nails and just punching them into the wood as if he was demon-possessed or as if the wood had cursed his mother. After a while, he turned to me sweating profusely and requested my opinion on whether the frame of the sofa was proportional. Not quite sure how to respond, I made no comment, and the next thing, I saw him pick up a piece of wood from the ground and attach it to the frame with a bent nail.


After witnessing this ordeal, I left the complex quite disappointed at the level of workmanship. I wasn’t surprised when the bed I bought broke three weeks later. The stuffing in the sofa was so hard and crooked that my wife and me had to furiously apologize to our visitors to take care when sitting on them. Because I had settled for mediocrity I was going to pay for it. And as the saying goes, cheap is indeed expensive. I felt cheated by my support to my own countrymen’s entrepreneurial capabilities that I regretted having gone to the complex in the first place. After much reflection, I realized that while the spirit of Glen View furniture complex is quite entrepreneurial, the problem is that it is tainted with mediocrity.

As I see it, mediocrity is indeed the bane of Zimbabwe’s progress and development. It’s so apparent in everything we do, the idea of cutting corners, so to speak. The end result is always shoddy, not up to standard products. From our music to our politics, mediocrity always rears its ugly head. Unless we shake off this deep seated mediocrity, we will continue to speak big of ourselves and have little to show for it, at least at a global level. Zimbabweans need to commit to high levels of excellence in all spheres of their lives as part of the rebranding process.


Chief K.Masimba Biriwasha


July 22, 2010

Mediocrity is definitely an issue when it comes to certain Zimbabwean products, especially those made by the informal sector.  Not sure why this is the case although potentially it could be due to the need to make money as quickly as possible and the failure to look to the future.  The man who purchased the broken bed is hardly going to return to buy another one.  I wonder what it takes to instill excellence as a way of life in a people?

A Pram (Stroller) for Paul's Friend - Batsiranai

About 2 years ago I blogged about a ten year old boy named Paul who suffered from cerebral palsy. Paul was the son of one of the mothers of disabled children at Batsiranai who makes a living by making toys sold on the Tashanda website.  I'm sad to say he passed away shortly after visiting him in 2008 but we only found out when we went back to Batsiranai early last year to donate a pram (stroller) we had purchased especially for him. It was terribly depressing and demoralizing to be honest, especially after the excitement of knowing that he would finally be able to replace his hand made (albeit eco-friendly) papier mache chair with a soft well cushioned pram (stroller). It was too little, too late and I felt awful about it for a while.  In fact his passing is why it has taken me so long to post this article....it just hurt too much.  That day, after pulling myself together, I asked the mothers if any  other disabled child needed a pram (stroller) and they all cried "Tafadzwa !!" at the same time.  Tafadzwa is another little boy who suffers the same illness as Paul and he is the son of one of the women at the cooperative.  They view all the children as their own and it was clear they had been waiting for an opportunity to help Tafadzwa for a very long time.  They sang songs of praise as we unwrapped the pram and placed Tafadzwa in it.  His mother was especially excited because she carries him on her back to and from Dzivarasekwa (high density suburb in Harare) every day for at least an hour each way. 

The picture below shows Tafadzwa (left of picture) in the arms of oneof his carers.  His mother, along with another 25 - 35 mothers of disabled children, makes the products seen on Tashanda (site temporarily disabled) such as African dolls, baby bibs, fridge magnets and more

There was so much joy in the room because of the purchase of this very small gift.  It pains me to see discarded baby products on New York city side walks because I know they are going to a landfill when they could be put to good use where they are genuinly needed.  However I still celebrate moments such as the one I experienced at Batsiranai.  Below Tafadzwa's's new pram (stroller) is being adjusted to make him more comfortable.  The last picture shows Tafadzwa and his mom on their first journey back home in his new pram (stroller)

I am still sad about Paul, but I am also happy to have eased Tafadzwa's suffering. Did I mention he is only ten years old?  Yes, small as he is, he is ten years old!  His pram (stroller) was donated by Tashanda from the sales proceeds of the toys made by the mothers of these disabled children, the women of Batsiranai. 

"It's customers like you that make all this possible, so thanks, thanks very much!"

