Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
02 October 2024
Post No. 372
The Week’s Contents
• History Month with Making Memorable Positive Difference Project – In Focus: History of African Woven Loincloth
• Activity/Task 10 of the Transitions (‘t’) Year and Project: Share the History of Poverty Transitions
• Autumn Matching Organisation-Investor Programme via Farming Charitable Loan
… And much more!
Key Messages
• History Month with Making Memorable Positive Difference Project – In Focus: History of African Woven Loincloth
This year’s Making Memorable Positive Difference (MM+D), which is the 16th one, will remember Woven Loincloth made in Africa by Africans.
Indeed, the history of woven loincloth in Africa goes back very far in the history. The website ‘britannica.com’ (1) reports that
“From about 3000 BCE Egyptians wore a loincloth (schenti) of woven material that was wrapped around the body several times and tied in front or belted”.
Additionally, ‘afrihepri.org’ (2) explains that
“The word loincloth comes from the Spanish Pãno (pagno), which means ‘piece of cloth’ or piece of fabric. It is mainly used in Sub-Saharan Africa and among Indians who cover themselves in different ways for example from the belt to the knees or from the torso to the ankles”.
The website ‘afrhepri.org’ also notes that in Africa many kinds of loincloth coexist with materials from the forest, in beaten bark with M’buti motifs by the Pygmies of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As part of MM+D 2024, we will remember the history of woven loincloth in Africa and the contribution made by skilful weavers in reducing clothing poverty in Africa. We shall reminisce skilful weavers’ technique of tapa which came from the Pygmies of Central Africa.
MM+D 2024 will therefore provide opportunity to learn about Africa’s weaving techniques and those who inspired these techniques.
We shall look at the history and the technique of making woven loincloth with the view of reducing clothing poverty, although the weavers of the time may or may not have thought about weaving for clothing poverty reduction. We shall undertake the following two tasks:
a) study the skills, techniques and profiles of African weavers of the loincloth history
b) assess of the historical contribution of the woven loincloth industry and weavers in reducing clothing poverty as well as in clothing and creative economy in Africa.
Our historical reference point or period of remembrance is from about 3000 BCE when Egyptians wore a loincloth (schenti) of woven material.
Briefly, the focus for this October History Month will be on the History of African Woven Loincloth and how woven loincloth lifted people out of clothing poverty, although at that time weavers of loincloth might not have thought about reducing clothing poverty. Our work for this year’s MM+D will be about identifying the historical weavers of Africa, their talents, skills and techniques, as well as their contribution to the creative industry and clothing economy in Africa.
For further information on this acknowledgement about the History of African Woven Loincloth, please read under the Main Development section of this post.
• Activity/Task 10 of the Transitions (‘t’) Year and Project: Share the History of Poverty Transitions
Our Transitions (‘t’) Year and Project has progressed to Activity/Task 10, which is ‘Share the History of Poverty Transitions’. Indeed, people can transition into and/or out of poverty. The history of transition into and out of poverty is of poverty transitions. To share this history, one may need to understand poverty transitions.
• • Basic Understanding of Poverty Transitions
Poverty transitions can be understood in many ways. One of its explanations comes from An Huff Stevens (3) who argues that
“There are two key factors that drive poverty transitions: changes in household structure and changes in labour market attachment at the individual or household level”.
An H. Stevens also adds that
“The number of weeks worked annually by the household head is important determinant of poverty exit, entry, and re-entry probabilities”.
Without being an expert in poverty transitions or economic historian, it is possible for those who might be interested in the Activity/Task 10 of the Transitions (‘t’) Year/Project to work with those in need and share their own experience or what they know about poverty transitions.
• • Supporting This Activity/Task
Those who would like to proceed with this activity/task by themselves can go ahead.
Those who would to be part of a working group helping in the realisation of this activity/task can let CENFACS know.
For those who need some help themselves before embarking on this activity/task, they can speak to CENFACS. To speak to CENFACS, they are required to plan in advance or prepare themselves regarding the issues they would like to raise.
For any other queries and enquiries about the ‘t‘ project and this year’s dedication, please contact CENFACS as well.
