Workshops of the abbey

When the first missionaries came to Peramiho in 1898, every single item had either to be imported from Europe or to be made by the missionaries themselves. An infrastructure of merchants and artisans was virtually missing. So the brothers started a large number of efficient workshops, serving the needs of the mission, but also the development of the country and the training of the local population. These workshops still exist and still serve the same aims.

An Example: The Carpentry at Uwemba

Uwemba priory has its own carpentry, supervised by Br.Kizito Nsafiri O.S.B. Br.Kizito has been trained in Peramiho by Br.Albert and Br.Ignaz.

The carpentry has 5 employees. If there is plenty of work, more workers will be employed temporarily. They produce a variety of things: Doors, chairs, tables, shelfs, cupboards. Customers, e.g. schools, ofter order large numbers.

Often a whole roof, that is the wooden truss plus corrugated iron on top, is being prepared and fixed on site. The pictures above show the fixing of the roof of the new kindergarten in Uwemba, the machines of the carpentry, and Br.Kizito at the final inspection of doors together with an assistant.