Bugaboo,Quinny,Britax,Avent, Bob,Inglesina, Maclaren,Mountain Buggy, Baby Jogger, Rock Stary Baby, Radian, stroller, baby gear, car seats

Zimbabwe's Elderly Population - A BBC Article

I read an article recently on the BBC website titled "Older Zimbabweans lose life savings", which was about the plight of Zimbabwe’s elderly folks who have been left to fend for themselves during the economic collapse of the country. The photos spoke for themselves and left me completely speechless. I guess I was shocked by the level of poverty and distress that these elderly folks had succumbed to as their children had either died from HIV/AIDS or left the country for greener pastures. The article mentioned how Helpage was helping these folks, but from looking at the pictures it was difficult to determine what, if anything, was being done by Helpage to help these folks.  Something just didn't add up, especially since the article claimed Helpage was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Zimbabwe's elderly population.  So I wrote to Kate Holt, the journalist responsible for the story to ask why the article seemed to be promoting good works by Helpage when there was nothing to show for it in the images. As I waited for a response I decided to look for the Helpage Zimbabwe website.  When I found it I noticed that the same BBC photos were there, except this time, there were ADDITIONAL photos showing the same elderly folks standing in a field of healthy looking corn, or sewing industriously at a sewing machine, or sorting their corn in preparation to grind it into cornmeal - positive images. The Helpage photos were far more balanced and fair than the ones on the BBC.

Why is the BBC so biased? Is this what journalism is today? Take a look below at the BBC vs the Helpage photos and pay attention to your emotions as you review each:

BBC PHOTOS:

As an African I am very disappointed in the BBC's article which is reckless and damaging. I am not against telling the truth but it must be balanced. The BBC images are the ones the world sees, so you can imagine that this is how Africa in general is perceived. The world's reaction is to disinvest in Africa, create an economic crisis, and worsen the plight of these elderly parents and grandparents. Is there such a thing as "socially responsible journalism"? I think there ought to be.

HELP AGE PHOTOS



There is another article written by the BBC about how one in four men in South Africa have admitted to raping a woman at least once. We learned only much later that this statistic was taken from a poll of only 1,000 South African men in a country where 50 million people reside.

Isn't this unethical reporting? Is the intent of the BBC article to build or destroy Africa? Does the article create a desire in you as a reader to reach out and help Africa, or turn your backs and shake your heads at the failure of Africa and walk away? I would love to hear people's thoughts.

Bow Hunting in Southern Africa - A new spin on tourism

An American colleague recently returned from a trip to Southern Africa where he experienced bow hunting for the first time. Apparently South Africa has become a top choice for bow hunters and professional hunters world wide because a) it is a vastly different experience from most parts of the world and b) it is extremely affordable. While hunting is very popular in this region of Africa I had never heard of bow hunting not that I am a fan of hunting at all.
If you are like me, and want to consider alternatives you can visit safaris and game parks for a day or more. These come with spa services, game drives, and other activities. I think people should consider Africa more when they plan their vacations because it it an unforgettable experience. It's unconventional in some ways, but that's what makes it so thrilling.

Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust

During a recent visit to Zimbabwe we met the Executive Director of the  Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, Farai Mpfunya. Anyone involved in cultural activities in Zimbabwe, should contact the Fund which was established and registered as a Trust in 2006 to contribute to the growth and development of the culture sector in Zimbabwe. Their support includes financial and technical support to cultural practitioners, institutions and activities. The establishment of the fund came as a result of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and stakeholders’ desire to address inconsistent funding to the culture sector in Zimbabwe.
The Culture Fund supports the following sub-sectors:
- Film & Audiovisual & Multimedia Production
- Cultural Heritage
- Fine Arts and Crafts
- Cultural Industries
- Literature and Languages
- Performing Arts
For more information on the culture fund, go to http://www.culturefund.org.zw/
The Culture Fund supports up and coming artisans such as Richard Kaseke, who specializes in papier mache artwork. Richard's goal is to educate and teach through his art, in addition to conserving the environment by using recycled materials for his work. We met Mr Kaseke's wife who manages their craft stall at Harare's Newlands Shopping Center and she expressed gratitude for the exposure recieved through their connection with the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust.
Papier mache is a hugely popular craft because of its low input costs and limitless possibilities for creative design. If you are interested in seeing some of Richard's work, be sure to let us know! Or contact the Culture Fund.

African Hammocks by Mr Gurupira

Mr Gurupira & His Wife Above

I met this talented man in Zimbabwe at the Borrowdale Shopping Mall where he was selling his hammocks at the popular Sunday flea market. He is a teacher by profession and makes hammocks to supplement his income. His hammocks are 100% handmade using Zimbabwean cotton rope and fallen branches from hardwood trees. He uses a single rope for each hammock.