• Goal of the Month: Reduction and End of the Historical Causes of Poverty Induced by Higher Living Costs
Our work on ending higher living costs continues as we are focussing on the historical causes or root causes of poverty induced by higher living costs.
• • Researching on the Historical Causes of Poverty Induced by Higher Living Costs
The historical causes of poverty induced by higher living costs can be found in what make living costs higher. If one focus on the relation between living costs on one hand and earnings and incomes on the other hand, one can clearly notice that when living costs are very higher to the point that some people have no choice than to live below the poverty line, we can start talking about poverty induced by higher living costs. One can use the international poverty line or any poverty line.
For example, the UK poverty line is, according to ‘trustforlondon.org’ (4),
“Households are considered to be below the UK poverty line if their income is below 60% of the median household equivalised income after housing costs for that year”.
If a typical household income is below the above mentioned 60% compared to living costs, then the given household could be experiencing poverty.
If higher living costs influence or cause poverty to happen or appear, then there could be a need to reduce or end what makes living costs go higher than earnings and incomes to the point that some people live below the poverty line.
The fact that living costs are higher than wages and incomes is not the problem. It becomes an issue when these costs push people to live below the poverty line or exacerbate poverty. In which case, the root causes or historical reasons of this type poverty need to be tackled.
• • What Make Living Costs Go Higher
What make living costs go higher than earnings and incomes, especially for ordinary households and families, is rising prices of products and services while real household disposable incomes can not keep pace or same speed with rising prices. It is not a surprise if the Faculty of Public Health (5) in the UK argues that
“Rising prices for food, essential utilities and other consumables, compounded with sub-inflationary wage growth will substantially increase poverty and material deprivation”.
• • Reducing or Ending the Historical Causes of Poverty Induced by the Higher Living Costs
Historically speaking, there have been many initiatives to root out the historical causes of poverty. Some of them succeeded while others failed. In our goal of the month, we are dealing with the historical problem of why widespread price increases of goods and other services often outstrip the price of labour (i.e., wages) or inflation outstrips wage increases. In other ways, why the price of labour (i.e., wages) cannot be higher all time than widespread price increases of goods and other services in such way of stopping poverty induced by higher living costs to happen? Resolving this question or issue is our goal of the month.
The above is our poverty reduction goal for this month, which is part of our Autumn 2024 Starting XI Project ‘Help End Higher Living Costs’ and which we are asking to our audiences and supporters to help or promote.
Extra Messages
• Autumn Matching Organisation-Investor Programme via Farming Charitable Loan
• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) Campaign with Concentration on Critically Endangered Fish Species
• Triple Value Initiatives (or All-year Round Projects) as Brown/Blue/Green/Grey Prescribings
• Autumn Matching Organisation-Investor Programme via Farming Charitable Loan
This Autumn, we have an exciting project from our Matching Organisation-Investor Programme; programme which is part of CENFACS’ Guidance Service to not-for-profit impact investors. The project makes up our Autumn 2024 Starting XI Campaign. What is this exciting project about?
• • Matching Project Statement
The project is a matching opportunity between an African Poverty Relief Charity (APRC) and a prospective investor who may be interested in impact investing in APRC’s plan. The project is the following one:
APRC is planning to make small charitable loans to small to medium-sized farming businesses/farmers in order to help reduce poverty in Africa while a potential investor is looking to invest in farming activities in Africa via APRC.
The above project statement is also APRC’s business model. To better understand this project, let us explain APRC’s plan (charitable loan) and not-for-profit investor’s motivations.
• • APRC’s Charitable Loan to Small to Medium-sized Farming Businesses/Farmers
It is an approved charitable loan to be made to beneficiaries of the charity, and made in the course of carrying out the purposes of the APRC. The loan will be made with the view that there will be financial benefit and charitable benefit for APRC while charitable benefit superseding financial benefit. In other words, the loan or investment will be made to generate a flow of income or capital appreciation to enable APRC to deliver its charitable objects. There will be an acceptable level of benefit to the charity for the amount to be invested.
To be able to move forward its plan, APRC is looking for a not-for-profit investor to join in by investing with a capital. APRC is particularly seeking investment from a not-for-profit investor interested in farming activities or businesses.