Mr Gurupira Stands Outside His Home (above) and Chats to us

in his Kitchen (below)

Mr Gurupira is looking for customers, so let us know what you think of his product. He lives over an hour away from the city where his wife is a nurse at a clinic in an area named Darwendale. We drove to visit him one afternoon so see him at work. Unfortunately it was wet and rainy that day so we had to cut the visit short, but he & his wife unravelled one piece he was working on for us to see as seen in the photos above. Below are some brief videos we shot while we were there:

Zimbabwe: Superwoman Found

This blog was posted by Nicole Johnston Oxfam's Regional Media and Communications Officer for Southern Africa:

Women Baking Bread

For women in rural Zimbabwe, unceasing toil is no guarantee that their children will eat tomorrow. Nicole Johnston interviews these incredibly hard-working and resourceful women.

Florence Manzu speaks at a women's meeting in Gutu [All photo credits: Nicole Johnston]At a tiny village in Gutu, Zimbabwe, Florence Manzu (21) questions why she works all day but has nothing to show for her efforts. “I am a hard worker. I get up and plough the fields and I work all day. All I need is fairness. I want to buy seeds at a fair price and I want to sell my goods at a fair price.”
Instead, Florence faces the problem many poor people experience: the less money you have, the more expensive services are. The nearest bus stop is a 16km walk, and bus fare to the small town of Gutu costs $US5 each way. But shops in the village charge way over the odds for basic necessities, in a country where prices are already high. “A bar of laundry soap costs US$2.50 here, but in town it is 80c…But what can I do? I don’t have $10 to get to town.”
As we speak, a crowd of women gathers round, all keen to make their voices heard.
“We have no water to drink. We can walk 20 kms looking for water, and it is a job for women.”
“We have no toilets so we are very much afraid of cholera.”
“The clinics have no water or medicine and sometimes no qualified staff. They tell us to bring candles but how can we?”
“Schools are deteriorating but we have to pay more.”
“There is no market where we can sell our goods, so we have to barter on unfavourable terms.”

Women turn their problems into song in Gutu A lack of access to hard currency after the collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar and adoption of the US dollar has meant that most people in the rural areas are forced to barter precious livestock and their meagre harvests to pay for basic fees and services.
Children are expected to pay up to $10 each per month to their teachers, and parents tell of endless demands from teachers, from money for food to bus fare. Some parents sell their livestock to raise the cash. Parents will starve themselves to ensure children go to school.
At the next village we met Emilia and Eustina Nyamandi, waiting for their turn at the grinding mill. Eustina (26) is a subsistence farmer who grows maize, pearl millet and peanuts. But a third of her maize harvest will go to the owner of the mill.
“The food from the last harvest will last until about September, then we will have to buy food or barter our goats and chickens,” explains Eustina. “Sometimes you don’t get much…Last year I had to sell everything.” Eustina painstakingly rebuilt her livestock, but will probably have to sell it all by the end of the year once the “hungry season” hits.
“The rain is getting less and less each year. If we have two bad seasons in a row, it will be too difficult for us to live.”
Emilia and Eustina’s families survived last year because the grain marketing board sold them maize at a reduced price and they received food aid from NGOs. But neither woman is expecting a handout. “We need projects, like sewing affordable school uniforms or knitting jerseys,” says Emilia. “We need to earn money for our families.”
In the neighbouring district of Chirumanzu an innovative project run from the Saint Theresa’s mission aims to address many of these concerns. The mission hospital not only cares for orphans and vulnerable children, and offers voluntary counselling and testing, it also runs an outreach project for people living with HIV which provides home visits, psychosocial support and income generating schemes.


Sister Andrea gives her comments on a women's weaving project in ChirumanzuSister Andrea is deputy matron of the hospital and definitely the coolest nun I have ever met. She takes us to visit one of the women’s support groups, and as we arrive they burst into vigorous song and dance. Without missing a beat, Sister Andrea joins in. She then admires the baskets they have woven and gives advice on pricing, while explaining to me how the women extract fibre from sisal, and use tree bark to dye the sisal in various colours.
Sister Andrea explains that the biggest obstacle the women face is that they have nowhere to sell their products, and no way to get them to the big cities where buyers with ready cash might be found.
At the Takashinga support group in Chengwena, the women proudly display their baking project. Sister Andrea samples freshly baked buns and bread, served with delicious wild melon jam.

Women baking bread at the Takashinga support group in ChengwenaAs the women drum and dance joyously a woman beckons me over to a small fire. I am astounded to realise she is making shoe polish. The women dry pieces of black rubber and grind it into a fine powder, add paraffin and candle wax and cook it up before pouring it into old shoe polish tins.

The group plans to sell the bread and jam at schools “because it is hard for the children to get something to eat at break” and the shoe polish to people who can’t afford to buy it in town. Mary Ngoya (26) explains that even if they can’t shift all of their stock, “we sell to each other. It is cheaper than the shops.”