• • What Is a Not-for-profit Investor in Farming Activities/Businesses?
A Not-for-profit Investor in Farming Activities/Businesses is a person investing in farming activities or businesses by lifting them out poverty and hardships. The n-f-p investor, who is driven by selfless motivations, would invest to reduce poverty. Although he/she is driven by selfless motivations, he/she would like to see the farming business or activity is a profitable business so that it can achieve its goal of reducing poverty by raising money for it through trading.
As part of CENFACS‘ model of Matching Organisation-Investor Programme, the n-f-p investor’s selfless motivations will be match with APRC’s plan.
• • What Is Matching Organisation-Investor via Farming Loan?
It is a set of four activities designed to arrange the match/fit test between an APRC planning to provides charitable micro-loans to farming activities or businesses in Africa and a prospective not-for-profit impact investor’s interests in farming activities in Africa. This project of CENFACS’ Matching Programme will enable the former to find a suitable investor, and the latter to gain an investee in which they can impact invest in.
• • The Aim of Matching Organisation-Investor via Farming Charitable Loan
The main aim of this project is to reduce poverty (among local poor farmers, businesses and people) through the provision of small charitable loans to small to medium-sized farming activities or businesses in Africa.
Through this project, it is hoped that the APRC will meet its dream not-for-profit (n-f-p) impact investor. It is as well expected that the n-f-p impact investor will find the right organisation to invest in for impact. Where the two parties experience difficulties in matching their project proposals or ambitions, CENFACS will organise the match test for them. To enable the two parties to reach an agreement, there will be four weeks of talks or negotiations or matching activities.
• • 4-week Matching Activities Starting from 09/10/2024
As part of CENFACS‘ Matching Organisation-Investor via Farming Charitable Loan, we are running a 4-week matching activities to support both APRC and not-for-profit farming investors. It is a 4-week work about Impact Advice Service for APRC and Guidance Service on Impact Investing for not-for-profit farming investors.
As already said, the matching process will be run for four weeks, starting from Monday 09 October 2024.
• • • How the Matching Process Will Be Run
This talking process is based on loan life cycle. There are various types of loan life cycle with their own steps or stages. In the context of this project of our matching programme, we have limited ourselves to a four steps/stages model of loan life cycle.
One of these models is provided by ‘datagardener.com’ (6). The model by ‘datagardener.com’ includes four key stages of the lending process, which are: application submission, application processing, underwriting stage and disbursement.
From the perspective of ‘datagardener.com’, application submission is the initial step, application processing is the attention lenders put to detail, underwriting stage is the assessment of the risk involved in giving loan, and disbursement is the finalising aspect of the loan agreement. In other words, loan applications need to be submitted, processed, registered and issued.
To deliver Matching Organisation-Investor via Farming Loan, we shall follow the above-mentioned four steps of the lending process.
The above is the key note of the Matching Organisation-Investor via Farming Charitable Loan.
Those potential organisations seeking investment to realise their farming loan project and n-f-p farming investors looking for organisations that are interested in their capital can contact CENFACS to arrange the talks and match or fit test for them. They can have their fit test carried out by CENFACS’ Hub for Testing Hypotheses.
For any queries and/or enquiries about the Matching Organisation-Investor via Farming Charitable Loan, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
• “A la une” (Autumn Leaves of Action for the Upkeep of the Nature) Campaign with Concentration on Critically Endangered Fish Species
“A la une” takes Save Fauna, Flora and Funga advocacy to the next level of CENFACS‘ environmental communications and awareness raising. It will be concentrated on Critically Endangered Fish Species. We shall focus on saving endangered fishes through our new initiative called ‘Mbisi’. What do we mean by endangered?
• • Meaning of Endangered
Endangered can be defined from the Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation written by Chris Park (7) as
“A species that is in danger of *extinction if existing pressures on it (such as over-harvesting or habitat change) continue, and which is therefore likely to disappear if it is not offered adequate protection” (p. 147)
As said above, we shall focus on saving endangered fishes through our new initiative called ‘Mbisi’.