How To Make Sadza Batik - A tutorial

Here are some simple instructions for the sadza batik technique. Let us know how your project goes:

INTRODUCTION

A. History of Sadza BatikSo far we have been unable to find information on the evolution of sadza batik in Zimbabwe. Having lived in Zimbabwe all our lives, we venture to guess that this is a technique introduced to us by non-profit organizations set up to help women with income generating projects. The batik technique itself originated in Java, Indonesia and through globalization, it has metamorphasized into the sadza batik we know today. The designs though, are authentically Zimbabwean – from the geometric patterns of the Great Zimbabwe, to the animals found in our wildlife. Batik is also taught in schools with art classes as well as some vocational colleges.

The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you to the way batiks are made by the women of Zimbabwe. We hope you will support their trade through http://www.tashanda.com/.

What is sadza?Sadza is the Shona language name for cooked cornmeal (also known as ground maize) that is the staple food in Zimbabwe. The most common grain used is white corn, although sometimes, yellow corn is also consumed. While corn is not indigenous to Zimbabwe is has become our daily staple like tofu to the Japanese, potatoes to the Irish, or rice to the Chinese. Our ancestors used to eat ground millet, sorghum and other nutritious grains instead of corn. Ironically, these indigenous grains are now being sold in organic food stores in developed countries because research has proved they are an excellent source of nutrients to the diet.

Sadza can be eaten in two forms:
a) As a porridge – cooked similarly to grits (see below)
b) As a soft dough which is rolled into a ball and eaten by hand with meat & vegetables.
Sadza batiks use sadza porridge to substitute expensive waxes.

The instructions for making the porridge are as follows:2 cups of water½ a cop of white cornmealCombine the ½ a cup of the cornmeal with ½ a cup of cold water in a pot. Boil the remaining water separately then add to the cornmeal mixture while stirring continuously.Add pot to stove at a medium heat temperature and continue to stir until mixture beings to thicken and simmer/boil. Cover pot with lid and allow to continue boiling until the porridge is cooked – about 10 minutes.

B. Sadza batik-making InstructionsMaterials needed:
- Plain cotton fabric of your desired size
- Sadza porridge (see cooking instructions)
- A simple design of your choice
- A selection of fabric paints
- Sipple brush (optional)
- Craft size paint brushes
- A bucket or basin

Instructions:
- Wash the cotton to remove any starch that might be on it. If you want your fabric to have a base color, dye it with your color choice and follow the instructions by your dye manufacturer.

- Let the fabric dry then iron it flat.
- Draw your creative design onto the fabric with a pencil. If this is your first time, use simple patterns to practice. You can always make your designs more complex as you get more experience.

- Decide which areas are going to remain white (or base colored) and apply warm porridge onto them like so:

- Make sure you apply a thick layer of the cornmeal to make it easier to remove once it has dried.

- Your fabric should now be quite heavy with all the different layers of sadza porridge on it. Allow it to dry completely. In Zimbabwe, due to the plentiful sunshine, the fabrics are left to dry naturally in the sun until they look wrinkly like this:

Next steps:

- Use a paintbrush to add your colors to the fabric – this should be added the area outside of the dry porridge. If you want a crackled effect with your chosen paint/dye color, simply paint over your desired cracked sadza area. Make sure the sadza remains adhered to the fabric & does not crack too much.

o Cover it in tin foil and put it in the oven (at the oven warmer level, which is the lowest level possible) for 15 to 20 minutes. The tin foil will protect the fabric and prevent it from catching fire. Do not leave the stove unattended for safety reasons.

o Use an iron to seal in the dye or paint. Since the sadza is still adhered at this point, put an unwanted sheet of cotton fabric between the iron and the batik prior to ironing. This will prevent the iron from burning the batik.

- This tutorial is limited to one paint layer per fabric sheet, however if you wish to add more colors, simply repeat steps three and four. i.e. allow the paint to dry completely; cover the painted are with more porridge; allow it to dry until it curls, paint on those areas when the fabric is dry then dye the next dark color. Black will be the last color to dye if it is included on the design. It’s very important that you leave the fabric in the dye long enough.
Lastly, remove all the sadza and iron the fabric once more to seal in the colors. You can then use your fabric to make wall hangings, bags, etc...

There are other kinds of batik techniques, but this is one of the simplest. We’d love to share your batiks on our blog, so please e-mail them to us at info@tashanda.com.

A Heartwarming Story - Cleft Lip Miracles in Zimbabwe

I just came across an article about an organization named Operation Hope which is doing amazing things to restore the faces of children with cleft lip and other facial injuries. What suprised and pleased me most is that they were permitted to do their work in Zimbabwe, something we have not heard of in a long while.