• • ‘Mbisi’ (that is, Maintaining Bagrus In Situ Inhabitation) as a Focus of Our ‘A la Une’ Campaign
‘Mbisi’ is an advocacy for the endangered fish species. ‘Mbisi’ is a new advocacy project planned by CENFACS to help protect critically endangered fish species and keep them up in their natural habitat in Africa. Fishes like Bagrus Meridionalis, Treur River barb, Sandfish, Estuarine Pipefish Syngnathus Watermeyeri, Haplochromis granti, Basking Shark, African Wedgefish (Rynchobatus Luebbert) and Barbel spp are endangered species because of environmental threats and unregulated fishing activities.
In the coming weeks, we are embarking on a campaign to help save critically threatened fishes by extinction in Africa. It is a campaign to help save the above-mentioned fish species and similar species threated by extinction.
This Autumn campaign to help save fishes will be featured by a number of notes to be written to make up the theme of the campaign. There will five notes which will be related to five of the above-mentioned fishes.
They are endangered species. The ‘Mbisi’ project will help to advocate for a safe life for these fishes.
To support “A la une” campaign and “Mbisi” project, please contact CENFACS.
• Triple Value Initiatives (or All-year Round Projects) as Brown/Blue/Green/Grey Prescribings
Our work on brown, grey, green and blue spaces continues as we are trying to get the views of those of our members using Triple Value Initiatives as brown or blue or green or grey prescriptions. CENFACS is looking into the possibility of how their undertakings of these initiatives can be fitted into brown, blue or green or grey prescriptions.
Social prescribing nature-based activities are known as those ones that support the health and well-being of the community. These activities can be land-based (green prescribing), water-based (blue prescribing), grey-based (grey prescribing), and brown-redeveloped (brown prescribing).
The National Academy for Social Prescribing (8) describes social prescribing as
“Being about helping people getting more control over their healthcare to manage their needs in a way that suits them”.
For those who have been using the Triple Value Initiatives, it would be a good idea to share with us their experience in terms of health and well-being benefits so that we know how green or blue or grey or brown prescribing these initiatives can be.
The more people respond, the more we would know about the health and well-being outcomes from these initiatives, the more we could be recommending people or blue/green/grey/brown prescribing them to use these initiatives.
Their responses will as well help prepare CENFACS’ State of Play, Run and Vote.
To support CENFACS’ State of Play, Run and Vote as well as our work on blue/green/grey/brown prescribings, please let us know your personal experience on Triple Value Initiatives in terms of health and well-being results.
Message in French (Message en français)
• Activité/Tâche 10 de l’Année des Transitions (‘t’) et Projet: Partager l’histoire des transitions de la pauvreté
Notre année et notre projet Transitions (‘t’) sont passés à l’activité/tâche 10, qui est «Partager l’histoire des transitions de la pauvreté». En effet, les gens peuvent basculer dans la pauvreté et/ou en sortir. L’histoire de la transition vers et hors de la pauvreté est celle des transitions de la pauvreté. Pour partager cette histoire, il faut comprendre les transitions de la pauvreté.
• • Compréhension de base des transitions de la pauvreté
Les transitions de la pauvreté peuvent être comprises de plusieurs façons. L’une de ses explications vient d’An Huff Stevens (3) qui soutient que
«Deux facteurs clés sont à l’origine des transitions vers et loin de la pauvreté: les changements dans la structure des ménages et les changements dans la participation au marché du travail au niveau individuel ou du ménage».
An H. Stevens ajoute également que
«Le nombre de semaines travaillées chaque année par le chef de ménage est un déterminant important des probabilités de sortie, d’entrée et de réintégration de la pauvreté».
Sans être un expert en transitions de la pauvreté ou un historien de l’économie, il est possible pour ceux ou celles qui pourraient être intéressé(e)s par l’activité/la tâche 10 de l’année/du projet Transitions (‘t’) de travailler avec ceux ou celles qui en ont besoin et de partager leur propre expérience ou ce qu’ils/elles savent des transitions de la pauvreté.
• • Soutenir cette activité/tâche
Ceux ou celles qui souhaitent poursuivre cette activité/tâche par eux(elles)-mêmes peuvent aller de l’avant.
Ceux ou celles qui souhaiteraient faire partie d’un groupe de travail aidant à la réalisation de cette activité/tâche peuvent le faire savoir au CENFACS.
Pour ceux ou celles qui ont eux(elles)-mêmes besoin d’aide avant de se lancer dans cette activité/tâche, ils/elles peuvent s’adresser au CENFACS. Pour s’adresser au CENFACS, ils/elles sont tenu(e)s de planifier à l’avance ou de se préparer aux questions qu’ils/elles souhaitent soulever.
Pour toute autre question ou demande de renseignements sur le projet «t» et le dévouement de cette année, veuillez également contacter le CENFACS.
Main Development
• History Month with Making Memorable Positive Difference Project – In Focus: History of African Woven Loincloth
The following items make up the contents of this year’s focus of Making Memorable Positive Difference Project:
∝ What Is Making Memorable Difference Project (MM+D)?
∝ What Is This Year’s MM+D?
∝ MM+D Days
∝ MM+D Timeline
Let us look at each of these contents.
• • What Is MM+D?
MM+D is
∝ a two-day event of Awareness, Thought and Recognition set up by CENFACS in 2009 to celebrate the Black History Month in our own way and feeling while preserving the tradition linked to this remembrance and standing on the shoulders of similar celebrations
∝ a history project of collective memory about works carried out, heritage and legacies left by Africans
∝ all about collectively telling, acknowledging, studying and learning that everyday Africans wherever they are (in Africa) or elsewhere (in the UK-Croydon and the world) are striving to improve the quality of their lives and of others. Through their historically valuable works, they are making memorable positive difference and the world a better place for everybody, including the generations to come.
∝ a celebration of African Abilities, Talents, Skills, Techniques, Gifts and Legacies to Africa and the world.
• • What Is This Year’s MM+D?
This year’s dedicated two days (27 and 28 October 2024) are days of historical study, analysis, skill recognition and celebration of the legacies left by Africans in Woven Loincloth in Africa.
Historically speaking, Woven Loincloth in Africa is the fabric of the great opportunities and grandiose ceremonies as well as being part of beauty and elegance. Woven fabrics are cultural symbols used for traditional ceremonies and occasions such as weddings and other celebrations. For some African customs, loincloths can be a means of payment as they represent part of dowry.
This year’s MM+D is a celebration of …
√ traditional skills of loincloth weaving, weaving techniques and raw materials used in the context of woven loincloth
√ teamwork between men and women (women for designing the grounds and men for beating the grounds; women weaving the unleashed cotton by hand and men decorating the fabric with wooden spatulas and natural paints like in the case of the Benufo communities in Côte d’Ivoire)
√ the specificity of ethno-linguistic groups through their weaving techniques
√ the history of fashion via woven loincloth
√ inspired work of loincloth patterns by rituals and religious ceremonies
√ the input of textile fibres like cotton, silk, raffia and wool in woven loincloth and dress making
√ the reduction of clothing poverty
√ any contribution made by woven loincloth to the clothing and creative economic development industry in Africa.
So, this year’s MM+D is a celebration of African Abilities, Talents, Skills, Techniques, Gifts and Legacies to Africa and the world in terms of Woven Loincloth.
• • MM+D Days
There will be Two Days of the History of African Woven Loincloth as follows:
∝ One day of identifying and profiling African Weavers of the History
∝ One day of assessing the historical contribution of woven loincloth in reducing clothing poverty and in creative economic development industry in Africa.
Let us summarise the contents of each day’s work.
• • • Heritage/Patrimony/Weavers’ Day (27 October 2024): History of African Weavers of the Loincloth History
On the first day of our MM+D, we shall remember those talented and skilful African weavers of the loincloth history for their remarkable weaving skills and techniques which were passed on to many generations of weavers. It is the day of learning a brief outline or sketch in terms of their profiles and their historical work.
Through the study of their profiles and weaving work, it will be possible to know the kind of role they played or did not play in the weaving loincloth field. They are part of Africa’s heritage and patrimony as they represent Africa’s historic weaving traditions and Africa’s wealth, that transcends many eras and was passed on to other generations. Their techniques are now inherited by contemporary and today’s weavers.