According to Medline Plus cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth. They happen when the tissue that forms the roof of the mouth and upper lip don't join before birth. The problem can range from a small notch in the lip to a groove that runs into the roof of the mouth and nose. This can affect the way the child's face looks. It can also lead to problems with eating, talking and ear infections.

Read more about Operation of Hope here and see the astounding transformation of one young man named beloved whose face was blown off by a landmine he found in his backyard.

The Zimbabwe you have never seen - Harare

Hi Readers!

I came across this video on Facebook. A friend of a friend made it and I want you to see it. As someone who has just returned from Zimbabwe I can attest to the fact that the winds of change are blowing. There is a new optimism in the air by all people from all political parties. We need international assistance to rebuild what has collapsed over the past 10 years, and as you can see from the video, we're still far ahead of many poor countries from an infrastructural perspective. This would all be lost if we didn't get the support of the international community at this crucial time. Below is what he wrote as an introduction, and I have attached the video at the end of the page. I'd love to hear your thoughts:

"This is the Zimbabwe you have never seen on BBC or ABC. The Zimbabwe that has been tainted (maybe rightfully so) for the last 10 years. But with a new Government the country emerges. It struts with a new swagger on the world stage. Adorned in it's full glory it rises from the ashes to retake it's rightful place as a democracy. With a new unity govt Zimbabwe already has: -3% inflation (down from 231million % just a month ago) projected 2% growth in the economy after 10 years of decline Food is fully stocked in shops. Fuel at less than 90cents per litre. Investment is now flowing once more. All this has been achieved in just 2 months of the unity govt. I'm sure BBC or ABC never told you this. Well here I have assembled the largest collection of high quality photo's of Harare (our capital) that I've seen on-line. Enjoy. and remember...ignorance is not bliss. By Nigel Mabandla "

Forget Me Not Forget Me Not Forget Me Not Forget Me Not

We spent our last weekend in Zimbabwe touring the Eastern Highlands and visiting family and friends. The scenery as always was spectacular and a much needed tonic for my nostalgia. I took photos of everything I could even though the car was racing at top speed. I wanted to capture every moment including the views, so that when I returned to America I would have something to remind me of home. I photographed images I would have taken for granted in the past such as vendors selling fruits and veggies at a bus stop, curving roads, the mountains, and people going about their business; and of course I continued to scout for artistic talent on the roadside, in small towns, and in the villages.

Approximately 150km away from Harare we drove past a display of toy tractors which I had seen in other parts of the country earlier in the week. I could see that this was the latest wave of crafts in the country. Typically in Zimbabwe once a certain type of craft catches on, others copy and soon the market becomes more or less flooded with the respective craft. All the same, the crafts are well made by amazingly talented individuals.

We stopped the car, reversed a few meters backwards and I hopped out, eager to meet the artist of these colorful toys. The artist turned out to be a young boy named Forget Munhuwepano, aged 17, but looks 14. I explained who I was and asked if I could interview him about his work. He agreed but was a little shy with his answers. I really had to prod him to get information, and this is what I learned:

As mentioned above, Forget is 17 years old and he dropped out of school in seventh grade. He did nothing with his life until about a year ago when his uncle began to teach him how to make these toy cars. He uses Jacaranda wood, used tyres, recycled rubber, wire, scrap metal and oil paint to build his toys. The wheels for example are circular wood shapes covered with a strip of recycled tyre. Each toy tractor sells for anywhere from $10 to $30. The tractors have long wire handles with a steering wheel to control it when it is moving.

He said business was OK although he finds he has to bargain a lot with his buyers who think his prices are too high. We encouraged him to put himself through school. The last time we checked public high schools in Zimbabwe cost $80 a term/semester, and if he could work it out, he could sell toys during school holidays/vacation and go to school during term time. I call his tractors "toys" but they would work well as an artistic display in a home or office setting. You'll notice that Forget has named his pieces after real brands like John Deere and Massey which is probably a violation of copyright laws. Unfortunately someone like Forget has no knowledge of this. Wouldn't it be great if these big companies would order them as marketing gimmicks with a social benefit, rather than threaten to take legal action (as I have seen against wire artisans who make wire Volkswagens)?
Unfortunately time was not on our side, so while we made assumptions that he would be able to put himself through school we really didn't get a chance to ask him about his personal circumstances, and he wasn't very forthcoming with information about himself. It was nice to talk to him anyway. We didn't purchase a toy but we did leave him a donation to purchase more materials like oil paint which he said was very expensive. I've learned the hard way - in the past I would buy at least 2 or 3 samples of artists products and ended up with too much inventory. Now I let my readers decide if the product is good - thumbs up or thumbs down? Let me know!