• • • Legacies and Gifts Day (28 October 2024): The Historical Contribution of Woven Loincloth in Reducing Clothing Poverty and in the Creative Economy in Africa
During the Legacies and Gifts Day of MM+D, we shall learn what was handed on to the current generations in terms of woven loincloth knowledge/techniques or what the weavers of the past left. We shall as well recollect in our memory what these past weavers gave to today’s knowledge-based economic activities. In other words, we shall study the legacies and gifts of woven loincloth industry in reducing clothing poverty and creating wealth in Africa, although the weavers of the past time might or might not have thought about reducing clothing poverty.
The day will also assist in uncovering if the weaving of loincloth was income-generating potential at that time or just a cultural activity or both.
The above is this year’s MM+D theme. To engage with this theme and or support this project, please contact CENFACS on this site.
Because we are talking about history, let us remember the history of CENFACS‘ MM+D through timeline.
• • Making Memorable Positive Difference Timeline
MM+D has a history and timeline. The following is the timeline of MM+D since its inception.
2009: CENFACS recognised environmental sustainability.
2010: We acknowledged and honoured sports contributions and history in relieving collective poverty and improving community lives beyond fitness and beyond individualistic achievements.
2011: We recollected, remembered and revered caregiving talents and legacies of young carers in enhancing human development (their own development and other people’s development) by reducing the burden of poverty.
2012: We dedicated our historical recognition to Africa’s Global Game Runners and the Science of Running.
2013: Our two days were about the Memorable Positive Difference Made and brought by Working Poor (Miners & Factory Workers) in relieving poverty. We consecrated them to the historical study of The Role of Working Poor Miners and Factory Workers of Natural Resources and Extractive Industries in the Poverty Relief in Africa since the Berlin Conference (1884-5).
2014: We celebrated the place of the African Music and Dance in the pre– and post-colonial eras, the late 1950s and the early 1960s. This celebration focused on the African History of Singing and Dancing and their Impacts on Liberation and Freedoms.
2015: Making Memorable Positive Difference focused on African Negotiators of the History.
2016: We remembered the Protectors and Guardians of the African History and Heritage.
2017: We acknowledged the Communicators of the African History
2018: We learnt about African Communications and Oral History
2019: We searched on the African Health History
2020: We celebrated African Sculpture and Representation of African Historical Figures of the Pre-independence Era (i.e. Period before the 1960s)
2021: We recognised and celebrated of the legacies left by Africans in dance, particularly the Congolese Rumba
2022: We acknowledged the gifts left by Africans in Infrastructures to Reduce Poverty, particularly the Management and Maintenance of These Infrastructures.
2023: We remembered Cottage Industries in Africa or Household-based Industries in their capacity and capability of lifting people out of poverty.
For further details about these past MM+D events, please contact CENFACS.
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• References
(1) https://www.britannica.com/topic/puttee (accessed in September 2024)
(2) https://www.afrihepri.org/en/origin-and-history-of-the-loincloth/ (accessed in September 2024)
(3) Stevens, An Huff, ‘Poverty Transitions’, in Philip N. Jefferson (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Poverty, Oxford Handbooks (2012; online edn, Oxford Academic, 28 Dec. 20120), available at https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195393781.013.0016 (accessed in September 2024)
(4) https://www.trustforlondon.org/data/poverty-thresholds/# (accessed in September 2024)
(5) https://www.fph.org.uk/media/3578 (accessed in September 2024)
(6) https://www.datagardener.com/blog/four-stages-of-the-lending-process/# (accessed in September 2024)
(7) Park, C., (2011), Oxford Dictionary of Environment and Conservation, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York
(8) https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/about-us/what-is-socialpresscribing/ (accessed in October 2023)
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• Help CENFACS Keep the Poverty Relief Work Going This Year
We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis. Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.
One could also consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.
Additionally, we would like to inform you that planned gifting is always an option for giving at CENFACS. Likewise, CENFACS accepts matching gifts from companies running a gift-matching programme.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ NOBLE AND BEAUTIFUL CAUSES OF POVERTY REDUCTION.
JUST GO TO: Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)
Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.
Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.
We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2024 and beyond.
With many thanks.
